It’s hard to find an air compressor with a tank this large which is made for home rather than industrial use. It’s especially hard to find one that additionally has decent CFM and PSI outputs and a very acceptable noise level of 68 dBA.
Trying to hear someone over the noise this air compressor makes is like trying to hear them over the sound of someone else’s conversation – it will require some attention on your part, but not strain. Aside from the safety issues involving not being able to hear other people, loud machinery can also cause hearing damage.
Of all the compressors we’ve chosen to review, this one’s tank is the second largest, taking a back seat only to the massive 10-gallon tank attached to California Air Tools’ popular 10020C.
A large tank implies that more air can be stored, which means that it will take longer to drain the pressure to the point where tools will no longer function correctly. Essentially, this means that the motor won’t have to run as often, wear out as quickly, or be the limiting factor when it comes to your productivity.
What really makes this compressor an attractive option, though, is the price. It’s about 1/3 the price of the California Air Tools model and not that much smaller.
Of course, you have to give something to get something, and those savings do come at a price. In this case, you’ll be missing out on the high CFM rating @ 90 PSI that makes the California air compressor so attractive for framing and similar air-draining jobs. The CFM for this machine is only 2.4, while the California machine can handle 5.3.
If you’re not going to need that kind of capability, though, the cheaper option is almost certainly the better choice.
More Options for More Needs
If 8 gallons is a little more than you need, or if you just want to maximize your savings while still committing to a quality machine such as this one, you will be happy to hear that the 8-gallon option isn’t the only choice.
A 6 gallon and 4.6 gallon version of this very same compressor also exist, both stacking up well as far as pricing is concerned.
- The large 8-gallon tank allows you to use a lot of air before worrying about whether the motor can keep up.
- Low noise 68 dBA means that extended use won't damage your hearing and conversation remains possible.
- A good price makes this compressor affordable for more people.
- A CFM rating of 2.4 at 90 PSI is OK, but not great compared to some of the others we've reviewed.
- The 1 horsepower motor is sufficient for a lot of at-home handyman tasks, but will not be able to keep up with constant demand.
