I bought this compressor as a back up for my Ridgid 4.5 Gallon Twinstack Air Compressor which had been my day-to-day compressor for about 3 yrs.  The Ridgid had a pressure switch problem and when it went into the shop and they said it might take two weeks for them to get to it / get parts for it, I realized I needed a 2nd compressor or I might be out of work for a while!  (I restore vintage houses in Houston so we use the compressors daily.  [...])

I had noticed that my trim carpenter / cabinet guy had an earlier version of this compressor and he said that he had had it for years and never had a problem with hs--so I ordered one from Amazon and fired it up.  My guys used it for a few days while the Ridgid was getting repaired and they didn't have any complaints... other than lack of adequate pressure to run the various types of guns we use on a daily bases (Bostitch frame nailer, Porter Cable trim nailers, Bostitch roofing and siding nailer, etc.)

I didn't really pay attention to it when I ordered it but this compressor only maintains 125 psi whereas my Ridgid--which is about the same size--maintains 175 psi.  Doesn't sound like a big difference--and to an interior trim carpenter who is running mainly 23, 18, 16 and maybe 15 gauge trim nailers--it's probably fine.  But when using this compressor to do, say, hardi-trim, using a coil siding / fencing nailer, it won't drive the nails completely in.  Maybe the 1st or 2nd nail... but not the next few.  You have to wait for the pressure to build up again.  Which is very frustrating when you are used to just clickin' away on that trigger!  :)

For the hobbyist, this might not be a problem.  In fact, this compressor would do fine for the average home owner working on the odd weekend project.  But for a contractor--if you are doing anything other than fine / detailed trim carpentry work inside (and you aren't running multiple guns at one time)--you're going to want something with more psi.  For the same money, from strictly a pressure standpoint, I'd have to go with the Ridgid.  Now, whether in five or ten years either of these is still running, that remains to be seen.  Most tools are made to be disposable nowadays so I don't have faith in ANY brand as far as longevity goes.  So, the Dewalt now sits in the shop and the cabinet guys use it--and like it fine.  They are running mainly 18 gauge brad nailers and 23 gauge pin nailers.  And I've got my back up just in case.  So, all is well.

Remember, this compressor takes oil whereas a lot of other hot dog types don't.  Some say life tool will be longer for oiled vs. non-oiled compressors.  My cabinet guy said he's never even checked the oil in his and he's had it five years or more.  (Which I don't recommend of course.)  I did quite a bit of research online about that issue before I bought this one and the conclusion that I came to is that it's six of one vs. half dozen of the other.  Basically oiled vs. non-oiled is just two different paths to the same mountaintop.

So, to sum up, if you are running siding or roofing or framing nailers, or spray guns, you're probably gonna want a compressor with more psi.  If not, this one should work fine for you.

***(Update: July 2013): This compressor failed just after three years; first is was the pressure switch; then shortly thereafter, the valve plate assembly.  (Both fairly easy fixes.)  I had been using it in my cabinet shop for the past year, daily, both to run the brad & pin nailers and also to power the paint guns.  I think two things happened that probably caused the problems.  (1) the shop is HOT... summer in Houston is 100 degrees outside and my shop has no a/c.  (2) we were using compressor too close to the spray booth... so, though there is a filter on the inlet side of the compressor, the machine was breathing in a lot of lacquer thinner and very fine lacquer dust--too fine for the factory filter--which is designed more for sawdust.  I didn't realize this would be a problem until both my Ridgid AND this compressor failed at the same time.  When we opened them up for service, there was a fine white film on all the internal parts... lacquer dust.  And the oil was cloudy... more lacquer dust.

