Saw this one at Lowes over lunch. Comments? Seems like a good deal but not a brand name. Anyone have any idea who really makes Kobalt tools?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...45V&lpage=none

 

Looks like Kobalt is made by some company Williams which is partially owned by Snap-on.

Home Depot's compressors are made by Campbell Hausfeld. (don't read good things on CH)


hmmmmm

 

I did not know that about them, but I've had good luck with Kobalt tools, I have a couple of thier saws that I've had a couple years old.

Really, what I would look at is the motor, if it has a GE or Marathon Electric motor, then both of those are good and will likely last 20 + years. There isnt much to go wrong with the actual compressor or the tank. The compressor is just a piston with 2 one way clapper check valves. One is intake the other is exhaust. Pretty straight forward, extremely simple, and cheap. If you own a hand grinder you can reproduce those valves by hand cheaply and easily. As long as you dont crack the block or head then it is completely rebuildable.

 

I have that Porter Cable compressor. It's okay. Nothing great. It powers all my air tools with no problem except my sand blaster. The sand blaster requires a lot of air. Something like that you need to get a TRUE 2 stage compressor with a minimum of 18 cfm. They start around $800. But the Porter Cable is much better than the 20 gallon Craftsman that I once had.

 

Here is the one I bought and it does the job and I bought one that was clearanced for $200
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...609&lpage=none

 

I sell this unit as well as a 2 stage 80gal tank unit from another company. I have sold a number of these with out any problems.

http://www.campbellhausfeld.net/weba...egory_rn=10534

If you are buying a compressor, look for something at least 5HP with a 60 gal tank. Running a smaller tank will only frustrate you if you plan on using it for Impact guns, die grinders, sand blasters and tools that use large amounts of air. While you can buy tools with a scfm rating that is close to your compressor, it is often difficult to get tool that will mate to a smaller tank.

If you can afford it buy a 2 stage compressor with a 5hp and 60 gal tank, or larger, most single stages will run 125 psi while the 2 stage will jump to 175 psi, regulate that down to 100 psi and you will have a good supply of air with out waiting for the compressor to catch up.

Sandblasting is one thing that will really irritate you if you buy a small compressor, even with the pressure blasters, running a siphon feed is worse yet.

Best advice really is buy the largest one you can afford.

 

It's hard to get what I want without having 240 volts. I really dont want to bring an electrician out for that. The girlfriend suggested I get a long cord and use the dryer outlet when I want to use the compressor. That's a stupid idea right?

 

My compressor is mounted in the garage next to my circuit breaker panel. I installed my own 220 which was easy and didn't have to tear the walls up.

Long 220v extension cords can be expensive.

 

Wouldn't you have to make your own extension cord? Isn't there a few styles of 220V recepticals with different blade configurations?

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By the time you buy the wire and a plug end and a receptical end.... you might as well, buy the wire, a breaker, an outlet box and an outlet and just add 220 in the garage. That is if you have an empty spot in your breaker box.

 

Actually there are quite a few different 220 plugs as I recall. I think you can buy adapters. I bought the 220 receptacle and then a matching plug to wire to the compressor.

It's definitely cheaper to put in a 220 recepatacle than to buy an extension cord. But I guess it all depends on how far the breaker box is from the receptacle and how much work is required. This is of course if you're doing all the work yourself. Mine was simple. Plenty of room in the box and the receptacle is right below the box. The hardest part of the project was bolting the compressor to the concrete floor to stop it from dancing.

 

One problem with the little portable compressors is just that, portable.
I bought my first one 2hp 22 gal tank 110V, aat the time I had many "friends of convienience" so people were alway wanting to borrow it, and when I needed it I had to retrieve it. I fixed that problem by swithing the wiring and plug on the motor and adding a 220V breaker. People don't want to borrow 220V items.

Good luck in your search, leave us know what you buy.

 

Portability is one of the reasons I bought mine. I wanted the largest portable one I could find. That way I could take it to my job, which are not always in the garage. I used it to put up Chair rail in my daugthers room on the second floor. No problem, I aired it up and rolled it up stairs. It never needed the compressor to refill the tank because I was just using a brad nailer, but I could have because it is wired at 120.
Also Don't use a long extension on 220 motors (or 120). Motors are sensitive to voltage and with a long extension cord you could have too much voltage drop through your extension cord. with low voltage, your motor will run hotter and you will lower the life.
If you haven't bought one yet, I would suggest either the craftsman or the Kobalt from lowes. And don't let the free tools sway your desecion. Buy the best compressor for the money. Then when you need any tools just buy them as you go.

 

The Kobalt one appears to be 240. Looks like I'm going to have to go with the Craftsman.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916732000

Vertical portable tank compressor offers 150 PSI for optimum tool performance. Exclusive shroud and console design, high-flow regulator and universal quick-connect, and comfort grip handle. Large 2-in. gauges for easy reading. Sizeable wheels make this air compressor easy to maneuver. Equipped with 150 PSI, and 6.4 SCFM @90 PSI the 33 gallon tank is a 120 volt, vertical portable, single stage direct-drive air compressor.