Pancake compressors

[Jack Frederick]

As we move to the new place I am going to replace my 20 gal Dewalt compressor with a pancake type. Having gotten rid of the plasma unit I only have a couple finish nail guns and probably bike tires to take care of. What do you like in these tools?

[Keegan Shields]

I have used a Makita Quiet series compressor for the last few years to run staplers/brad/pin nailers. Runs great, no issues to speak of.

Much quieter than my old 20 gal compressor. Sold at HD I believe.

[Brian Tymchak]

Those pancake compressors are so noIsy. I got one many years ago and only used it a couple times. It sat for several years and then I donated it to a organization that could use it in a light industrial env. I got a small senco that is much quieter. If it had a larger tank, it would be more useful, but I use it much more tgan the old one.

[Cameron Wood]

I had a pancake compressor, but I didn't particularly like anything about it other than not heavy.

I recommend the Makita 2HP hot dog compressor, if you don't plan to spray. Small footprint, quiet, good output, oil bath so it lasts. Surprisingly heavy 'tho...

I've had one for at least ten years, & it's the best of the six or seven that I've owned.

Many of the oil-less ones have a tiny pump, so they cycle frequently, take a long time to build the pressure, and also don't last very long, IME.

The tiny Senco ones are slow, low output, and noisy, but OK to run a small finish nailer.

[Christopher Herzog]

I have one and it is fine. Not whisper quiet, that is for sure. Super portable and does what i need it to do.

Chris

[Dave Roock]

I have a Coleman pancake compressor I bought in 1995 - was not cheap at that time. Runs awesome still, very loud but as it gets mostly used outside not a problem. Excellent value these days. Very good to unscrew the drain plug after use to let water condensation out - saves the tank integrity.

[Tom M King]

Avoid it....

edited to add; Get the best California Air with aluminum tank/s for your budget.

[Richard Coers]

I bought a little California Air compressor on closeout at Menards a few years ago. I love it. Super quiet and does every thing you say you will use it for. I recently bought a little diode laser with air assist and am really pleased about the low sound level from the compressor. This is the model I bought, even smaller than most pancakes, but it only cost me $85. https://www.californiaairtools.com/ultra-quiet-series-of-air-compressor-contractor-grade/3-5-hp-air-compressor/cat-1p1060s/

[Allan Dozier]

I have two portables. After purchasing the California years ago the old pancake has never been used. I should give it away

[Stan Calow]

Another vote for a small California Air Tool compressor. I have the same 1 gal as Richard also bought at Menards. It runs my nail guns and fills tires without rattling my skull. Is there any advantage inherent in the design of a pancake compressor?

[Mark Wooden]

Ive had a 1hp Makita MakAir for years; has a scuba tank and can power my framing nailer when needed. But seriously noisy and it dances around when running. As I dont need to use my framing gun much anymor, I got a little Husky at the Big Orange store. 1 gallon tank, .5 hp motor, but it pretty much keeps up with my Senco FN40, and no troubles with my Airy brad nailer. And its quiet.
3 year warrant and not expensive

[Tom M King]

Here's the one I bought, and since a couple of my friends have used it to top up tires, they've bought the same model. I keep a 25' 1/4" hose tucked into the space between the tank and the compressor, so it's easy to move around. It's quieter than you would think one could possibly be, and fires full size finish nailers with no worries.

I would buy the same model again.

https://www.amazon.com/California-Air-Tools-2010A-2-0-Gallon/dp/B00TDNKBMC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=S8QDDBI973W0&keywords=california%2Bair%2Bcompressor&qid=1675017160&sprefix=california%2Bair%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-4&th=1

[Andrew More]

From what I can tell this is another area where they're all the same with different paint jobs. Even if they come out of different factories they seem to be operating with similar constraints leading to similar results. The good news is that they're usually cheap enough you can just buy one without thinking about it too much. The bad news is that you're going to likely get poor results because there isn't enough money in them to justify much else.

[Jack Frederick]

Thank you everyone. The reason to ditch the Dewalt is simply the cubes taken up and man it is noisey. I seldom use the nail guns. Maybe I will pick up a wireless Milwaukee to go with my batteries and skip a compressor for a while to see how it goes.