So, the Ridgid is history; too many problems.  I'll fix the DeWalt again (if valve plate is the problem, that's an easy fix).  And I bought another Dewalt D55151 in the mean time.  At roughly $240 delivered to my door, I figure if they last me 3 yrs a piece, that's only $80/yr... a lot cheaper than buying a bigger compressor that isn't as portable.  And I've started keeping the compressor by the door to the shop and as far away from the spray area as possible.  I'm going to look into a better filter as well.
I bought this compressor as a back up for my Ridgid 4. 5 Gallon Twinstack Air Compressor which had been my day-to-day compressor for about 3 yrs. The Ridgid had a pressure switch problem and when it went into the shop and they said it might take two weeks for them to get to it / get parts for it, I realized I needed a 2nd compressor or I might be out of work for a while! (I restore vintage houses in Houston so we use the compressors daily. [... ])

I had noticed that my trim carpenter / cabinet guy had an earlier version of this compressor and he said that he had had it for years and never had a problem with hs--so I ordered one from Amazon and fired it up. My guys used it for a few days while the Ridgid was getting repaired and they didn't have any complaints... other than lack of adequate pressure to run the various types of guns we use on a daily bases (Bostitch frame nailer, Porter Cable trim nailers, Bostitch roofing and siding nailer, etc. )

I didn't really pay attention to it when I ordered it but this compressor only maintains 125 psi whereas my Ridgid--which is about the same size--maintains 175 psi. Doesn't sound like a big difference--and to an interior trim carpenter who is running mainly 23, 18, 16 and maybe 15 gauge trim nailers--it's probably fine. But when using this compressor to do, say, hardi-trim, using a coil siding / fencing nailer, it won't drive the nails completely in. Maybe the 1st or 2nd nail... but not the next few. You have to wait for the pressure to build up again. Which is very frustrating when you are used to just clickin' away on that trigger! :)

For the hobbyist, this might not be a problem. In fact, this compressor would do fine for the average home owner working on the odd weekend project. But for a contractor--if you are doing anything other than fine / detailed trim carpentry work inside (and you aren't running multiple guns at one time)--you're going to want something with more psi. For the same money, from strictly a pressure standpoint, I'd have to go with the Ridgid. Now, whether in five or ten years either of these is still running, that remains to be seen. Most tools are made to be disposable nowadays so I don't have faith in ANY brand as far as longevity goes. So, the Dewalt now sits in the shop and the cabinet guys use it--and like it fine. They are running mainly 18 gauge brad nailers and 23 gauge pin nailers. And I've got my back up just in case. So, all is well. Remember, this compressor takes oil whereas a lot of other hot dog types don't. Some say life tool will be longer for oiled vs. non-oiled compressors. My cabinet guy said he's never even checked the oil in his and he's had it five years or more. (Which I don't recommend of course. )  I did quite a bit of research online about that issue before I bought this one and the conclusion that I came to is that it's six of one vs. half dozen of the other. Basically oiled vs. non-oiled is just two different paths to the same mountaintop. So, to sum up, if you are running siding or roofing or framing nailers, or spray guns, you're probably gonna want a compressor with more psi. If not, this one should work fine for you. ***(Update: July 2013): This compressor failed just after three years; first is was the pressure switch; then shortly thereafter, the valve plate assembly. (Both fairly easy fixes. )  I had been using it in my cabinet shop for the past year, daily, both to run the brad & pin nailers and also to power the paint guns. I think two things happened that probably caused the problems. (1) the shop is HOT... summer in Houston is 100 degrees outside and my shop has no a/c. (2) we were using compressor too close to the spray booth... so, though there is a filter on the inlet side of the compressor, the machine was breathing in a lot of lacquer thinner and very fine lacquer dust--too fine for the factory filter--which is designed more for sawdust. I didn't realize this would be a problem until both my Ridgid AND this compressor failed at the same time. When we opened them up for service, there was a fine white film on all the internal parts... lacquer dust. And the oil was cloudy... more lacquer dust. So, the Ridgid is history; too many problems. I'll fix the DeWalt again (if valve plate is the problem, that's an easy fix). And I bought another Dewalt D55151 in the mean time. At roughly $240 delivered to my door, I figure if they last me 3 yrs a piece, that's only $80/yr... a lot cheaper than buying a bigger compressor that isn't as portable. And I've started keeping the compressor by the door to the shop and as far away from the spray area as possible. I'm going to look into a better filter as well.