JHZR2
Staff member
Hi,
In doing my searching for a compressor that Id liek to buy, which is small enough to not take up much space at all, but sufficient to run an air tool now and again, I got hooked on the Makita MAC700. Its an oiled 1720 rpm unit that does 3.3cfm @90. I figured Id augment it with a second air tank if it doesnt fit my needs 100%, but with this one (only $159), Ill have super-portability... a must for me.
I walked into my local harbor freight, and looked at the compressors. Well, much to my amazement, they had a 1720 rpm motor, oil-lubed, twin tank compressor. It was about the same proce, and rated at 3.8cfm@90. Whereas the makita goes to 135 from the factory, this one only does 115.
They look really close, motor and compression unit-wise.. you can kind of tell from the Makita parts list and page 10 on the hf owner's manual:
http://www.makita.com/assets_product/MAC700/parts_breakdowns/MAC700.pdf
http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/42000-42999/42321.PDF
So, I have to ask... is there a high probability that the makita and HF compressor units, motor, etc. are sourced from the same subcontracor? If so, I kind of feel cheated by makita!
THe units parts all look so same, even though overall layout and some externals differ, it really makes me wonder if its worth buying name brand anymore. Most stuff is made in China anyway, and I wouldnt doubt that half of it is just labeled either name brand or harbor freight when it hits the dock...
Any comments? Am I way off base?
Thanks,
JMH
In doing my searching for a compressor that Id liek to buy, which is small enough to not take up much space at all, but sufficient to run an air tool now and again, I got hooked on the Makita MAC700. Its an oiled 1720 rpm unit that does 3.3cfm @90. I figured Id augment it with a second air tank if it doesnt fit my needs 100%, but with this one (only $159), Ill have super-portability... a must for me.
I walked into my local harbor freight, and looked at the compressors. Well, much to my amazement, they had a 1720 rpm motor, oil-lubed, twin tank compressor. It was about the same proce, and rated at 3.8cfm@90. Whereas the makita goes to 135 from the factory, this one only does 115.
They look really close, motor and compression unit-wise.. you can kind of tell from the Makita parts list and page 10 on the hf owner's manual:
http://www.makita.com/assets_product/MAC700/parts_breakdowns/MAC700.pdf
http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/42000-42999/42321.PDF
So, I have to ask... is there a high probability that the makita and HF compressor units, motor, etc. are sourced from the same subcontracor? If so, I kind of feel cheated by makita!
THe units parts all look so same, even though overall layout and some externals differ, it really makes me wonder if its worth buying name brand anymore. Most stuff is made in China anyway, and I wouldnt doubt that half of it is just labeled either name brand or harbor freight when it hits the dock...
Any comments? Am I way off base?
Thanks,
JMH