Does anyone have HF's 21 (item #61454) or 8 (item #68740 or #69667) gallon air compressor? http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...mpressors.html

How is it? Any problems?

I need a reasonable small portable one, for small in-house upholstery jobs, that will last at least a year. *The above 21 gal. may be too heavy, for lifting into my truck.

I bought a (looked like new) Bostich 6 gal., for $100 (New, retail $159 at WalMart), at a pawn shop, 8 days ago, and it lasted for 4 operations/refills of my portable 7 gal. tank. Was upholstering benches in a local cafe (in house work, only) and it didn't last to the end of the job. I do have a 30 warranty on it, though.

I'm tempted to give one of the HF units a try, but would like some feedback/info about them, if any.

Thanks.
Sonny

This may be the appropriate link.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...ributeSelected

Sonny

On Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1:44:36 PM UTC-5, Sonny wrote:
Does anyone have HF's 21 (item #61454) or 8 (item #68740 or #69667) gallon air compressor? http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...mpressors.html

How is it? Any problems?

I need a reasonable small portable one, for small in-house upholstery jobs, that will last at least a year. *The above 21 gal. may be too heavy, for lifting into my truck.

You know, I looked at the header and thought, well... what's the odds of having the same exact compressor he is asking about? Read the post, clicked on the link, and nearly fell out of the chair laughing.

I have this one

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-gal-2...sor-69667.html

and have been using it for about 7 years. I bought this compressor for two reasons; 1) would NOT pay the money needed get a really nicely made compressor that would move that much air, and 2) when I bought mine it was $89, now frequently anywhere from $99 to $110 on sale.

I bought the extended "exchange" warranty on it as I was thinking, well, it IS HF, and sometimes they hit and sometimes they miss. This one was a hit and I have had no problems whatsoever with it. Its hardest use is when I paint with it as I use it to power my HVLP CAS guns, so on those days of heavy spraying it runs constantly all day long and is just short of red hot. It has done more than a few all day paints since I have had it since it also gets used to spray doors, trims, and anything else I want. The point being, it has had the hell used out of it.

I use a hot dog or a pan cake when doing trims and finish outs, but when I do light framing, decking, shingling, or fencing, this machine goes to those jobs as well. It still works fine and I will be using it next week to "factory finish" some exterior doors with a high performance enamel.

The same compressor is sold by many with the cowling being the only difference, and if you catch this one on sale, it's a heckuva deal as the difference in price will pay for the extended warranty. Note the difference between the two similar units is the cowling; one configuration protect the motor more, and the other protect the compressor head more. I bought the one I did it protected the motor more against drift as it was covered (leaving the head more exposed).

Here's one of the same from HD

http://goo.gl/mZDOIf

with the head cowel configuration. They also brand this compressor for Sears, Northern tool, and others as well. When I bought the one I have there were no other inexpensive alternatives, and I needed a heavy air pusher right away. Glad I found this one as the DeWalt/Emglo equivalent at that time was around $600. The irony? When buying parts for one of my other compressors the guy at the compressor repair shop told me they probably had the same compressor head on it (PUMA) brand, but the DeWalt might have a better motor. Other than that...

As always with HF, your mileage may vary. But for me, if this one craps out I will go right down and buy the same one again.

A comment on uprights. Personally, I don't like them. The one you referenced is top heavy and meant to be a shop compressor that is only moved once in a while. If the compressor is bumped and falls over, or tips (or slants heavily) in your vehicle due to unforeseen circumstances the oil will leak from the head. You can put more oil in, but the compressor will spit oil out for some time. As an oil splasher (as opposed to a pump system) the cylinder can be in a certain position and the oil can leak out like nobody's business. I don't remember if the cylinder is in the up or down stroke that allows it to leak, but the last thing I want is spraying oil.

I actually had the compressor above land on its side during an emergency stop and it rode that way all the way back to my shop. When I got there, it had lost about 6 oz or so of oil. The profile is so low, and with the pull handle on the front and the lift handle on the back it is easy to secure so that hasn't happened since.

Robert

On 4/16/2016 1:44 PM, Sonny wrote:
Does anyone have HF's 21 (item #61454) or 8 (item #68740 or #69667) gallon air compressor? http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...mpressors.html

How is it? Any problems?

I need a reasonable small portable one, for small in-house upholstery jobs, that will last at least a year. *The above 21 gal. may be too heavy, for lifting into my truck.

I bought a (looked like new) Bostich 6 gal., for $100 (New, retail $159 at WalMart), at a pawn shop, 8 days ago, and it lasted for 4 operations/refills of my portable 7 gal. tank. Was upholstering benches in a local cafe (in house work, only) and it didn't last to the end of the job. I do have a 30 warranty on it, though.

I'm tempted to give one of the HF units a try, but would like some feedback/info about them, if any.

Thanks.
Sonny



I don't have that one but do have this one and or one very much like it.
I prefer oiled vs. non oil lubed.



http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...sor-62763.html

I got it for jobs similar to what you want one for. Small enough that
is can be easily loaded. Plenty big enough for most any nail gun or
stapler.

I do not use is much but it is probably 5~6 years old and has not given
a hint of a problem.

On Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 4:52:39 PM UTC-5, Leon wrote:

I don't have that one but do have this one and or one very much like it.
I prefer oiled vs. non oil lubed.

I prefer the oil lubed, also.

Went by HF and checked them out. Hesitated to buy, came home and, after reading both yours and Robert's posts, I'll go get the #69667, with ext warranty.

Thanks again.
Sonny

wrote:
On Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1:44:36 PM UTC-5, Sonny wrote:
Does anyone have HF's 21 (item #61454) or 8 (item #68740 or #69667) gallon air compressor? http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...mpressors.html

How is it? Any problems?

