I should mention that I am NOT affiliated with Harbor Freight in any way. I just didn't see much out there on this compressor when I was considering buying it, so I thought I'd share my experience/impressions of it to help out if you're considering a new quiet compressor.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

@@Mindyourbusiness6665 As far as I know, it just uses the 'regular' 1/4" M style that you get everywhere. It may have a universal coupler though, I haven't tried it with different styles. (I actually switched the rest of my fittings out for high flow couplings which have a slightly different style quick connect.

@MaMa-qh4dy

2 жыл бұрын

California brand is the quietest

@dubmob151

2 жыл бұрын

Video is linked by Harbor freight in their ads, so you're affiliated in that way, like it or not 😉

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

@@dubmob151 It's the world we live in I guess lol

@jonpenguin303

22 күн бұрын

Is your 10 gallon fortress still working? Any issues with it over the time you've had it?

I've had this unit for about 6 months and I'm more than happy with it. It fills fast, is very easy to move around although the manifold disconnect sticks out to one side and it would be easy to bang that into something and break it off. The regulator handle is notoriously weak on all of these HF compressors, so don't bear down on it like it's a lug nut. Be gentle with it. The best aspect of this unit however is the sound level. You can stand right over top of it and have a normal volume conversation. My gf can't hear it when she's upstairs watching TV or working and that makes all of us happy.

Thanks for this review, it was very informative I actually wanted to see it compared to the 2 gallon. I'll pick up this 10 gallon soon.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad it was helpful!

You little Fortress looks to have the same super-quiet motor as my California Air compressor. Had it for years now. Works great!

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

I've noticed a lot of companies copying that design (I'm assuming after the patent expired). Definitely a huge difference from a traditional compressor.

Redaction on my defective comment, I was not getting power, thus it would not power on, it works great when you have it plugged into working outlet. This thing runs great and quite. I like it, sorry for the previous bad comment, my bad.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update!

Great video - thank you for posting! The bigger one actually sounds a little quieter from the video.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I've been really happy with it so far!

Thanks for this, I think I'm going to buy one! My old Husky 13 gallon oil free direct drive is kept in the basement and when it kicks on, my girlfriend doesn't like it at all. LoL

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a win-win right there. You get a new compressor, and your girlfriend stays happy!

Congratulations I'm getting the 2 gallon you have this week👍🏻

@TheAfterWorkGarage

Жыл бұрын

Nice, it's a good little compressor!

I was looking at these the other day. I've stayed doing bicycle repair work from home and something like this would be perfect for tires and cleaning

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

If you're just filling tires and light dusting, even the small one might work, but this has been great for me so far. Really exceeded my expectations.

@trinogt

2 жыл бұрын

The small one is terrible for high volume, like car tires- takes forever to bring pressure up even 10 psi

At 4.6CFM @90 lbs you can run a small plazma cutter and impact wrench and a nailer but being only 10 gal. And it takes a bit to fill and the recovery takes longer but it’s oil less pump is nice for colder weather ! How’s the Mercury coming ?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Garage work took a little bit of a back seat during the holidays and because of work things in the new year, but I'm back and working on it, and hopefully will have a video out in the near future. Thanks!

Hi thanks for the video. What I'd really like to know is what's the capacity of the 10 gallon fortress is for using air tools such as drills and impact Devices. The big factor seems to be the SCFM rating. Could you give some feedback as the hell they actually operate with some real tools that require greater airflow?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Of course it varies by how you use it, but in my experience, it runs all of my impacts fine. The only time it has noticeably decreased in air capacity is when I have used a puller on a really stuck crank bolt and just had the hammer down for 30+ seconds. Drilling and die grinding are fine in short bursts, but the revs start to drop on the tool after maybe 10 seconds (it still runs though). I haven't measured it, and it's not a substitute for a large shop are supply, but for me, it works just fine.

Thanks for the video. Do you know, roughly, what the dimensions are? I can't find that info on the HF site.

