Does anyone make a good shop compressor?

I am fed up with the imported crap stores are passing off as professional quality equipment. In the past week I purchased and returned THREE shop compressors. I went with a Sears Craftsman oil-less model at first and it had several leaks so back it went. Next up was a Home Depot Husky-Pro model which had a bent compressor camshaft which put the main wheel out of true and chewed up the belt during break-in. The last one was a Lowe's Kobalt equivalent (probably Campbell Hausfeld like the Home Depot brand) which had a defective pressure regulator. I'm looking for a better quality 30 gallon, home-shop compressor. 120 volts would be nice but not a requirement. 5.5-6 SCFM for what I will use it for. An oil lubed single or double stage pump with a cast iron housing would be good too. I would like a USA made model but will settle for a well designed and well manufactured product from anywhere.

Please TW, can anyone help me out here? Where can I go for this? I am willing to spend up to $600-700.

Chris

 

Ingersol rand are good. The big box store ones are junk.

 

I would say IR as well but plan on spending close to a $1k. Personally I would step up to a 60 gallon two stage if you have a 220v hookup. Actually, if it's for a shop and you didn't have a 220v outlet I would wire one in.

 

60 gallon would be great and 240v is not a problem for me as I am a Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor, and teach at a vocational school. However, I would like to be able to take this unit to a job site if necessary so an upright 30 or so gallon 120v model would work better for me.

Chris

 

I would look at getting a Dewalt(Emglo) or a Makita for jobsite duties. Unless you are running air tools like grinders or needle scalers a 30 gallon capacity may be overkill but a stacked hot dog or even a pancake compressor would be satisfactory for most jobs.

 

Well, after MORE research, I ended up with this one:
http://www.dewalt.com/tools/compressors-wheeled-portable---electric-d55168.aspx

Made in USA, quiet, and portable. Not quite as high a capacity as I'd have liked but I think it will do the job.

Chris

 

Nice compressor. I think you will be satisfied.

 

Nice compressor for light duty work. I also think you will enjoy it.

 

Want to talk loud? lol. you should listen to my shop compressor. gotta have the thing outside just so i can hear myself think. lmao