Campbell Hausfeld VT6233 26 Gallon ASME Oil-Lubricated 120V Horizontal Air Compressor

Don't be too put off by the instructions -- they read like a prescription drug disclaimer -- there's very little about how to use the compressor -- they're all about how not to use it. Instructions notwithstanding, the compressor worked as advertised coming to a tank pressure of 150 psi within a minute, or so (after I closed the drain valve, which arrived open). It's certainly not "whisper" quiet but it's not deafening either. The gauges can become slightly misaligned but it's no big deal straightening them. The regulator works well and allows you to avoid overinflating/bursting items (like skinny bike tires). The tire chuck provided with the compressor is so "stubby" that's it's a bit hard to use -- I ordered (from Amazon) a Milton S693 chuck for $12 and it solved my problem with the stubby chuck. The $159 price is outweighed by the convenience of not having to drop a bunch of quarters into the local gas station's compressor and then rushing around hoping that you can get to all four tires before the compressor times-out. I'm sure I'll find a lot of things to do with the Porter-Cable unit other than just inflating car tires. I must admit that I applied $150 of gift cards to the purchase so I only paid $9 -- I might have been a little reluctant to spend the whole $159 just for the convenience.

I purchased mine at a local shop, so I didn't have to worry about shipping issues. There is a model with a 20 gallon tank if you don't need all of the air. This compressor is 120 volt, so it maxes out at about 5.5 CFM. If you need more CFM you'll have to go to a duplex (two motor) compressor or 240 volt. The only tool I have that won't work well with this compressor is a DA sander which I have to pause to let the compressor catch back up prior to continuing.The things I really LIKE about this model are: 1) It's oil lubricated, so much more quiet. 2) Oil lubricated are more serviceable and tend to last longer. You can buy parts for it if they go bad, like a new electric motor, belt, compressor, tank, etc. 3) Last I checked this has a 3 year warranty, but this should last me more like 20 years.The things I DON'T like are: 1) The bottom drain/valve is difficult to open. I usually let most of the air out then I can open the valve to let the moisture out. 2) Oil lubricated compressors sometimes have difficulty starting when it's below freezing. I have brought mine inside to warm up prior to starting if I need it in the winter.