What would you say the main advantages you will get from from 10gal vs the 2gal? What tools/uses couldn't the 2 gal one do that the10 gal can?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

It makes a huge difference in being able to use air tools. Even a half inch impact would start to run the air down if I used it too long with the 2 gallon one, which is why I initially had it hooked up to a 7 gal. tank to increase the capacity. I don't have the problem at all with the 10 gallon version, though I still have the 7 gallon reservoir tank attached. The biggest difference is with my air drill, which was basically unusable for anything other than screwing in a few screws and then waiting for the tank to fill back up. With the 10 gallon, it's basically good to go for whatever I've needed it for (drilling holes in wood/metal etc.) My advice is if you're in doubt, get the bigger one.

Thanks for the video. I bought the 2 gallon but the tank just isn't big enough for me. What is the width of the 10 gallon from wheel to wheel? I hope it will fit in the space I have in my garage.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

I don't know of the top of my head, though I will say you could probably take the wheels off and replace them with rubber feet which would save you about two inches if space is really tight.

Mind me asking what you're using it for? Trying to find something that I can use for house projects, but also to swap wheels on my vehicles. Thanks!

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

I'm using it for air around my shop, and primarily to run air tools. I after a bit of time running it with impacts and especially an air drill, I can tell you that it supplies more than enough air for my needs, though I will say I still have it running through a 7 gallon external tank to give me a little more reserve (probably at the expense of flow).

I have owned compressors for small duty to medium duty a 10 gal does some work. Air drills or any tool that needs or gets continuous use you will find these compressors never stop running also their is a very minimum of air to run them to do continuous work. I have a 5 gallon pancake compressor which is oil bath not just a ring/piston without oil . Most of these run fast which means they get hot that produces water in the lines and you have to trap that water or ruin your tools. A high quality compressor runs way slower to reduce wear and to cut water trapped in the lines a big difference also they pump up very fast so they can run 2 tools continuously and keep up with air loss. I wish they could come up with a more efficient pump and motor set up which could keep up with air loss and not run so fast. Oil bath is way better because without oil the heat can cause it to wear out faster and seize up.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment - I completely agree that for continuous use, you'd definitely want something larger. That said, for the money and what I use it for, it's been great (and much nicer to live with in the same space). I will say the 7gal tank I added has been nice allowing me to use an air drill/die grinder for basically as long as I need to use them for the jobs I've done. If I ever get set up with a dream shop, I'll definitely be getting a standing oil bathed compressor for a shop air system!

I have a stand up large air compressor but way to loud. I'd rather use cordless or corded equipment than listening to it. Something like this would be great if it will run a cutoff wheel to cut through metal without bogging down?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

I think most compressors this size are going to struggle running high demand tools like a cutoff wheel for extended periods. I don't use an pneumatic cutoff wheel, so I can't speak to this in particular, but I do run an air drill and air ratchets which use a fair bit of air flow. I would say this compressor would have no problem running a cutoff wheel for short periods, but wouldn't be adequate for longer periods of use. As for bogging down, that's more about the individual cutoff wheel, as this compressor puts off plenty of psi.

Thanks for the review and reminder of the toilet this country has turned into. This same unit is now $299 up from $170 just a year ago.

@rgr4475

Жыл бұрын

It's $329.99 now 😔

@dorriesmith2177

Жыл бұрын

@@rgr4475 I just paid 319!!

@suzukisentinel9570

4 ай бұрын

Bidenomics ~ @@rgr4475

By the way all your videos are very informative.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I'm glad they're helpful!

Nice video, i just ordered one today. Does the compressor only go to 155 psi? I thought it said 175 psi on the side of it.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. It seems to only go to about 155-160 on the onboard dial.

@wormhole331

3 жыл бұрын

175 for the tank. 155 out if the regulator

Hi I need your advice I watch your videos from time to time to educate myself so I lease my Toyota highlander here in New York but my tires lose a lot of times I brought to the dealership they said no leaks just needed air it's because of the weather some days it will drop to 32 degrees the next day it be up 43 degrees so I lose air and the tire light comes on in order to shut it off the tires have to be at 36 PSI in each tire. Can you recommend a air compressor for my truck. Thank you so much William

@TheAfterWorkGarage

Жыл бұрын

I know there's a lot of small inflation pumps that use the cigarette lighter in the truck for power. These aren't actually compressors, but given that you can just keep it in the truck somewhere, it might be convenient. Otherwise something like the small compressor in this video would be quite nice to keep around in your garage/shop for inflating tires.

