PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR

[Gary in Texas]

I purchased the Porter Cable Model C2002 (6 gallon pancake compressor) air compressor 13 months ago to replace a similar PC unit that had lasted me a decade.  Last night, while it was building up the air supply after a brief use, I heard the motor slowing down, got quite slow for the last 5-10 seconds or so....and then it made the usual shut off noise.  I keep it in a spare room to minimize the noise.  I was curious about the slow stop, opened the door to the room it resides in, only to discover an electrical burn smell.  Smoke was rising out of the unit.  I unplugged and took it outside to a safe place.  Obviously, the motor burned out.  [crying]

Called PC repair this morning, probable cost to repair....$99.  Cost of a new unit today at Lowes...$99!!!  [eek]

I won't purchase another PC air compressor.  I do have a large Cobalt compressor I typically use in the shop, but still need a portable unit for off site or where having a portable unit close to the work makes sense....

I'm looking at the California Air (CAT-4610A) 6 gallon unit, the Makita MAC700 Big Bore, or the Rolair JC10 as possible replacements.  Can anyone recommend pro or con against any of these replacement units?  Would appreciate all comments or suggestions...

Thanks,

Gary

Edited to correct CAT model number....

 

[Ed Bray]

Not going to go for the Festool Varient then?  [wink]

 

[bigjonh]

I have the Makita, it's quiet, tough, but heavy. Just like me.  [big grin] I'm happy with it.

 

[Staniam]

Not going to go for the Festool Varient then?  [wink]

What's the Festool variant?

 

[WastedP]

I'm looking at the California Air (CAT-6310) 6 gallon unit, the Makita MAC700 Big Bore, or the Rolair JC10 as possible replacements.  Can anyone recommend pro or con against any of these replacement units?  Would appreciate all comments or suggestions...

Thanks,

Gary

Those seem like three dissimilar choices.

I was looking into the PC1010 and the Rol-Air AB5, but then started looking into the JC10 as a replacement for my prehistoric (and pre-DeWalt) Emglo.  I'll keep the Emglo for the shop, but I'm looking for a small compressor to take to those jobs where i'm only shooting a few brads.

The JC10 seems to have the same motor/pump as the California 1610, which has an aluminum tank.  After doing some research, I think I'll be getting the California over the Rol-Air in the next few weeks.  Lighter, lower price, same pump.

The MAC700 is quiet, but top-heavy.  It's easy to tip over.  It's big, so it doesn't run very often if you're just doing trim work.  I liked it, and would recommend it, especially if you have an occasional need to run larger guns or multiple guns.

 

[Gary in Texas]

Bigjonh, thanks for the input...

WastedIP, the similarities are only in size and ability to move them around.  Thank you for your input.

I noted the wrong California Air unit though in my original post, the one I will probably get, or at least leaning towards at this time, is the CAT-4610A.....

Gary

 

[rljatl]

I'm looking at the California Air (CAT-6310) 6 gallon unit, the Makita MAC700 Big Bore, or the Rolair JC10 as possible replacements.  Can anyone recommend pro or con against any of these replacement units?  Would appreciate all comments or suggestions...

Thanks,

Gary

Those seem like three dissimilar choices.

I was looking into the PC1010 and the Rol-Air AB5, but then started looking into the JC10 as a replacement for my prehistoric (and pre-DeWalt) Emglo.  I'll keep the Emglo for the shop, but I'm looking for a small compressor to take to those jobs where i'm only shooting a few brads.

The JC10 seems to have the same motor/pump as the California 1610, which has an aluminum tank.  After doing some research, I think I'll be getting the California over the Rol-Air in the next few weeks.  Lighter, lower price, same pump.

The MAC700 is quiet, but top-heavy.  It's easy to tip over.  It's big, so it doesn't run very often if you're just doing trim work.  I liked it, and would recommend it, especially if you have an occasional need to run larger guns or multiple guns.

The Rolair JC10 and the CAT 1610 are very similar.  However, the Rolair JC10 has a 2.5 gallon tank vs. the CAT 1610 1.6 gallon tank.  Weight appears to be the same.

 

[peter halle]

I can't compare all the models.  I can tell you that I am so glad that I stopped using my 2 PC pancake compressors and got the JC-10.  The performance is better, the noise is so much less, and except for the muffler the guts are protected from most forms of damage.

Peter

 

[Scott B.]

I can't compare all the models. 
Peter

Slacker.  [cool]

 

[Tinker]

I wood go for the JC10.  It is light weight but big on production for its size. I cannot compare it to any of those other models you mentioned, but I have had a Bostich 6 gal(?) pancake and a whole lot of Craftsman "throw-aways".  The JC 10 I have had out in my barn for a couple of years.  It is very quiet and i use it for running my impact air wrench to tighten lug nuts on my truck, trailer and mowers.  I fill tires of all of them as well. 60#'s on my equipment trailer. 50#s on the truck. The recovery time is especially quick.  I also use it for driving brads in my wood shop.  i don't do many at one installation, so i can't tell you how many it will do in succession, but it could keep up with my old Sears 10 gallon compressor if it was still operable.
Tinker

 

[peter halle]

I can't compare all the models. 
Peter

Slacker.  [cool]

Blogger, author, instructor, and painter.  [thumbs up] [poke]

 

[WastedP]

The Rolair JC10 and the CAT 1610 are very similar.  However, the Rolair JC10 has a 2.5 gallon tank vs. the CAT 1610 1.6 gallon tank.  Weight appears to be the same.

