Amazon.com This one's a bit of a paradox: The do-it-yourselfer might pass by this compressor in favor of an oil-free, no-maintenance model, but it's actually one of the best on the market for the homeowner, hobbyist and weekend warrior.
There are three factors that made us form this opinion. First, it's the quietest compressor we've ever encountered. It's a remarkable departure in a genre of tools that normally force you to suspend conversation while it's cycling. The MAC700 puts out 80 decibels, according to the folks at Makita, and when you compare that to the 90 and up you get from most units, that's practically a hum. So we like this for household use, especially in a basement shop.
Next on our list of pluses for the DIY-er is the low-amp draw, and with that, fewer trips to the breaker box and less chance of premature motor failure. The other feature that won us over is the easy-on-the-hand lever handle ball valve that saves your knuckles when you drain the tank. It's also got a really fast cycle, so by the time you take a sip of water, you're ready to work again.
It's made like a champ, with a roll-bar handle that protects your investment, a cast-iron cylinder for durability and an oil sight glass that makes maintenance a breeze.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste
What's in the Box Oiled single hot dog compressor with handle; 1/4-inch brass Makita universal coupler
Portable, quiet compressorJanuary 2, 2009 MLH(Princeton, NJ) I've used this compressor for a 1 1/2 years. It's light enough to be portable, small enough to fit in the van nicely, powerful enough for anything short of full-time 2-gun framing, and the quietest I've every had. What more could you want for an everyday compressor?
Quiet Air Compressor - No Shipping DamageDecember 24, 2008 Michael Quiriconi(Anacortes, WA USA) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This air compressor works very well, and is extremely quiet compared to other small compressors. I'm hoping it will last a long time since it is an oil-lube type compressor (as opposed to oil-less type).
It is heavy, but not overly so. I think its heavy weight contributes to the low noise level. The handle design is very good, well balanced, and makes it very easy to move it from place to place. It has rubber suction cups on the four legs, which helps keep it solidly in place during operation. The controls work just fine, and valves and controls are high quality.
In using it with a brad nailer, it starts and stops relatively infrequently.
The instructions could be better (see another review in this section for tips on how to get it initially set up). The instructions say to bleed the air pressure down to zero when finished, using the air tool or accessory. I'm not sure how to do this with a brad nailer, finish nailer, etc. Perhaps they mean to disconnect the tool and then connect a blow gun? Also, the intake air filter appears to be cleanable, but the instructions provide no guidance on this; they say to replace if necessary, but do not give source of replacement filters.
Before I ordered it, I researched the shipping damage issue that so many folks have experienced, and discovered that Makita has improved the packaging, providing additional styrofoam and packing materials. Mine arrived with no shipping damage.
Easy handing and operationDecember 14, 2008 Dr. Stuart Gitlow(Providence, RI United States) The air compressor itself is wonderful. It's one of the quietest I've used; you can work next to it and not feel as if you need earplugs. Gauges are easy to read and all the valves are easy to access without needing to reach under or around the compressor to any great extent. Build quality seems excellent. There's a black plastic cover that sits over the top of the compressor; it serves no purpose other than to protect the user from touching hot surfaces. Ours arrived with a crack in the side and a small piece which had cracked away and was in the bottom of the box. I did nothing about this since it appeared to be unimportant.
The manual is fair. There is no illustration to show where various components of the unit are so if you've never used an air compressor before, you will likely have a few questions. There are two pressure gauges, one showing the tank pressure and one showing the pressure available through the hose after adjustment with the regulator knob. The manual doesn't make it obvious as to which is which. Again, it's apparent if you have any experience with this type of equipment, but not if you don't. The reset switch, referred to in the manual, is used if the unit overheats. Where's the reset switch? The manual doesn't say. It's a black easy-to-miss switch under the black plastic canopy.
You need to fill the unit with oil. Should you use the entire bottle provided, or just part of the bottle? The manual doesn't say and you should use the window on the side of the compressor to see when to stop. You'll use just part of the bottle.
Don't forget to put on the air cleaner and the oil filler cap, both provided but not installed in their openings. Also don't forget to run the unit for 20 minutes without load (that is, with the tank pressure valve open) to break-in the motor properly after you've filled it with oil.
Overall, I'm very happy with the compressor. The manual needs some attention from Makita.
She's a dandy!!!December 12, 2008 R. Holm(MN) This compressor is one of the most quiet, fast recovery compressors I have ever used. Fill's the bill for most home owner needs. Handy drain valve that drains off the unused air and any condensation caught in the tank. Should not be used for the high volume air tools though. Works great to air up tires and run nailers. Great Product, would buy again.
R. Holm in MN.
Makita Wake Up!!December 11, 2008 Harley Davidson 0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Someone at Makita should be reading all this bad press on their product!! I did. I won't take a chance. I am buying a compressor from a different manufacturer.