The air storage tanks at HF can they be hooked up to this compressor to make this a 20 gallon setup??

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

If you have the fittings, you can hook it up to basically anything. I would recommend removing the stock valve on the storage tank and replacing it with a much less restrictive T-fitting. Also know that a larger reservoir is going to give you a little more time before the compressor kicks in, but doesn't fundamentally change the air it can deliver continuously. So if you need more air for continuous spraying/grinding etc. then you'd be much better off with a bigger compressor.

@buffalophil3630

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAfterWorkGarage thank you bro I appreciate the input shockingly this 10 gallon holds that continuous pressure very well so that extra tank isn't even necessary

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

@@buffalophil3630 I'm glad, that's great to hear!

What are the dimensions on this thing?

Can you run sand blaster from harbor freight with this 10 gallon version?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

I haven't tried to run a sand blaster off of this, but my guess is it's probably not large enough for continuous running. This is also going to depend on the sand blaster, and the job.

Still working as good and quiet in 2022 ? Thanks, Gerry from NC

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, just used it this weekend, and it's running great so far. I don't use it every day, however I have a bad habit of leaving it on when I leave, so it definitely runs when I'm not there to top up the slow loss from my air system.

How many watts?

Would you recommend the 2 or 10 gallon for airing up 80 psi tires and blow gun use to clean the garage?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

Жыл бұрын

For filling tires either is fine. A blowgun is tricky, since it will quickly deplete the 2gal reserve, but as long as you're not trying to use it like a leaf blower, you would likely be ok. That said, if you can swing it, the larger capacity compressor will always be better, and allow for more options.

@rideoutwest7885

Жыл бұрын

@@TheAfterWorkGarage appreciate it. I have the 2 gallon now and take my tires from 55psi to 75 in 80 seconds. Would the 4.1 scfm in the 10 gallon fill it up any quicker? I feel it'd be overkill just to fill a 10 gallon tank to pump my tires up on the weekend to tow. I have zero interest in air tools as all my impacts are battery.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

Жыл бұрын

@@rideoutwest7885 The 10 gallon tank definitely fills up slower, but not horribly so. That said, remember that you have more pressurized air from the 10gal, so your tires would likely fill up faster. If you're just using it for inflation (and not on pit lane), and occasional intermittent blow gun air, then the 2 gal would probably be fine.

@rideoutwest7885

Жыл бұрын

@@TheAfterWorkGarage thanks for the feedback!

Enough about the noise level, how is it performing?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

It's performing great so far. I have it hooked up to a small intermediate reservoir tank, but it's supplied more than enough air for an air drill/impacts/air ratchet. The smaller version wouldn't run a drill properly after about the first 30 seconds, so this is a big improvement. My guess is that if your air demands are higher, it may be undersized, but for what I'm doing, it works great.

How long would you say it take to fill up?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't time it exactly, but I'd say from 0psi it gets up to about 90 pretty quickly, then takes probably another minute or so to reach the cutoff psi.

i just bought the 2 gal n love it

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I'm a fan. I honestly wasn't trying to advertise anything, just found something I liked and thought I'd share. Glad you like yours!

@glen8449

3 ай бұрын

Is it good enough for car tires.

@wolfpacak47

3 ай бұрын

@@glen8449 the 2 gal I have is yes that's what I use it for air up my car tires it's super silent and pumps up super fast to

Did you say this was 175 on sale? Its 299 right now. I don't know what the pandemic has done to the price of this air compressor. I should probably just go for the 2 gallon one but I'd go for this one at 175 no brainer. The 2 Gallon is 159 right now.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I used one of the 20% off coupon when I got this a while back. It was a good deal at that price. Not sure what comparable ones go for, but I'd definitely try to wait for some kind of sale.

