The other day, I was looking for a small compressor that I could use for small projects around my house.
You know what I mean, a compressor that’s large enough to pump up a tire, drive-in finishing nails, and use for other odd jobs as needed.
As I read through the reviews online, I finally decided to purchase the Craftsman Portable Electric Pancake Air Compressor from Lowes Canada.
There are several reasons why I decided to go with this particular air compressor over the others available on the market.
First of All, this compressor is portable and easy to carry from place to place. It only weighs 30 pounds, which makes moving it around a breeze. One of the reasons I wanted a pancake compressor was so that I could move it around easily, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
It also gives me 150 Max PSI, which is useful for a variety of applications (though the smaller 6-gallon tank gives you limitations). I was looking for a compressor that gave me the ability to drive in finishing nails for installing baseboard (my old compressor didn’t have enough pressure to drive them in all the way), but also wanted to be able to use it for other things as well. The Craftsman Pancake Compressor gave me the option to use it for a variety of projects around my home.
Some sample projects could be:
- small trim
- show molding
- baseboards
- crown molding
- frames
- cabinet backing
- lattice work
- upholstery
- inflation
- automotive
This compressor also has a 2.6 SCFM (standard cubic feet per minute) at 90 PSI. This is a rating that indicates the amount of air that the tank can deliver for optimal performance for the tool. So a tool is not only rated for PSI but also SCFM. This is why impact tools won’t work with this compressor, but small jobs around the house will work fine.
This compressor also gives you two quick-connect couplers. This is great if you’re working along with someone else. You can connect nail guns to the compressor and it’s going to work well.
This compressor is also oil-free which means there is no maintenance, and it’s going to last you a very long time.
Getting Started
To get started with this compressor, you’ll need to purchase a hose. You can get this as part of a kit that includes a hose and nailer, but I only bought the compressor.
I plugged the unit in and turned it on. It didn’t take long for the compressor to fill with air and was ready to use.
Just below the tank pressure gauge is the safety valve. All you have to do is pull on the ring to operate it. At the bottom of the tank, there is also a drain valve that empties the tank of its air (you twist to open and close).
To begin, make sure the compressor is turned off and plugged into the wall. Turn the regulator valve all the way to the left to make sure it’s closed and that the gauge says 0 PSI.
Plugin your hose into one of the quick-connects on the right-hand side, and add your accessory. Then turn the compressor on and it will turn off when it hits its cut-off pressure.
Now turn on your regulator to match the PSI of the tool that you’re using.
Storage
After you’re done using your compressor, you want to make sure that you drain the air. This is because compressed air creates condensation and that water lies on the bottom of the tank. Over time, this will cause the compressor to fail.
To drain the compressor, turn the compressor off and the regulator all the way to the left. Next, empty the compressor using the safety valve until it reaches 20 PSI, and then empty the rest of the PSI using the drain plug at the bottom.
Conclusion
This is a great compressor that is light and easy to transport.
The price is also excellent – you’ll probably be able to pick it up for around $200.
Overall, this compressor did precisely what I needed it to do, and I am thrilled with my purchase.
The links below allow you to learn more about the Craftsman Portable Pancake Air Compressor.
