Review of Porter-Cable Pancake Compressor Model C2002 (price, reviews, deal)

[reviewer]

Porter-Cable Pancake Compressor Model C2002

Rating: 5 out of 5

• Currently 5.0/5.0

I run a trim carpentry business with three crews of two men each. At one time, I used large compressors and had crews of three and four men, but this didn't prove to be profitable. With smaller crews, this Porter-Cable C2002 compressor works quite well. Usually only one man is using the compressor at a time with two lines running from the compressor for two different sizes of nail guns.

The price of $179.99 is reasonable for what the compressor is used for. It has a 150-psi total capacity, and most of the nail guns work at about 80 to 95 psi, which provides the excess air you need if two guns are operating. We have not had problems with the operation of any of these compressors, with one exception as noted below.

When you move around a lot on the job like we do, a small compressor is best. This model only weighs 34 pounds, making it easy to load and unload as we travel from one job to another or from room to room. The rubber feet keep the compressor from "walking" when running and also protect finished floors from being scuffed.

One of our trucks had some sand on the back, and the compressor was sitting in it as the truck moved between jobs. When the men turned the compressor on, it ran continually and wouldn't knock off or build up any pressure. I thought it would be necessary to get a replacement, but we used another compressor to blow it out, and it began to work again. We believe it was the sand that caused the problem which was not the fault of the compressor.

If you want to run four nail guns at once, this isn't the compressor for you. It is ideal for a person working alone with tools that only require brief bursts of pressure. An air tool that has constant demand won't work very well with this compressor, but for its intended volume of use it works fine.

Review by professional reviewer, Oct. 20, 2010