Your Favorite Plug-In Compressors

[jb2]

My old plug-in compressor bit the dust and I'll be buying a new one. Primary use is airing up personal vehicle & landscaping equipment tires in the garage/driveway. With the volume & pressures our 2500 tires require, what do you like in the low-maintenance/plug-in category?

Here's a couple that looked like decent values:

https://www.amazon.com/BOSTITCH-BTFP02012-WPK-6-Gallon-Oil-Free-Compressor/dp/B06Y2LQ5QJ?pf_rd_p=5cc0ab18-ad5f-41cb-89ad-d43149f4e286&pd_rd_wg=LbOpS&pf_rd_r=YBX6RJSCE0WV8A1BTXAZ&ref_=pd_gw_wish&pd_rd_w=pCuKM&pd_rd_r=06455dd9-24df-4041-8401-2542fcec1bd0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KHHDJGD/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B07KHHDJGD&pd_rd_w=iPaRB&pf_rd_p=c83c55b0-5d97-454a-a592-a891098a9709&pd_rd_wg=QsRAR&pf_rd_r=F9DQ1QBT44YERRCFZCER&pd_rd_r=abdbfe19-7877-4ee2-b95a-695789e0a986&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMldDSFpBTzNXRFNHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDc3NTEyUVoxVkRZQU03VzQwJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNzk0MjlHR0pBNElDWEE4WVcmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWMmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1

 

[GLB1950]

Unless they've improved them recently, those oil-less ones are quite loud. Just beware.

 

[Marshfly]

No pancake compressor is going to get your tires up to 80psi in a reasonable amount of time consistently. There's just not enough volume at 150psi. The compressor will be cycling on and off every 3-5 psi you put in your tires.

Just be prepared to wait when you need air in your truck.

Otherwise, in that price category, they all use rebranded chinese compressors so I'd be looking for whatever has the best specs at Harbor Freight.

The extra 25psi on this one will go a long way to helping get your tires to 80psi.

https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...on-175-psi-oil-free-air-compressor-56829.html

If your budget allows it, either of these will be significantly better at 200 and 225 psi and double the CFM.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-gallon-15-hp-200-psi-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-56339.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-16-hp-225-psi-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-56402.html

 

[jb2]

No pancake compressor is going to get your tires up to 80psi in a reasonable amount of time consistently. There's just not enough volume at 150psi. The compressor will be cycling on and off every 3-5 psi you put in your tires.

Just be prepared to wait when you need air in your truck.

Otherwise, in that price category, they all use rebranded chinese compressors so I'd be looking for whatever has the best specs at Harbor Freight.

The extra 25psi on this one will go a long way to helping get your tires to 80psi.

https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...on-175-psi-oil-free-air-compressor-56829.html

If your budget allows it, either of these will be significantly better at 200 and 225 psi and double the CFM.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-gallon-15-hp-200-psi-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-56339.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-16-hp-225-psi-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-56402.html

That's good perspective, thx Marshfly. I'll probably just bump the budget to get something that can perform similarly to your second & third HF example links. Big picture, I just want to stay away from options that need regular care & feeding to work properly.... because I'm not great at that part due to irregular use (frequency) patterns.

 

[Burn'n Oil]

My favourite? This: About 35 yrs old. Oilless. Charges (125 psi) in about five min. Works down past -30C. Pumps HD truck tires up like they're kid's balloons. Haven't found an air tool it won't handle (some, intermittently, of course). I just will not quit. If only I could find another like it.

 

[Distillusion]

My current is a very old 15 gallon similar to this without the cage. I bolted a hose winding spool to the top of the handle and have a 50 foot hose on it. I can air up vehicles / equipment in every bay of my garage without moving it. It does require a 30 amp circuit for running under high loads, but it starts and runs fine up to about 140psi on a 20A circuit before popping a breaker. It takes only a couple of minutes to get up past 120, and that's enough air in the tank to inflate a 35x12 tire in another half minute. It gets light usage, and I change the oil in it about every 3-5 years. It simply doesn't need it more often. Still runs great and I bought it used at an auction about 40 years ago for $20.