I read that the JC10 weighs 42 pounds vs 34 for the CAT-1610.  Weight and size play heavy into my decision.  If I thought the PC1010 was as well-made as the others, I'd buy it at only 20-odd pounds.  On Amazon the JC10 is priced at $240 vs. $165 for the CAT-1610.  I'm intrigued by the California's aluminum tank, but that's not a make-it/break-it factor.

 

[rljatl]

The Rolair JC10 and the CAT 1610 are very similar.  However, the Rolair JC10 has a 2.5 gallon tank vs. the CAT 1610 1.6 gallon tank.  Weight appears to be the same.

I read that the JC10 weighs 42 pounds vs 34 for the CAT-1610.  Weight and size play heavy into my decision.  If I thought the PC1010 was as well-made as the others, I'd buy it at only 20-odd pounds.  On Amazon the JC10 is priced at $240 vs. $165 for the CAT-1610.  I'm intrigued by the California's aluminum tank, but that's not a make-it/break-it factor.

The shipping weight for the Rolair JC10 is 39 lbs.  $240
Rolair JC10A

The shipping weight for the CAT 1610 is 37.6 lbs.  $165
CAT 1610

I wonder what the difference is between the 1610A and the 1610ALFC?  Shipping weight is 38 lbs.  $285
CAT 1610ALFC

 

[Gary in Texas]

Can we throw the California Air CAT-4610A into the mix?  I was looking at something portable, not too heavy, but with a larger tank capacity.....

 

[WastedP]

I spent more than a healthy amount of time last weekend looking over the pump specs on California Air's site.  I had the crazy idea that I should build my own small compressor.  **SPOILER ALERT** The pumps aren't cheap, you are better off just buying a compressor.  I am pretty sure that the first two numbers of the model number are tank capacity ("16" = 1.6 gal), the last two are motor HP ("10" = 1.0), the "A" signifies aluminum tank(s), and LF indicates the long-life motor rated at 4000 hours instead of 3000.  So the 4610A would have 4.6 gallon aluminum tanks and a one horse motor/pump.

Given the price of the Rol-Air vs the 1610, I'm wondering if the Rol-Air has the long-life motor.  I haven't seen a spec sheet that specifically calls out the model of motor they are using, but from the photos and the specs they look identical.  But so do California's MP and LF series motors.

>>edit:  The two digits for the motor designation are "50" for 1/2 HP and "75" for 3/4 HP, which doesn't exactly fit the scheme I wrote above.  Also, if anyone can figure out if the JC10 has the LF motor or not, I would like to know, that might affect my decision.

 

[WastedP]

This thread has pretty much scared me away from the CAT-1610A.  At 35+ pounds, that size (including the JC10) seems like a small step down from my Emglo.  I'm looking at the Senco PC1010 and the Rol-Air AB5, which seem to have very similar specs, but with a $40 premium for the Rol-Air or the PC1010N.  I know a few guys that use the PC1010 daily, for a lot more work than I would be putting it to, and it's adequate.  More than adequate for $110, but I'm willing to pay more for something better.

Does anyone know of any other ~20 lb compressors in this class to compare it to?

 

[Tinker]

I have a Senco 1010 and it is much lighter weight than my JC10.  It is also a LOT noisier and has much lower work capacity than my JC10.  I can drive very few brads with it (I have never counted, but it runs low on air very quickly.  It takes forever to recover.  There is no comparison to the Rolair JC 10.  I can get from 0#'s pressure to 75 in about two minutes.  From there, i can fill tires or run my impact wrench with very little wait time when the pressure drops.

I don't remember the actual time it takes me to loosen lugs on my trailer and my truck.  I timed it when I first got it, but don't really remember (they say the memory starts to fail when one gets to 39  [blink]).  I just remember the operation was a whole lot faster than with my big 10 gallon Craftsman.  It also seemed as fast as my old 6gal pancake I had long ago. I can't tell you the specs on all of the compressors I have had.  If they do the job at a reasonable speed, I am happy.  If they don't, they make me grumpy. That makes my wife grumpy and that I don't like.  The JC 10 keeps us all on an even keel.  [big grin]
Tinker

 

[smartcarpie]

My four year old PC pancake died recently too.  It actually didn't see much use. Lived in the tongue box of the trailer with a reel, hardwired to trailer shore power so I could pull the hose to the door or window and clip on a clean one in the house.  But not many hours on it at all.

Rolair JC10 has been great.  No complaints and keeps up fine.  Tank is big enough, using lots of pins this week and occasionally checking to make sure it's actually switched on.  Square shape packs very well in the truck with systainers too.

Makita big bore is awesome but a moose to carry.

Have a senco 1010 in a systainer, love that too but it runs a lot.  Had to replace one, probably smoked it being dumb and running a floor nailer to do a small job and too lazy to bring in a bigger one...

 

[Luzzy]

I have the Jc-10 for the shop and the Senco 1010 in a systainer. If you're looking for lightweight,quiet,mobile - the Senco is sweet. The Rolair would be my first choice but the Senco for 109.00 is a great little compressor,

 

[WastedP]

Makita joins the ~20 lb market segment.  I read one review that compared it to the PC1010 and said it was louder.  It's more expensive.

I ordered the PC1010 after talking to one more person last week that owns one.  Total stranger, but he was telling me how handy it is for punch list work.  I'm not sure why, probably the $200 price tag, but I bought the set that comes with a Finish Pro 10 23 gauge nailer.  I don't own a pinner, and I have never been real happy with any of the ones I've used (I've never tried the Grex).  It seems like after the first time they jam, they never work right again.

I'm looking forward to carrying half the weight when need be.  I've still got the Emglo for stapling a floor or keeping in the shop.

Gary (OP), what did you decide on?