Customer Reviews

Hitachi EC12 14.5 amp 2-Horsepower 4-Gallon Oiled Twin Hot Dog Compressor

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

This machine is yet another good example of high quality Hitachi engineering. This compressor has outlasted several other brands. The machine has run two finishing guns continuously for almost a year and hasn't needed anything more than an oil change The regulator is predictable, and adjusts as easily as other brands. I firmly believe that Hitachi gets 4.1 CFM out of 14.5 amps. We simply do not run out of air no matter how fast we are working with the Senco SFN40's. Down time has been zilch. One thing we did add was a water/oil separator and filter to protect our work and our guns. I suppose Hitachi (and most other brands) leaves these off so that they will have a competitive price. But it does not make economical sense for YOU to leave them off.

While I have given this compressor a 5 star rating, there are some things for the engineers (and you!) to think about in the next model: 1. The way the regulator is mounted it is difficult to make a manifold for two hoses without hanging those pipes out there where they can get knocked off. Anyone who has knocked one off before will know that A) everyone in the neighborhood knows it right away and B) it puts you down for some expensive time. And C) when this happens, it often creates an unwanted projectile. It took me three street elbows and an hour of figuring to get the quick disconnects in a safe place. 2. When you pick the unit up with the handle, the unit tilts a bit. This means you have to hold it out away from your body a bit more than the size of the compressor would promise. All that horsepower weighs enough to make this more uncomfortable than need be. We just bent the handle with a torch to get on the center of gravity.

These are relatively small gigs on a really great compressor. I only spent so many words on them so that the engineers might just read this. It seems they will have plenty of time to correct this before the ones I own wear.

The hitachi 2 horse protable compressor is light enough tocarry around the jobsite but heavy enough so it won't fall out theback of the truck. It delivers plenty of air for nailers air wrenchs and filling tires. I wouldn't use it for painting but it was about the same price as the Coleman compressors.

I chose the Hitachi three years ago because it has a fine compressor and motor, solid construction, and overall good design. It has been entirely reliable and three years later I still am using it both in my cabinet shop and on the job for residential remodeling. The only significant design flaw is the position of the gauges. They are subject to being knocked off. I found this out the hard way one day when I had to slam on the brakes in my van and a sliding tool box sheared one of them off. Despite this one flaw I would still by another Hitachi in a heart beat. The Hitachi is not only reliable, but, unlike many compressors, it truly works on 15 amps. This compressor has never blown a fuse on me, which is something of a miracle considering the wiring in many of the older homes I remodel.

first the reasons why i only gave it 4 stars. The handle is just a little too far forward which i always notice and makes it awkward to carry/move sometimes. The other item is the brass stem out of the upper tank to the regulator; it positions the regulator in a location which is very susceptible to be knocked off. The positives: I've used it for over a year now, building two houses (both framing and finish guns), with little or no maintenance, the oil lubed compressor is fast.

I have had this unit for several weeks now, and have had my expectations exceeded. The unit has no difficulty running on a 15 amp circuit in my house with older wiring (I was expecting many trips to the breaker box - I have yet to trip one.)

The regulator stem is in an exposed position where it could be damaged/broken off if struck hard enough or handled carelessly, and the unit is every bit as loud as I expected (invest in some good earplugs) but still, I am extremely pleased my decision to go with this unit.

This becomes the third Hitachi tool product I have purchased, and the quality of their products continues to impress me.

I purchased the kit with the NR83A nailer. Both perform flawlessly. The compressor is quiet, powerful, and reliable so far. I have looked at quite a few compressors and 95% of them have something hanging out waiting to be sheared off if impacted. I think it would be fairly simple for them to tuck the regulator assembly between the tank and pump to avoid possible damage but few manufacturers do so I didn't take any stars away for that. Great price, great compressor. I modified my compressor by bolting a single gang plastic electrical box to the leg under the regulator. The compressor power cord is spliced inside the box to a recepticle and a 25 foot 12ga cord that provides power to the recepticle for accessory power tools or extension cords, etc.

I initially bought one of those oil-less 'Pancake' type compressors. It was so noisy and could not stay put because of vibration that I returned it the same day! The Hitachi unit was just $60 more and is a brilliant piece of engineering design (executed in Italy). It is quiet, does not vibrate and has adequate power for routine use. Complaints about the gauges being vulnerable may be valid if you are a bit careless.

Works reliably and does so on just about any household circuit: you won't have to go looking for a 20 amp plug.Puts out enough air to keep two framing nailguns running at full speed.

I find that I am using the big shop compressor much less - it's just so easy to plug in the handy little Hitachi for everything.

The gauges are a weak spot- very prone to damage from both bad design (plastic cased and weak ) and bad positioning. As the Hitachi uses an odd-sized thread for their gauges you have to either replace them with another (relatively expensive at $17 or so and weak plastic ) Hitachi gauge or replace the regulator and add a new gauge (costs a little more but most replacement regulators are better made than the original costs maybe $21 with a better gauge). This makes a nice tool better.

I am impressed with many things about this hitachi compressor. It is very well built, except that the guages do seem very fragile, however, just about all of the compressors on the market have fragile guages. I think more of the problem with the gauges is that they are not protected as well, which makes them more prone to being broken while carrying around. I can fire around 20-25 15 guage finish nails before it has to recycle. It maintains pressure accurately between 100-125 psi. The only problem I have had is the pressure regulator. The regulator does not seem to decrease pressure very well when needed. Turning the pressure regulator knob counter-clockwise just doens'nt seem to engage in pressure reduction. And because of this, I sometimes have to conncect a blow gun while turning the pressure regulator counter-clocwise. This will result in 0psi at the regulator. Then it is no problem to increase pressure at the regulator. I think that this part may be defective and plan on contacting Hitachi. The oil lubed compressors are more durable over the oil free ones. The unit is also much quiter than I expected. Overall, this seems like a very good unit that has a history of proven reliability that is quite and easy to use.

This compressor is a great value. It has a quality oil lubricated motor and is competitively priced with "oil-less" compressors of similar size and capacity. It works great with my various small air tools (palm nailer, impact wrench, etc). My only complaint: After a few hours of light use, the regulator dial became very hard to turn, and eventually stopped working altogether. I dismantled it and found that the dial threads had stripped. I replaced the regulator with an inexpensive AmFlo model purchased at Lowes, and am much happier with the new one -- easier to adjust, more precise, and more accurate. If Hitachi included a better regulator, they would have a 5 star product.