Just ordered a Thomas compressor. Did I make a mistake?

[Scott Stafford]

I just pressed the order button at Amazon for a Thomas T-2820ST twin hot dog style compressor. I guess I should be writing a "gloat", but I'm a bit worried.

From everything I have read this is the best small compressor around. With only a 400 square foot shop, space is at a real premium. I’m replacing a rattling little Emglo compressor.

Anyhow, here's my concern; when you go to the Thomas website you get a notice that they are currently consolidating their operations and will not be able to fill any orders for 90-120 days. I'm told that this notice has been posted for at least the last six months. My local tool monger tells me that he's worried that they are moving their manufacturing of this product line off-shore. He tells me that he's not sure when or if he'll ever see them again. Or if it will be the same high quality product.

So, in an effort to get the model that everyone seems to love, I went to Amazon who showed six in stock and pushed the buy button. It says the product is sold by Amazon rather than by another seller so I will have Amazon's customer satisfaction guarantee to rely on.

Anyone out there familiar with Thomas and what's going on there? Anyone have a Thomas compressor? Any comments? Did I just spend $600 foolishly?

Thanks for your input.

Scott in Montana

[Mike Harrison]

Hi Scott,

IMHO, GET....YOUR....MONEY....BACK.

You can get a vertical 5 horse, oil filled, 12 SCFM, quiet, 60 Gal compressor and save a couple hundred bucks as well. Every oil free unit I've ever heard was pretty darn noisy. A vertical unit most likely won't take up any more floor space, and you'll have A LOT more compressor. If your goal was to use around the homestead, a hundred feet of good quality rubber hose is pretty cheap.

[Russell Smallwood]

IF you get one and IF it works, and IF you don't need to get it serviced then you're golden.

On a side note, I bought one of these for a little less and am quite happy with it:

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/220331_lg.jpg

Surprisingly, it keeps up with the blower nozzle (running constantly of course).

[Karl Brogger]

If you have an older Emglo, prior to DeFalt buying them up, they made good compressors. Just have it rebuilt.

[Scott Stafford]

Hi Mike,

I forgot to mention that my compressor has to be mounted on a shelf... otherwise I agree with you 100%. Would love to have a Quincy or big Rol-air.

Sorry I didn't mention that.

Scott

[Russell Smallwood]

If you have an older Emglo, prior to DeFalt buying them up, they made good compressors. Just have it rebuilt.

Hey! I like mine just fine. :)

[Scott Stafford]

Hello Kar,

I agree with you. The little Emglo's seem to be great compressors. This one is having it's regulator replaced right now. The two reasons I decided to replace it are; one, it is so anoyingly loud, and two, I need a bit more air.

Thanks for you input.

Scott

[Gary Herrmann]

A friend of mine has one of those (or at least one that looks very similar). It seems to work very well. I don't remember how much he paid, but I remember thinking it was expensive.

I'm not sure what makes them more expensive though. Anyone else know?

[Ray Schwalb]

I bought the T-2820ST Thomas compressor 10 yrs ago and it has performed flawlessly. I also have a smaller, lighter Thomas (single pump, single tank) that also has been great. The fact that they are designed to run continuously makes them a superior product. My neighbor in the beverage industry has installed hundreds of them with few problems. IMHO it is the best portable compressor available.

[Doug Carpenter]

I know a couple people that have the Thomas compressors and love them.
One is a contractor the other a DIY guy.

Both really like them. I understood them to be a quality product.

I had the dewalt pictured above and it was a decent unit with one exception that may not apply to your situation. When it was dastardly cold outside we had trouble getting it started and the regulator leaked. More so that the Senco compressor. It was annoying but not something that I could fault them for. I don't work so well in the cold either.:p

600 bones is a alot of money for a smal compressor though. You could replace a cheaper one three times for that kind of money. In twenty years of contracting I have owned 4 of them in that style. I must admit the Senco one I have now is my favorite and I think I paid about $275 for it new.

I don't know much about Thomas though and maybe these other models just don't compare.

One plus is the American made idea, or at least we think right?

