Thomas Compressors T-30-Horsepower 12 Amp 1-1/4-Horsepower 4-1/2-Gallon Oil-Free Pancake Tank Compressor

Many times the difference in quality between two products is not in the broad strokes but in the minute details. The Thomas compressor is extraordinary. First off it is quiet. If you work in a home that is occupied, this compressor is a God-send. Second, the unit can run on any circuit I have found so far. Were talking about old 15 amp circuits with 200' runs from the panel, with old poor condition wire and plugs. Not a problem.

The real key with this compressor is the fine details, the balance. The tank valve used to drain water from the tank turns clockwise to open. It doesn't seal by tightening with pressure but by spinning the valve to it's lower threads which seals up the tank. Anybody who has owned a compressor knows that after a short while you start to hear hissing and sure enough, you have to find a wrench or pair of pliers etc., to sinch down the valve. But after two years of near daily use, the valve on the Thomas still opens and closes easily by hand. It...Read more

I'm surprised how few Thomas compressors I see in the hands of builders, as Thomas not only owns the patents for airless compressors, they're one of the biggest and best compressor makers in the country. Thomas machines are the standard in applications like air brushing and medical compressors and aspirators.

I bought my Thomas after reading a comparitive review in Fine Homebuilding, and I wasn't diasppointed. Build quality is top notch, and the machine is suprisingly quiet in operation. This pancake unit is ideal for a finish carpenter or two. Put it in the next room and you'll hardly notice it kicking on and off.

I bought the Thomas to replace an old Craftsman compressor. The Craftsman was very noisy and sucked up power like a vacuum gathering dust bunnies. The Thomas is soooo quite I almost enjoy hearing it run. It works just fine on the limited power in my home workshop and has plenty of air for all my needs. Only negatives are: (1) the price, a bit high in terms of cu.ft/min/dollar and (2) the pressure gauge for the tank is not visible from the output line pressure gauge. In order to see the tank gauge, you have to walk around the tank and bend over. The negatives are far outweighed by the positives and it seems to be a very well made unit. I like it.