What’s a popular tool purchase this time of year, aside from cordless power tool combo kits, table saws, and miter saws? Air compressors. Right now, Amazon has the Dewalt 6-gallon pancake-style air compressor, DWFP55126, is currently on sale at Amazon for $40 off. It’s regularly $169 and on sale for $129.
This USA-made Dewalt 6 gallon air compressor is advertised as being compact, light, and quiet. It features a bump-up in specs compared to the other Stanley Black & Decker Porter Cable and Craftsman air compressors that typically go on sale for $99 during holiday shopping seasons.
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- 165 PSI max
- 6 gallon air tank
- 2.6 SCFM at 90 PSI, 3.7 SCFM at 40 PSI
- 75.5 dBA noise level
- 10A motor
- 2 quick-release air couplers
- Air tank and pressure gauges
- Oil-free
- Weighs 30 lbs
If the specs suit your needs, this seems to be a good deal.
Price: $129
Buy Now via Amazon
Compare: Bostitch Compressor for $99
Compare: Craftsman Kit for $119
See Also: Dewalt Air Compressor Kit
Home Depot still has a lot of their “Pro Black Friday” kits that feature the same air compressor, a brad nailer, and air hose for $179. That’s a good deal, but the compressor by itself is a better and more flexible deal in my opinion, in case you don’t need or want the added nailer and air hose. If you do want the nailer, this kit might be a good choice.
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Adabhael
I wish manufacturers would list compressor duty cycle with the other specs. I had to dig into the instruction manual to find this: “This air compressor pump is capable of running continuously. However, to prolong the life of your air compressor, it is recommended that a 50%-75% average duty cycle be maintained…”
Bill
I just checked for the same information on my Bostitch 6gal pancake compressor after reading your comment and it has the exact same statement. I have never really thought about the duty cycle of one of these little units, partly because my own use is light and infrequent, and I had always viewed them as intended for a similar use market.
A good rule of thumb for compressors is, any time a compressor runs more than 50% of the time, it should run continuously without shutting off. This is usually accomplished through the use of a constant speed unloader, so that when a preset pressure is reached in the storage tank the unloader vents the compressor output to atmosphere rather than shutting off the motor as a pressure switch does. I have one on my 2hp shop compressor, but I usually only need to use the unloader when I am spray painting.
All that said, I doubt that anyone makes a pancake style, or other small portable compressor with an unloader. At $100, these are throw-away compressors to be run until they don’t and then replaced.
Stuart
These compressors do at least have pressure relief safety valves, e.g. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/air-safety-valves/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Regarding duty cycle, also keep in mind these are oil-free and maintenance-free units.
Andrew
Good safety feature but on my dewalt it just ends up emptying my tank all the time. Was going to warrantee it but I was told 6 to 8 weeks to repair. I need the compressor for a job so figured I could buy a new one and send mine in to be fixed and have to or what I did just fill it up wait 3 minutes for it to empty itself and than let it refill. Super annoying but still works.
Michael F
I picked up this compressor with the trim nailer as a combo kit. It works really well for that kind of trim work. I’ve also used it to run the Milwaukee framing nailer, but for any kind of serious framing work it’s going to run continuously and still not keep up. For light-duty framing work (say, building a tree house, repairing subfloor, etc) it will work great.
Thom
Other than the 15 extra PSI spec its the same as the Stanley /Porter Cable/Craftsman which are usually available somewhere for $99
I have 2 of them and have had no problems.
teicher
The ultra quiet compressors from Husky and Kobalt are more interesting, might want to keep an eye on those prices Stuart.
I switched from a 6 gal pancake to the 4.3 Kobalt and my ears are so much happier. Both cost more than the pancakes, but this is one of those scenarios where the improvement in the tool is well worth it.