[Gary Herrmann]

Did a quick look. They appear to be US made. My friend is moving to TX and is going to sell some of his tools. I'll have to see if he's going to sell the compressor.

[Leo Graywacz]

I believe with amazon if your order is not completed in 30 days they will give you the option of getting your money back. So you don't have to worry about your cash being sucked up into cyberspace.

[Lex Boegen]

If your deal with the Thomas turns sour, take a good look at the Makita compressors. They have many of the same features as the Thomas, and are very quiet (for compressors). Amazon also carries the Makita compressors, and they ship for free if you have an Amazon Prime membership. The MAC2400 and the MAC5200 look like good compressors. Also, Northern Tool carries them, but at a slightly higher price than Amazon.

[David Giles]

I have an older single tank Thomas compressor. It's quiet. It always starts even on the end of a long 14ga power cord. It's light weight. It runs any nail gun, but not a paint sprayer. When I bought it, it was expensive compared to the PC pancake compressors. No regrets.

[Scott Stafford]

I guess in my moment of fret I should have been clearer as to my objectives of getting a new compressor.

The little twin tank Emglo compressor I've had for fifteen years has worked flawlessly. In fact, it's in the shop now having a new regulator put in and will be serving as my portable. What I haven't like about it is its slightly low air volume (3.9 cfm) and the NOISE. It sits up on a shelf in a corner and this seems to act like a megaphone.

So while looking at that empty shelf I got imagining... always a costly action. I thought about separating a compressor pump and its tank and mounting the tank elsewhere, but I didn't have anywhere else to mount the tank other than the attic. Then if I put it in the attic the tank has to less than 22" in diameter and three feet long to get through the attic access. Then there is the matter of positioning drain and puttin a remote valve on the drain. Plus what about the condensation from the tank being in the uninsulated attic and subjected to the Montana winter temperatures? What kind of problems would I encounter with ten degree air? So I axed the idea of a two-piece system.

The Thomas compressor seems to answer most of my needs but at a co$t. It's going to fit nicely up on a shelf that I have moved out of the corner. It has 100% duty cycle with a 5 cfm output. And it will be 18 db quieter than my Emglo if their specification are truthful.

Now if the company does fold up shop or turn to crap I should be happy. The extra dollars I paid over what the other compressors really won't matter if this one lasts as long as my Emglo. Not to say that it doesn't hurt just a bit now.

Please keep me informed of your information regarding Thomas and their future.

Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

Scott in Montana

[Scott Stafford]

That should read, "Now if the company does'nt fold up shop or turn to crap I should be happy". More coffee please.

s

[Luther Oswalt]

I think Thomas makes a very good compressor and I have used one for a few years now. Mine is like yours but with a Honda Engine driving the compressor. I needed a good dependable, long life, compact, compressor that I can use Impact Tools with when working on equipment in the fields i.e., John Deere tractors and the like and this one does very well. Yes there are others that can do this but I liked all I heard about Thomas. I think you made a good purchase!
Leo

[Rick Fisher]

I purchased a Makita 2400 and use it to run a 25" SCM Widebelt sander.

Technically, its air requirements are maxed out, but I am constantly impressed by how it keeps up. Its very quiet and I would buy it again tomorrow.

[Mike OMelia]

Wow! That's a lot of money for a little compressor. I bought a gently used (8 month old) 60 Gallon vertical for $300. My shop is not any bigger than yours.

cancel the order

[Greg R Bradley]

I would be a bit afraid of buying a Thomas Compressor today with the issues that seem to exist. BTW there are several different lines of Thomas Compressors. The one you picked out is in the Air-Pac line.

I have bought a number of different compressors in different businesses and feel pretty comfortable matching up need with compressor. They range from Senco PC1010 to 25HP IR Screw.

If it wasn't for those issues, the one you picked out is a wonderful unit for its intended use, which is 100% duty cycle use on a jobsite where it has the highest output available that will run on 120v and 12ga extension cords and can be lifted in and out of a truck by one person.

