Frederick Skelly
07-09-2022, 1:54 PM
A week or so ago, I posted asking for advice on a small air compressor. You all gave me a lot of help and I appreciated it. (My goals were smaller physically and quieter than my old BORG 20 gallon 2 hp, oil-less, but still enough to do the basic things i do.) I originally planned to buy a 2 gallon California Compressor but then found a Makita 2 gallon at the BORG (MAC210Q). That Makita was a lovely machine - quiet and solidly built - but at 2 SCFM with a 2 gallon tank, she couldnt keep up with an air gun. So I went looking for something a little bigger. I settled on a NORTH STAR 53009 from Northern Tool.
This is a 1.5 hp, 4 cfm @90psi machine with an 8 gal tank. It cost $469+taxes. LINK (https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200695283_200695283?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Air%20Tools%20%2B%20Compressors%20%3E%2 0Air%20Compressors%20%3E%20Portable%20Electric%20A ir%20Compressors&utm_campaign=NorthStar&utm_content=53009&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIysHykajs-AIVlSc4Ch1XwwK5EAQYASABEgLIi_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) I chose it over a slightly bigger California Compressor because it just seemed more solid. (Time will tell.) Anyway, I just set it up, ran the break in procedure and used it a bit. Here are my initial impressions.
* Pretty good warranty. 4 yrs, what's covered looks reasonable.
* The instructions are clear.
* This is NT's house brand. Unlike the BORG, NT actually stocks some replacement parts.
* Machine came well packaged. Very little assembly to do.
* Physically, it's smaller than I expected. It's only 34" tall. It's a tiny little thing.
* Seems solidly built.
* Appears to have a powder coat finish (not sure, but it's more rugged than regular paint).
* The wheels are steel rims with hard rubber tires. They are attached like lawnmower wheels. (Many small compressors have what I felt were cheapo wheels/axles. So while not a deciding factor, it was a nice bonus.)
* The drain valve is easy to reach, on the right side of the bottom, near the rim.
* Reasonably quiet. The spec says 70 db. I didnt measure it, but I thought the noise level was about right. 70 - 80 db seems common for a "quiet branded" compressor with 4-5 scfm output. I can work next to it without issue. (My old BORG machine was a screaming meemee.)
* Break-in was easy, just a 20 min run with the drain valve open.
* After break-in, the machine filled its 8 gallon tank in 118 secs.
* I was able to run a blowgun at 90psi regulator pressure and the machine kept up. (The tank pressure dropped below 90psi of course. It held steady at about 50 psi. I dont think that's going to be enough to run an impact wrench to rotate tires, but I seldom do that myself.)
So, time will tell, but first impressions are good.
Hope this helps someone else.
Fred
This is a 1.5 hp, 4 cfm @90psi machine with an 8 gal tank. It cost $469+taxes. LINK (https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200695283_200695283?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Air%20Tools%20%2B%20Compressors%20%3E%2 0Air%20Compressors%20%3E%20Portable%20Electric%20A ir%20Compressors&utm_campaign=NorthStar&utm_content=53009&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIysHykajs-AIVlSc4Ch1XwwK5EAQYASABEgLIi_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) I chose it over a slightly bigger California Compressor because it just seemed more solid. (Time will tell.) Anyway, I just set it up, ran the break in procedure and used it a bit. Here are my initial impressions.
* Pretty good warranty. 4 yrs, what's covered looks reasonable.
* The instructions are clear.
* This is NT's house brand. Unlike the BORG, NT actually stocks some replacement parts.
* Machine came well packaged. Very little assembly to do.
* Physically, it's smaller than I expected. It's only 34" tall. It's a tiny little thing.
* Seems solidly built.
* Appears to have a powder coat finish (not sure, but it's more rugged than regular paint).
* The wheels are steel rims with hard rubber tires. They are attached like lawnmower wheels. (Many small compressors have what I felt were cheapo wheels/axles. So while not a deciding factor, it was a nice bonus.)
* The drain valve is easy to reach, on the right side of the bottom, near the rim.
* Reasonably quiet. The spec says 70 db. I didnt measure it, but I thought the noise level was about right. 70 - 80 db seems common for a "quiet branded" compressor with 4-5 scfm output. I can work next to it without issue. (My old BORG machine was a screaming meemee.)
* Break-in was easy, just a 20 min run with the drain valve open.
* After break-in, the machine filled its 8 gallon tank in 118 secs.
* I was able to run a blowgun at 90psi regulator pressure and the machine kept up. (The tank pressure dropped below 90psi of course. It held steady at about 50 psi. I dont think that's going to be enough to run an impact wrench to rotate tires, but I seldom do that myself.)
So, time will tell, but first impressions are good.
Hope this helps someone else.
Fred