Makita has come out with a new teeny tiny air compressor, model AC001. Its small and lightweight design features a 1/6 HP (peak) motor, 1-gallon air tank, and 125 PSI max pressure output.
Makita says it’s designed for “powerful, portable performance.” They don’t provide full dimensions for the compressor, but say it’s 14″ long. With a 1-gallon tank it’s bound to be small. The roll cage increases the compressor’s size, but offers protection for the pump and motor assembly. It weighs in at 23.1 pounds, which should be easily manageable, even if you have a short hose and need to move it around a lot.
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Compressor Specs
- 1/6 max HP motor
- 1-gallon tank
- 0.58 CFM at 40 PSI
- 0.45 CFM at 100 PSI
- 125 PSI max pressure
- 14″ long
- Weighs 23.1 lbs
- Universal coupler (447013-E, presumably pre-installed)
Price: $170
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Makita is really into making things small these days. First it was their 18V vacuum with 1-cup capacity, and now a 1-gallon air compressor. Given the specs and small size, this looks to be a reasonable option for small-nailer trim work.
The nailer is small and portable, but there’s a downside it doesn’t seem very powerful, as its airflow volume is pretty limited.
Less that 0.5 CFM at 100 PSI? That’s really not a lot. In comparison, Bostitch’s CAP1512-OF nailer ($135 via Amazon) has a 1.2 gallon tank and 2.0 HP (peak) motor, and it delivers 2.8 CFM at 90 PSI.
It seems to me that Makita’s new compressor can drive brad nailers, pin nailers, and maybe smaller air staplers. It might not be powerful enough for a finish nailer. I don’t think it’ll work well with finish nailers, although I can’t really tell, as I don’t think I’ve ever used an air compressor with airflow specs this low before. Every compressor I’ve used, even my old Black & Decker compressor delivered over 1.0 CFM at 90 PSI. That B&D compressor was maybe rated for 1.2 CFM at 90 PSI.
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Rolair also recently came out with a 1-gallon air compressor, the Air Buddy AB5 (~$160 via Amazon), which is more powerful (1/2 HP vs. 1/6 HP) and capable of greater airflow than this new Makita model (0.7 CFM at 90 PSI vs. <0.45 CFM at 100 PSI). It’s also quieter (68 dB vs 72 dBA for the Makita), although a 72 dBA rating still makes the Makit quieter than plenty of other models.
If you’re looking for a larger and better featured air compressor for trim work, I heartily recommend the Rolair JC10.
I’d choose a Rolair air compressor over this or another Makita model any day of the week, but that’s just my brand preference. In general, Makita compressors seem to be well regarded, at least as far as Amazon user reviews go, but I personally don’t see Makita as a leader in air compressors or air nailers. You’d think that this would have changed since my “Unfamiliar tool of the week” post about a Makita brad nailer when I was reminded that that oh hey, Makita makes air tools?, but it hasn’t.
Makita says that the AC001 air compressor is “ideal for case and base installation, trim and finish carpentry, cabinet and furniture construction, and more.” As long as you keep in mind that this compressor is built to work with smaller nailers, you probably won’t be disappointed with its performance.
ChicagoTom
What about Senco’s little 1 gal (PC1010). More compact, a bit more power, and a good reputation all for less money. I don’t use mine heavily, but haven’t had any issues using with brad/finish/stapler. The little roll bar does a decent job of protecting the mechanicals while keeping weight to a minimum. Very easy to carry around.
The guts look strangely similar to the Makita (the red power handle, the general layout of tank, motor, etc.), so perhaps these all share many of the same parts, but don’t know why you’d pay more for the teal paint job and a downsized motor.
Stuart
I’ll have to check that one out. I had a bad experience testing out a Senco compressor a while back and I guess I closed my mind to them. I’ll look into that model later.
JG
Bosch compressor link leads to Bostitch one.
Stuart
Oops, thanks for the correction! It was a slip of the tongue. At the time I was sidetracked and was thinking about how much more I like Bosch tools and Bosch as a brand over Makita USA’s.
Jerry
The guys around here like the Makita ‘Big Bore’ series, but seem to be able to take or leave the other compressors in the Makita line.
Jerry
The more I think about it, the more I wonder what Makita is going for with this model. For the price, there are far better performing machines, and if all you want is maximum portability, there are similarly sized ones, for quite a bit less money, that still out pump it. Unless there is something I’m missing, I can’t see this being a very popular model.
John Sullivan
I’ve had a 6-gallon Makita compressor (looks like this one with a second ‘hot dog’ tank) that’s been a faithful and reliable unit for 8 years. It’s ridiculously quiet, and if this new one is just as well-made, I might just pick it up for light-duty work.
Stuart, what do you think about this model for pressurizing vibration isolation tables in a lab environment? I’m using compressed gas cylinders where noise is an issue and/or we don’t want to spend the $$$ on Thor Labs or Newport compressors, but this is tempting, assuming it’s as quiet as I expect.
Stuart
I guess it would depend on the volume requirements of the isolation tables. A quick check of the Thor Labs PTA512 shows that it delivers 39 L/min at 116 PSI, which is around 1.38 CFM. That’s 3X what this Makita could deliver.
If the vibration tables are filled once then left alone for a while, the 3X lower airflow and 3X longer fillups probably won’t be an issue. But if the tables are depressurized and pressurized regularly – I wouldn’t know as I haven’t worked much with optical tables or other active vibration-isolation tables – then the lower airflow might prove to be a nuisance.
Vibration might be an issue as well, but it’s hard to say. If you build a simple vibration-isolation box with vibration-isolation pads and feet, and foam-padded walls to help cancel out noise, then there’s a wider range of compressors you could use, especially if there’s a service corridor or closet you could place it in.
You might also have to be creative in how you mount a moisture filter/trap with the makita, as there doesn’t look to be much room inside the roll cage to splice one in.
John Sullivan
Oh, I thought/hoped you were far better versed on isolation tables than me. My [limited] experience is that they are pressurized initially and then maintained at a set level, but as long as the tubing doesn’t leak significantly, there’s rarely a refill cycle. I just mount the moisture trap on a bracket near or on one of the legs, close to the first splitter valve.
I decided to order one from Amazon/Acme (pity it’s not Prime eligible) so I’ll let you know if it’s as quiet as I’m hoping.
Stuart
Sorry, I’ve never had to install or maintain one. I believe that all the ones I’ve used were sealed systems.
Loc Nguyen The
he power of the air compressor can be found by reading its horsepower value. When buying the used air compressor, check for its horsepower. An air compressor with more horsepower can do a heavier job.