$170?!? Dang, COVID prices these days bumped the price of this way up to $350. Why couldn't my 20 year old tank blow a year ago.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

I just stopped by HF the other day, and you're right. That's crazy - hopefully they start running decent sales again soon.

@blenderbenderguy

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheAfterWorkGarage "The times they are a-changin"..... it's on sale now for $300, bet that's as good as it's gonna get these days.

@dubmob151

2 жыл бұрын

@@blenderbenderguy $280 Apr 23 2022.

@rabidturtles359

2 жыл бұрын

😭

@Ryan-de9ox

Жыл бұрын

@@dubmob151 still showing $280 as of august 18th

I just bought one this afternoon. Its quite as a mouse, It will not power on. Have to return tomorrow, They mentioned restocking fee. Dont know why they would restock a defective item?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

I feel like at HF you take the bad with the good lol. Find the things that are worth it, and always have a little bit of a risk that you'll have to either bring it back or buy a new one.

@markbrown1609

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheAfterWorkGarage I goofed, I had it plugged in to an outlet that was old and in need of replacement. I am going add new comment and do redaction. My Bad. thanks for your review It is a good product, I like it.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

@through Good to know, thanks for the info!

Hello… how long can you use this before it needs to be plugged in? Thank you.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, compressors like this really need to be plugged in all the time. If you fill the tank up, you can take it somewhere like a portable tank (to fill tires up), but at that point it's just a 10 gallon tank, and how long it lasts is up to how much air you use.

@Lisa_Zapata

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheAfterWorkGarage thank you

My 3500 predator can’t put it with 5hp RIDGID vacuum. I don’t know why? Compressor is shutting off after short time. Need some advice

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! you may not be able to run both at the same time. Vacuums draw a LOT of power. Compressors also draw a lot of power, especially at start up.

The 2-gallon small compressor can't do anything. The 1.2 hp is not bad. I would replace an aluminum tank from Harbor Freight to make the small compressor more versatile.

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. Agreed that it all depends on what you need to use it for. I currently use the 2 gallon one as an inflator and it is amazing at for that!

What is the starting wattage on this?

@danielmarjanovic9957

3 жыл бұрын

I’m wondering if I can run it with a predator generator inverter 3500 watt

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

@@danielmarjanovic9957 I don't know about starting wattage, but it is rated at 120V 13A (so 1560W). I will say that I have run it off off of an extension cord, and initial draw didn't seem too high. Let me know if you end up trying it and it works.

Hello,do you have any contact method?there have a business enquiry

I'm sorry...did you say $179??? If it was under $200 right now, I'd buy 2 of them!

Ooo cool

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm happy about it. More air and less compressor running is always a good thing.

hows it holding up ?

@TheAfterWorkGarage

2 жыл бұрын

So far it's holding up great! Keep in mind I don't run it every day, or even every week, but I do run it pretty hard when I'm at my shop, and it has been rock solid so far (I feel like I'm jinxing myself by saying this).

12 CFM@90 psi is way better than 4.5 CFM @90 psi look at the maximum need to run your air tools to understand why this matters. Compressor Shops that only sell compressors can show you the difference and why it matters.

Inflation has the price at $285 lol

That's NOT ultra quiet

@TheAfterWorkGarage

3 жыл бұрын

It's kind of all relative. Compared to what I used to have it's great, but would I run it in my apartment? No. Hadn't seen much out here on the bigger one, and I had both, so I thought I'd share to help others decide for themselves.

$299 on sale now. Thanks Joe Biden and everyone that voted for him.

@Steve0885

Жыл бұрын

Yup

@coloradocruzer

10 ай бұрын

I can’t tell if this is pro or anti Joe Biden or why we are talking about it on an air compressor video.

@ethayer1

3 ай бұрын

Imagine being ignorant enough to think Biden affects air compressor pricing. The reason the pricing went up is because it’s been years and these have been proven as solid, they started charging more because they knew they could.