Thomas Compressors T-635HD 6 Amp 3/4-Horsepower 2-Gallon Oil-Free Hot Dog Compressor

I was looking for a portable and not overly loud air compressor, for my low air-volume tools. I had a 4-gallon pancake compressor for several years, but at 70 lbs., it was just too heavy and bulky to lug around. Sold it and purchased the inexpensive Sears Craftsman model 15210, a 2 gallon, oil unit. The Sears unit came with numerous accessories and was only 40 lbs. -- much more portable than the pancake unit. Unfortunately, it was also VERY noisy, so it was returned.

My third attempt at a portable was the winner. The Thomas 3/4 HP model, at 26 pounds, is so lightweight that I can comfortably pick it up with TWO fingers. It's also very small: 16" long, 17.5" high, and 7" deep. Quality is first rate. Although it hardly qualifies as "quiet", it isn't nearly as noisy as other compressors I've heard. I installed a 16" stainless steel braided faucet plumbing hose on the compressor's air-outlet port; routed the hose out the back under the motor support, and screwed on a...Read more

I've had mine for four years now. It's quiet, powerful and never gives me any trouble. I've used it to run nailers in remodeling my house, fill tires on occasion, run my Critter spray gun and blow dust out of corners in my shop. I loaned it to a friend for a month so he could build a back porch. Still looks and runs like new. From what I'm told, it's hard to wear these out, and if you do, Thomas has the parts to do an easy rebuild.

Update: It's been eight years now since I bought it for a home remodeling project. It's still driving nails, spraying paint and varnish, filling tires, and blowing dust, and it still works like it did when it was new.

It is ideal for any small project contactor. You can use a framer with it, its very quiet, its light, it recompresses quickly, and has low electrical draw. I no longer use my emglo (unless I'm on a job more than a week with strictly framing). Spare your back one less heavy thing to pick up all the time and get one of these wonderfully engineered compressors.