porter cable compressors?

anybody have opinions on them? i just moved out of my shop into the new house and am in the market for a new compressor. was offered the one at my old shop for $300. porter cable 7hp 60gal about 3 years old. i've put probably 500 of the 600 or so hours of use on it. it seems to be a fairly decent unit, but don't know much about how they hold up long term. any opinions?...ken....

 

I've got 3 compressors of various sizes. My little 5gal. (or so) pancake is a PC unit. Although much different that the one you describe, I've had no problems with mine. I think the motors are probably made buy some other co., but I could be wrong.

 

my pc is about the same as yours. ive had mine going for over a year. no problems.___dan

 

Is it 240V single or 3 phase? A single phase 7HP will draw around 25A at 240V so you better plan on a good power feed.
Most industrial use compressors over 5 HP are 3 phase.

I dont know if PC builds their own pumps, try and find a name plate or cast in ID.

 

my brother is an industrial designer for porter cable, and they make their own pumps in Jackson, TN. they do some electric motor winding, but my brother says that the compressor motors may be made by another company. DeWalt recently bought PC, and PC will be making all of their compressors as well. the oil lube pumps can run for thousands and thousands of hours, oil free stuff will last a long time as well, one pump they make lasts 800 hours guaranteed, which is a long *** time if it isn't run constantly. checking the air filter on these is very important. i know they make all of craftsman's stuff, and they seem to hold up. haven't heard anything bad, and he'd tell me what was up. their stats are all legit, i can tell you that also. campbell hausfeld builds stuff with fraudulent performance claims and etc. that my brother has seen in testing various compe***or's products.

 

I've got a Porter Cable 7 horse... Great compressor. I'd buy another just like it if it died tomorrow.

 

What! I hadn't heard that. They own Black and Decker too. Hmm, not sure I like that.

When I was shopping for my 80 gal. I also heard this. I also have one of their compressors (my middle sized), but not sure I would buy another one.

 

the buy-out is interesting, and i think made to boost DeWalt product quality in several areas, which is already happening. happened a little while ago too. Some products will suffer, but i think alot of PC's main stuff will be alright, especially the compressors.

 

Black and Decker OWNS the DeWalt brand as well as Porter Cable, Kwik Set, Price Pfister, etc.

 

thanks for the comments so far. it has always seemed like a really good unit and the price isn't bad seeing as how i'm the one thats used it most of it life anyhow. just didn't know anyone who had had one for a long time or just ran the living hell out of one for a short time. the new house has made money tight and all buys have to be good ones right now...ken....

 

We use a 7 hp P.C. compressor at work and it has runs 24 hrs. a day for 5 years with no problems. You have to change the oil and filters though.

 

"oil free stuff will last a long time as well, one pump they make lasts 800 hours guaranteed, which is a long *** time if it isn't run constantly. checking the air filter on these is very important. "

I got less than 3 years out of a Craftsman 6.5hp oilless. Absolutely ****ty construction, rod broke and took other parts with it. Sears wants over $100 just for a few parts. Light duty use and filter regularly cleaned. I'll turn it into a real compressor instead for less money.

Campbell Horse**** is what Ive called them for years.

 

I have a PC 7 horse 80 gal compressor. It's about two years old. No problems and no complaints.