[Rege Sullivan]

Another endorsement for California Airtool compressor. Just can't beat the quiet and reliability for the money. Size it appropriately and it should last a long time.

[Cameron Wood]

I think there is a distinction to be made between oil-less and oil bath compressors.

While I currently have two oil-less ones, IME they are disposable and not designed for long life, especially if exposed to any weather e.g. job site. The two oil bath ones are 15 and 25 years old, respectively.

[Phillip Mitchell]

You might look at Rolair as well. I’ve had a JC10 plus for a handful of years and it’s very very quiet, plenty of capacity, well built, compact in dimensions, and easy enough to move around if you need to.

[Keith Hankins]

I'd consider just switching to batt powered pinnner/trim nailer. I've switched to Mill M18. I have an electric hvlp so dont even need it for that anymore......

[Dan Rude]

I have a 4.6 gal Husky 4610A (Cal Air model) It is very quite and is great. I did pick up the M18 Compresor, it works quite well and is quiet. I run the other guns with it Finish 15g, Brad 18g and Pin 21g. I have not tried it with my Framing Nailer yet. The Husky can run that one.

[Jason Roehl]

I had a Porter-Cable twin-hotdog compressor for over 20 years. It was a gift, but it had one of the best air delivery ratings in its class/price range. But it was noisy—darn near gave me a heart attack a few times when I left it on in the garage and it came on overnight. Last year, it developed a pin hole in the end of one of the tanks. I couldn’t see it, but I could hear and feel it. It didn’t owe me anything, so I replaced it with a California Air twin hotdog compressor with aluminum tanks. It doesn’t have quite the air delivery, but it is much, much quieter, and much lighter, not that I carry it around much due to no longer being a contractor. Very satisfied.

[derek labian]

I guess i had the opposite experience ironically, although it seems likely my experience was an anomaly. I purchased a California Air Tools "industrial" compressor for around $1500. The tank is not ASME certified (if that matters to you), but neither are the pancakes etc. It was oil-free and rated for continuous duty cycle as well. I used it fairly lightly for about 6 months before the motor "blew". CAT didn't have replacement parts, so they took the unit back (which was really nice of them), however I had no compressor. I decided to buy a pancake compressor while I waited for a few months. I paid $149 for a Bostitch and it worked great. If you can get over the noise, you can't beat the value. I couldn't get over the noise because I need a decent CFM etc. I think for the OP's situation, a Pancake compressor is pretty damn good value. I also like the Seneca oil-free compressors, I used one for around 8 years.

494517

[Derek Meyer]

I have a Porter Cable pancake compressor, and it is loud! I bought the same California Air compressor that Tom linked above, and it is way quieter and much more enjoyable to use. It has handled everything up to a 15 gauge finish nailer with no issues. I haven't tried a framing nailer, but I have a larger 240V compressor to run that, if needed.

[Tom M King]

The drain water coming out of that aluminum tank has always been clear, which must also be a good thing as well as the light weight. It's a little slow pumping up the tires on a gooseneck trailer to 80 psi, but it's still easier to move the little compressor than to back the trailer close enough to one of the big compressors. I just use a clip on air nozzle and let it do it. It's been my most used compressor since I bought it.

I have a 10 hp 2 stage pressurized oil one on a 120 gallon tank, a 5hp 2 stage 80 gallon that used to stay in a step van for site work, a twin tank somewhat portable Emglo that will run a framer https://www.lowes.com/pd/Emglo-4-Gallon-Single-Stage-Portable-Electric-Twin-Stack-Air-Compressor/3400030
, a 30 gallon single stage Husky that I wish was back where it came from, and the 2010a. They all get used, but the little one gets used most often.

I had a Senco pancake that wouldn't die, but I gave it away to someone who didn't have an air compressor. I didn't want to hear it run again.

[John Goodin]

I would buy any compressor from California Air Tools if it fit my needs. The big orange box has a few at good prices. There is enough noise in the shop with out a jet engine like compressor.