For those that only need a small compressor in the shop, or like me, do onsite work,
http://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/air-tools/how-to-choose-an-air-compressor/view-all?trkid=FBPAGE_TFH_20151120_Tools
My current one is a Maxxus with aluminum tanks. Very light and no rusty water. It's similar to the Husky one in the photo (I think Campbell Hausfeld private labels the Husky ones, at least they did when I visited their plant a few years ago."
Hey, I got the Porter Cable in the picture last year. I used it for a upholstery job on a built in kitchen bench seat. No problems. The noise it makes when it fills is not too bad. The home owners did not complain.
I thought it would be great to have this as a backup at my studio. Well, it's at my son's house making sure he never has to buy one of his own.
gene
Every small compressor that I've ever used has disappointed me in one way or another.
Some are too loud (about 99% of them). Some too heavy. Some can't keep up with high CFM tools.
I've decided that me and small compressors just weren't meant to be.
If an on-site job is too big for a hand stapler, then I really don't want to do it on-site anyway.
Here is the little compressor I use on site;
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe216%2Fdjh_64%2Fth_SAM_1674_zpsc4b1b4d6.jpg&hash=40a89472820b5613a037e62a35b5c911) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/djh_64/media/SAM_1674_zpsc4b1b4d6.jpg.html)
It is a little loud, but nothing like the one in the shop. I've never needed more CFM for the stuff I do in house. If I am breaking out the air hogs it's big and messy enough project that i want it back at the shop.
When I apprenticed we had a vile little compressor with no tank about the size of a 1/2 horse electric motor. As loud as a Pratt Whitney aircraft engine and leaked and got hot enough to mark linoleum. We'd put it in the customer's driveway and use it to fill our 11 gallon portable air tank (like you see in the automotive section) and run our air tools off it. Not perfect but it worked and we didn't have to unplug the stereo to find a plug in.
When I opened my shop I had my buddy at the dive shop modify an old scuba regulator so I could run off one of my scuba tanks. That was sweet. At 2250 PSI even my little 50 lb SCBA tank (fire fighter's tank) would last for ever. I admit I was spoiled---buddy's dive shop was on my way out to my shop and if he wasn't there I'd just lean a tank to the left of the side door and if it was on the right side of the door on my way home I'd slip a sawbuck under the door and take my full tank home. It's always good to have friends LOL. If we didn't have the little compressor at work I'd arrange to get to the dive shop 40 minutes from here during their part time hours and get one of my tanks re-certified.
Makita makes a great hotdog compresser and the one I use now is a GMC Cyclone, it is fantastic, cheap and quiet. It is not made by the auto company. You can search it, great little piece of equipment