That $75 air compressor I almost passed on actually works great

I was about to buy a cheap pancake compressor at Home Depot for $90, but my coworker Jeff told me to check Craigslist first. Found an old Craftsman 6 gallon oiled compressor for $75 from a guy in Denton who said it just needed new rings. I rebuilt the pump for $12 and now it runs quieter and holds air better than any new budget unit I've tried. Anyone else had luck fixing up old shop tools instead of buying new?

2 comments

2 Comments

wade_young866d ago

Good for you, that's exactly the right move. A good old oiled compressor with a cast iron pump is way more rebuildable than the new sealed units they sell today. A little time and a twelve dollar gasket set will keep those things running for another twenty years.

susan_nguyen6d ago

Does anyone else feel a little bit sad when you see someone trashing one of those old compressors? I've got a 1980s model in my garage that I picked up cheap, it's been sitting for a few years but I'm hoping to get it going again. You just don't see that kind of build quality in the new stuff, even the expensive brands seem to be cutting corners now. I've heard people say the old cast iron pumps are basically bulletproof if you keep oil in them, and after seeing some rebuild videos I believe it. It's nice to see someone else who shares that same respect for the older tools, your post makes me feel less crazy for wanting to save mine.