Thread: Recommend High Quality Small Air Compressor

Something like this for $600



Or this for $500

I have a '20 plus' which would run all day every day and works really well....
This is a smaller model but we'll within budget and the quiet compressor is soooooo much better than the regular types....
Can't recommend this brand enough!

https://www.audel.com.au/rolair-jc10...ir-compressor/

Tgumbsucker beat me to it though - should have checked his post.....but that's 2 fir rolair

Gabriel we’re are they manufactured

Dunno, but I think Dandenong.... After 2 years of running framing guns and coil guns they (2 of us have them) they haven't skipped a beat.....
Did I mention the joy of how quiet they are?

Never owned one but I've heard that they're top notch.

I know it goes against your grain but given the intended "very light use" (blowing dust and brad nailer) I see no reason not to buy a cheapie. Even the cheap compressors are usually built to do significant work (although obviously for not as long as a quality unit) so if you buy one and use it lightly it should last just fine. The cheapie ($199) 2.5HP I bought some 15 years ago and flogged the pants off eventually disintegrated the valves but I cut new ones with a scissors out of an aluminium beer can. Then I gave it to my son and he's had it for 3 years and its running just fine.

If you were intending moderate or heavy use I would not be suggesting this but maybe save your money and use it to but something you really need.

Over use rarely kills small (even cheap) compressors, what usually kills compressors (even good ones) is poor maintenance, like not draining the water from the tank and not changing the compressor oil at least every couple of years.

Rollair is an American company from Wisconsin they say they are a manufacturer but do not explicitly state made in the USA

Noise is a concern and the quieter the better. While I say light work you never know we’re I would end up using it for.

Any other suggestions / brands / models?

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

While I say light work you never know we’re I would end up using it for.

Well in that case it's a discussion you should maybe have now because the size of compressor you are looking at limits what else it can be used for.
Apart from what you are going to be doing, and small scale pneumatic control its about all they can be used for.
Applying finishes or the use of air powered tools will kill small compressors no matter how well made they are.

This one looks pretty nice and would better cover "you never know we’re I would end up using it for", but it's probably out of your price range
It's made in Italy, clean, super quiet and has plenty of grunt - does need a 15A plug though.
240 Volt Rotary Screw Air Compressors
Most Pilot Air stuff is made in China but they are definitely several rungs up the ladder from the cheapies available at hardware and tool shops.
They also provide good service and parts etc. I have bought compressor oil form them and would happily buy one of their compressors.

Spray finish does not interest me but air tooling maybe but size and noise are real hard constraints I simple do not have the space for anything bigger then small in terms of compressors even if I wish otherwise so I will look for small and limited

Bob
$8000 is not exactly in the OP's stated price range

Originally Posted by ronboult

Bob
$8000 is not exactly in the OP's stated price range

Whoops - I knew they were out of his range but not by that much!

I just bought this for the very reasons you quote.....


https://sydneytools.com.au/ferrua-fifty-50l-oil-free-air-compressor

Plan B: Skip the compressor. Buy a regulator and rent a 3,500 psi tank of nitrogen from a welding supply house.
Absolutely silent. You should be able to rent "half-tanks" which are even easier to dolly around.
With intermittent use, those tanks last quite a while.
I ran a couple of airbrushes for 20 years in stage craft for sets, props and make-up that way.