A very rugged compressor
Written: Nov 08 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Well built and very rugged.
Cons: Somewhat heavy.
The Bottom Line: Well made and built by Emglo plus the great DeWalt warranty and 30 day return policy.
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| tarf's Full Review: DeWalt D55155 2 HP 4 Gallon Hand Carry Electric Co... |
The DeWalt 55155 is a rugged compressor for the contractor and homeowner alike. I noticed two things right off the bat. The roll cage that surrounds the oil splash compressor is a dream. It can take the punishment by being bounced around the back of my truck and the fact that Emglo makes the compressor. Emglo makes fine compressors and this one will live up to its famous name. The 4 gallon tank is also large enough so that the compressor doesn't cycle on and off as fast as those with a 2 gallon tank running a framing nailer.
The compressor is rated at 2 hp. Small compressors are almost always rated at a "developed horsepower" rating and it really does not give a good indication on the performance. The important rating on compressors is the amount of air being delivered. The D55155 delivers 4.5 cfm at 100 psi. The compressor turns on at about 100 psi and shuts off at 125 psi. This is far better than the compressors of this size that turn on at 80 psi and then back off at 100 psi. With the pressure drop in the hose you'll find your fasteners sticking OUT of your work and not IN the work. The recovery time from cut-in to cut-out is about 15 seconds. Very fast recovery time. One thing that is not covered in the owner's manual is the duty cycle.
Duty cycle is the amount of time running to the time not running and it's rated in percent. Many compressors in this category are 30% or less and some are 50%. The DeWalt D55155 is rated at 100%. I contacted the DeWalt people and this was the number they gave to me. You can safely run the compressor for long periods without worrying about overheating the components.
Also, the compressor features a cast iron sleeve cylinder and is oil lubricated. You'll get much more life on your compressor with oil lubrication than the oil-less models. DeWalt includes a bottle of synthetic oil to get you off and running. Don't know when to change the oil? Just do it once a year and you're good to go. I'm no contractor but I use compressors, especially this one, a lot installing roofing, siding, shear walls, building shipping crates and pallets, inflating my truck tires, etc.
The tank, again, is a 4 gallon model and it's ASME coded. There is a ball valve open the bottom for fast draining. It's always a good idea to leave the valve open to help prevent rust in the tank. The regulator along with tank pressure and delivery pressure gauges are right on the front for easy viewing and access. There are also two female couplers right on the front and this allows you to connect two tools to the compressor. This is VERY handy. There is also a nice touch added to the right side of the frame where the power cord enters the ON/OFF switch and it's a cord caddy. No trying to "Gerry-rig" a cord wrap arrangement around the compressor or letting the cord drag behind you. The couplers, I should mention, are the "Industrial Interchange" type so if you are using a Tru-Flate of ARO type connector you'll need to swap these out.
Now for the weight. It weighs about 60 pounds and with the roll cage it's easy to move around. Then there's the big handle on the front of the compressor that allows the bigger guys to carry it around one-handed. I don't fall into that category!
The D55155 draws 13.5 amps so running it on regular household power is not a problem. DeWalt recommends that you do not use an extension cord on the unit but to use a longer air line. I have used a 50 foot 12 gauge cord with no signs of motor overheating; for what it's worth.
The warranty is 1 year and DeWalt also has a 30 day no risk period. If there is one thing that I can say I do not like about the compressor is how loud it is. Since I'll either be wearing hearing protection or I'm far from the unit it's not normally a problem. Just be aware that it is kinda loud.
I've had mine for about 8 months now after my oil-less compressor bit the dust.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tarf
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Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 1 member
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