
Here's plenty of power, whatever your pneumatic needs are, and it goes where you need it on big, rugged tires and a telescoping handle. It has enough juice to keep two nailers going at once, and its huge capacity means a lot less down time on the job. Even when it does cycle, it's ready to go back to work in about 15 seconds. The oil-lube design is a plus in our book because it'll run quieter and last longer than oil-free models. Bravo to Porter-Cable for their removable two-port console design, too. Take it to your roughest job site and have no fearit rolls like a dream, even up and down steps. Just for safety's sake, there's a great roll bar protecting the pump and motor. If you're a contractor looking for the right compressor, you've found it.
--Kris Jensen-Van Heste Customer Review: Good mid-range job compressor.
My old dual tank wheel barrow-style compressor that I bought at Truitt and White Lumber in Berkeley lasted for ten years of moderate but daily use in my remodeling business. When that finally broke down I bought a pancake compressor as a quick fix, since I was doing more and more design work and gradually easing my way into retirement. But then my wife and I decided to move to Southern California and build a timberframe house which would be wrapped with a stud frame. So I decided to purchase this mid-range compressor. As described below, the compressor is not the most durable. Nothing has gone terribly wrong, but the wheels are loosening after a year on a very rocky site, and the pull handle doesn't slide in and out very well. The pressure adjustment dial still sticks and comes off when you pull it out to adjust pressure. Nor does it click back down very easily. But overall, it's been a good handy compressor that I would recommend for anyone who is not engaged in heavy duty framing and running the thing 8 hours a day for months and years on end. For that you need the old double-tank wheelbarrow style compressor.
Customer Review: Get a clue Porter Cable!
First I will start by saying PC makes a good compressor and we have two at the company I work for. I finally decided to buy my own as Amazon was giving really good deals on price and shipping. The first C3551 showed up with the roll cage dented in two places, the air filter post bent, scratched everywhere and the big problem something metal was loose in the engine and you could hear it banging around as you moved the compressor around. Oh well stuff happens so I sent it back for an exchange (Amazon made this really easy). The second C3551 that showed had a dented roll cage also but the big problem was more metal clanging around in the motor. What's up with that? I sent this one back for a refund. I called Porter Cable and they said it was probaly droped in shipping. Now for my real gripe, Porter Cable you really need to start packing your product better. The only protection for a 90lbs. compressor was two flimsy pieces of cardboard on either side of the unit. How about some foam? You need to take a lesson from Bosch when it comes the packing tools. I think all of my problems could have been solved with better packaging and Porter Cable would have kept the sale.
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