Compressor Advice

18 years ago

Guys IÂm looking for a compressor. First off IÂve never own a compressor myself. IÂm looking for a small unit that wonÂt take up too much space in the garage and that I can take with me if I do finish work or help out on a deck or something. I probably run the following tools maybe a few times a year finish nailer, palm nailer, maybe a framer every blue moon. I would also like to be able to run an impact wrench maybe once or twice a year to change my brakes or something (need to be able to break lugs free). I think the majority use would be to air up items car/truck/bike tires, balls and rafts.

I think I narrowed it down to the following two units due to low AMP draw and less noise. I like the smaller lighter one(MAC700) if you guys think it will be ok for my needs. IÂm thinking double the price for my needs is not worth it. My only concern is with the occasionally impact wrench use. I donÂt care if I have to wait a little bit IÂm not going for NASCAR speed, but want to make sure it has adequate power in short bursts. Both are available for locally at the following prices. Anyways what do you think?

Makita MAC700 @ $165.00

2.0 HP

2.6 Hot Dog Tank

130PSI

3.3 CFM @ 90 PSI

3.8 CFM @ 40 PSI

http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=MAC700

Makita MAC2400 @ $299.00

2.4 HP

4.2 Twin Stack Tank

130PSI

4.2 CFM @ 90 PSI

3.8 CFM @ 40 PSI

http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=MAC2400

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

mikefunaro
18 years ago
I own the MAC2400 and it is awesome. I had borrowed a friend's hitachi and ran it for a month straight while installing some bamboo floors and trimming out the rooms. The Makita has more power, cycles less, is much quieter, and is well designed. (Sorry to digress--I know you're not looking outside the makita brand at this point).

The MAC2400 also has its regulator and all of the valves concealed and protected by display shroud. In terms of your use requirements--I think that a torque wrench or a framing nailer may tire out the MAC700.

If the extra $135 isn't too big of an issue, go for the 2400. The only other downside is the weight of the 2400--it's almost 80 lbs!
redcamel
Original Author
18 years ago
Yeah @ 80lbs thats one of my concerns. I lifted both the MAC700 on site says its 52lbs, it really doesn't feel that heavy in person. I'm hoping someone has that unit and can offer an opinion.
Related Professionals
Fort Myers Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jacksonville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Madison Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Albuquerque Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Medford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chatham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Louisville Landscape Contractors · Parkersburg Landscape Contractors · Tuscaloosa Tile and Stone Contractors · Wilmington Tile and Stone Contractors · Augusta Tile and Stone Contractors · Ardmore Tile and Stone Contractors · Victoria Tile and Stone Contractors · El Paso Tile and Stone Contractors · Anchorage Tile and Stone Contractors
rmh3481
18 years ago
Have you looked at this Company who deals direct? While shopping for an electric 'portable' compressor I decided on one from this Family Owned, Service Oriented compressor manufacturer in Ohio. I have had good luck with it. They know their product and to me what makes the difference is that this guy stands behind what he sells. Makita was on my short list untill I talked to these guys. It also helps to buy American. http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/733537/450646.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Eaton Compressor
green_valley
18 years ago
Those will not run an impact very good.

Watch what folks like the one above sell.

Buy oil filled. Buy what you can get serviced locally.
redcamel
Original Author
18 years ago
That EatonÂs has got some great specs. I like to buy most of my tools at brick mortar store due to shipping cost if things go bad. The 2 Year warranty is killer. I wish they had a local dealer, but I guess that would drive up cost.

I stopped by the local dealer as he sells Hitachi, Makita, Rol-Air, and Dewalt portable units. He is also a service center for Hitachi and Makita. I wanted to check out a Hitachi EC12. While in there I noticed the MAC2400 I looked at a few days earlier was gone. I asked if they still had any. He told me that they were out of stock for the moment. After some conversations with him, He said that he really like Makita and that he would try to make my decision easy and offered me a MAC5200 at the same price as the 2400 $299.00. I went ahead and purchased it. IÂm going to read up today and see if I will keep it. What do you think is it a keeper or should I keep looking?

Specs:
3.0 HP
5.2 Tank
6.5 CFM @ 90 PSI
6.9 CFM @ 40 PSI
MAX PSI 140

Draws more AMPS @ 13.8 over the 12.3 of the 2400 and RPMs are double @ 3440 over the 1720 of the 2400. So it will be louder. What do you guys think?
den69rs96
18 years ago
I'm glad your doing your homework before buying a compressor. However, if you plan on buying an impact gun, the first two choices are out. Most impact guns use around 5.5cfm to 6.5cfm at 90psi. Even though you plan on using it in short burst, they still won't have enough cfm to use most 1/2 impact guns. I think the first thing to do is determine what air tools you will buy in the future and use that to determine the cfm requirement you will need. It doesn't matter how quiet a compressor is if it can't run the tools you want. Once you get a compressor, you probably end up getting more air tools than you originally thought. Who knows, you might get a smaller compressor to run you nailers etc and a larger one for the garage like I did. I have a 30 gallon sears compressor in my garage and my impact gun can drain it pretty quick if I'm trying to get off a rusted bolt on my 69 camaro. However, its way to big to move around for use with my air nailers and much too loud inside the house. Plus it requires a dedicated 15 amp circuit. I bought a cheapo UST pep boys 4.3 gallon oil filled unit that can run my air nailers. Its quieter, much lighter, has the cfm to run my framing nailer, and runs on a 15amp.