That doesn't quite match your needs, nor mine. I have a shop at home in 600ft, where space and noise are at a premium. For that I ended up using a Makita MAC2400, which is a few pounds heavier. It works well and is half the price of the Thomas. Slightly less air capacity at 100psi but the same at 90psi. Still very quiet - real world is about the same. Will last a long time under heavy use but not quite as long as the Thomas Air-Pac series.

The other one that might fit your needs is the IR Garage Mate, which is a bit more capacity than the one you picked out but certainly won't go on a shelf - unless you have a really strong shelf and help getting it there. Don't look at the largest Makita, it sacrifices noise for more capacity.

BTW, Sound ratings are not real world since they don't include how irritating the sound is to humans.

[Paul McGaha]

I've got a Speedaire. I bought ir from Graingers about 20 years ago. No problems with it at all. When it goes I would look to either get it rebuilt or buy a similar one.

It's 20 gallon, 120 Volt, and very quiet.

PHM

[Steve Ryan]

New member here, and sorry to dig up an old thread. Maybe I can shed some light on Thomas based on what I have heard, (and first hand experience).
Their plant in Wisconson was a union plant and Thomas got bought out by ???, forget the name. New owners got a good tax deal in non union Louisiana and had the union people pack up the plant for relocation. They would all loose their jobs as soon as the plant was shipped off. Just guessing how well the packing was done. This happened over a year ago and none of their dealers had any idea about what was going to happen, or how bad it would get. From what I know they are still having huge problems getting ANY product out the door. I was told that they wanted to change to a faster/leaner manufacturing method and the union shot them down. So they have the union pack up the plant and they move down south and not only try to reassemble the plant, but go to a different system as well. All to be done by mostly new people?

[John Callahan]

Did I just spend $600 foolishly?

I don't think so though I have concerns. imho the T-2820ST is one of the best if not the best portable compressors on the market- quiet, great output and recovery time. It will run fine on a 15 amp circuit and if you happen to use it outside in the cold it will start fine at low temps. I've have a T-200ST Renegade for about six years and have been very pleased with it; at the time the T-2820 was a bit beyond my reach money wise.

I'm not exactly sure what's going on with Thomas businesswise. They're owned by Gardner-Denver, the same folks that make the big compressors. Last year they decided to consolidate operations in, Monroe, LA. From a press release-

Gardner Denver, Inc. Announces Manufacturing Consolidation ProjectQUINCY, IL, Apr 13, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE: GDI) announced the consolidation of the North American manufacturing operations of its compressor and vacuum pumps used in OEM applications into its Monroe, Louisiana facility. Production from the Company's Sheboygan, Wisconsin operations will be transferred to Louisiana over the next twelve months. The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Mr. Barry Pennypacker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gardner Denver, said, "Although a number of factors influenced the decision to consolidate production in Monroe, our primary focus was to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the business by continuing to drive cost and inefficiencies out of the operations, while increasing our flexibility through the implementation of the Gardner Denver Way. Reaching a decision to close the Sheboygan operation was difficult and we deeply regret the impact that this closure will have on our Sheboygan employees and the local community. In the long-term, we believe this consolidation positions us with the best business solution and is in the best interests of Gardner Denver and its shareholders. We appreciate the effort and commitment demonstrated by state and local government agencies, as well as the extensive employee support received in both Wisconsin and Louisiana.
"As part of moving the operations to Monroe, the state of Louisiana, through its Rapid Response Fund Grant, will reimburse Gardner Denver for most of the costs incurred in relocating its equipment and personnel from Sheboygan, provide annual payroll and sales tax rebates through its Quality Jobs Program and facilitate employee recruitment and training through its Louisiana FastStart Program. The City of Monroe will assist in the construction of a new 124,000 square foot manufacturing facility adjoining our existing manufacturing operation."
The Company currently employs approximately 366 people in Sheboygan, including approximately 280 in manufacturing operations and related support functions, and 76 people in Monroe

Pure speculation on my part but I suspect it has taken longer than they planned to build the factory addition and get up and running. They could have at least done a better job of keeping its customers updated. That said, a light, quiet T-617HDN is on my wish list for trim work.