Anyone have a compressor from Harbor Freight?

[Danase]

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
I was looking to get this because I need a new air compressor. My local store has it on sale for $149.00 and I get another 10% off of that. What are your thoughts on it?

Thanks

[Coupe]

Not a bad compressor at all.
My recomendation on compressors is to get nothing smaller than a 33 gallon.

[budman3]

I have a Craftsman 33 gal. air compressor and I love it. I am able to rotate tires, blow dry cars, use a pneumatic wrench etc. I got it for about $250 last year with a few sales and promos. Right now its on sale for $299. It is oil free whereas the HF one is oil lubed. A little more maitenance but I think the oil lubed compressors are quiter. Mine is pretty loud but when I use it in the garage or outside it isn't bad at all. Theres something about HF that has me a bit weary ... whether it is just the looks of the products (cheap looking), warranties, etc ... I think I'll stick with my Craftsman tools

[MorBid]

I personally prefer oil lubed instead of those oil-less ones.

I went to the local HF for the first time last week to look around and didn't buy anything. I agree w/Budman3 in that the stuff looks like cheap Chinese knock offs.

As with anything else you get what you pay for. I would check Lowes out as well.

MorBiD

[yakky]

Costco has a similar compressor for about $200, I bought one a month or so ago, I believe its 3.5 peak hp and 25 gallon, but the actual comressor looks very similar, but the tank is ASME certified. Best part about Costco, if there is a problem, back it goes! Try that at Harbor Freight!

[BigJimZ28]

Originally Posted by yakky

Try that at Harbor Freight!

OK ........ I never had an issure with returning something at HF???

[yakky]

So they take returns 2 or 3 years later? Costco does.

[RTexasF]

I recently bought a small one form Harbor freight, they just opened up a store here in Brownsville. It's a 4 gallon 2 HP job for airing up tires and such. Was $179 reduced to $99 and I had a 10% off coupon. Works just fine for what I use it for.

[metload1]

Originally Posted by MorBid

I personally prefer oil lubed instead of those oil-less ones. MorBiD

Good point. If you are going to be using it occasionally, then oil-less is fine. But if you are going to be using it so much that the motor is going to be running almost continuously, look for an oiled one.

Also I've had really good luck with my porter cable air compressor.

[Danase]

Originally Posted by RTexasF

I recently bought a small one form Harbor freight, they just opened up a store here in Brownsville. It's a 4 gallon 2 HP job for airing up tires and such. Was $179 reduced to $99 and I had a 10% off coupon. Works just fine for what I use it for.

Thanks. I figure for as much as I will use it this compressor will be fine. I have the 10% off coupon too so I want to grab it before the coupon expires.

This is also an oil lubricated motor. I want oil because they are quieter.

[mobz75]

I have almost that identical compressor and it works great, no complaints at all, but if you are planning on using a 1/2in impact to change tires and such then you need to get one with a little more air flow. I ended up just getting an efficient 3/8 drive impact with lower flow requirements.

[Danase]

Originally Posted by mobz75

I have almost that identical compressor and it works great, no complaints at all, but if you are planning on using a 1/2in impact to change tires and such then you need to get one with a little more air flow. I ended up just getting an efficient 3/8 drive impact with lower flow requirements.

Thanks!
For some reason I like using hand tools as much as possible so I won't be using the compressor for anything major, at least not regularly. I could even make do with a much smaller compressor but I want something that, when I need more power I have it. I am torn between this one and a smaller 5 gallon portable.