I need a reasonable small portable one, for small in-house upholstery jobs, that will last at least a year. *The above 21 gal. may be too heavy, for lifting into my truck.

You know, I looked at the header and thought, well... what's the odds of having the same exact compressor he is asking about? Read the post, clicked on the link, and nearly fell out of the chair laughing.

I have this one

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-gal-2...sor-69667.html

and have been using it for about 7 years. I bought this compressor for two reasons; 1) would NOT pay the money needed get a really nicely made compressor that would move that much air, and 2) when I bought mine it was $89, now frequently anywhere from $99 to $110 on sale.

I bought the extended "exchange" warranty on it as I was thinking, well, it IS HF, and sometimes they hit and sometimes they miss. This one was a hit and I have had no problems whatsoever with it. Its hardest use is when I paint with it as I use it to power my HVLP CAS guns, so on those days of heavy spraying it runs constantly all day long and is just short of red hot. It has done more than a few all day paints since I have had it since it also gets used to spray doors, trims, and anything else I want. The point being, it has had the hell used out of it.

I use a hot dog or a pan cake when doing trims and finish outs, but when I do light framing, decking, shingling, or fencing, this machine goes to those jobs as well. It still works fine and I will be using it next week to "factory finish" some exterior doors with a high performance enamel.

The same compressor is sold by many with the cowling being the only difference, and if you catch this one on sale, it's a heckuva deal as the difference in price will pay for the extended warranty. Note the difference between the two similar units is the cowling; one configuration protect the motor more, and the other protect the compressor head more. I bought the one I did it protected the motor more against drift as it was covered (leaving the head more exposed).

Here's one of the same from HD

http://goo.gl/mZDOIf

with the head cowel configuration. They also brand this compressor for Sears, Northern tool, and others as well. When I bought the one I have there were no other inexpensive alternatives, and I needed a heavy air pusher right away. Glad I found this one as the DeWalt/Emglo equivalent at that time was around $600. The irony? When buying parts for one of my other compressors the guy at the compressor repair shop told me they probably had the same compressor head on it (PUMA) brand, but the DeWalt might have a better motor. Other than that...

As always with HF, your mileage may vary. But for me, if this one craps out I will go right down and buy the same one again.

A comment on uprights. Personally, I don't like them. The one you referenced is top heavy and meant to be a shop compressor that is only moved once in a while. If the compressor is bumped and falls over, or tips (or slants heavily) in your vehicle due to unforeseen circumstances the oil will leak from the head. You can put more oil in, but the compressor will spit oil out for some time. As an oil splasher (as opposed to a pump system) the cylinder can be in a certain position and the oil can leak out like nobody's business. I don't remember if the cylinder is in the up or down stroke that allows it to leak, but the last thing I want is spraying oil.

I actually had the compressor above land on its side during an emergency stop and it rode that way all the way back to my shop. When I got there, it had lost about 6 oz or so of oil. The profile is so low, and with the pull handle on the front and the lift handle on the back it is easy to secure so that hasn't happened since.

Robert

I had one that looked similar for many years, but believe it was oil
less. Finally gave it away because of the racket it made. Had to
replace the capacitor--HF ordered it for me and it took about 3 months
to get it. Obviously had to be shipped from China.

--
GW Ross

Life is uncertain...eat dessert first!

On Sat, 16 Apr 2016 11:44:32 -0700 (PDT), Sonny
wrote:

Does anyone have HF's 21 (item #61454) or 8 (item #68740 or #69667) gallon air compressor? http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...mpressors.html

How is it? Any problems?

I need a reasonable small portable one, for small in-house upholstery jobs, that will last at least a year. *The above 21 gal. may be too heavy, for lifting into my truck.

I bought a (looked like new) Bostich 6 gal., for $100 (New, retail $159 at WalMart), at a pawn shop, 8 days ago, and it lasted for 4 operations/refills of my portable 7 gal. tank. Was upholstering benches in a local cafe (in house work, only) and it didn't last to the end of the job. I do have a 30 warranty on it, though.

I'm tempted to give one of the HF units a try, but would like some feedback/info about them, if any.

Thanks.
Sonny

If you buy one, buy some oil too, after about an hour of run time
change the oil to get rid of chips, etc. Then again after twenty four
hours of usage. It will go a long way to extending the life of the
compressor and the bearings in it. That first run can sometimes
destroy these things.

Also, you might want to get and air oil filter if you paint or stain.
These things do pump oil, but not quite enough for lubing air tools.
Some of their air and oil filters do not fit together well, they do
also sell oil kits for pneumatic tools.

Other than being real noisy they work well, but the oiless is noisy,
noisy with a short life.

On Friday, April 22, 2016 at 2:09:24 AM UTC-5, OFWW wrote:

If you buy one, buy some oil too, after about an hour of run time
change the oil to get rid of chips, etc. Then again after twenty four
hours of usage.

Yep, the instructions were good, simple and direct. As you say, run an hour, change the oil.... repeat in 24 hrs.

Also, you might want to get and air oil filter if you paint or stain.
These things do pump oil, but not quite enough for lubing air tools.
Some of their air and oil filters do not fit together well, they do
also sell oil kits for pneumatic tools.

Mostly for the smaller in-house upholstery jobs.
I'll keep an eye on the filters.

Other than being real noisy they work well, but the oiless is noisy,
noisy with a short life.

Noise is tolerable, so for. I have a 7 gal portable tank, also, often used indoors, after a refill from a/the compressor (preferrably outdoors in these situations). This latest job was a bit different, so a smaller on-site compressor was needed.

Thanks.
Sonny