Customer Reviews

Makita MAC700 Big Bore 2.0 HP Air Compressor

5 star:		(235)
4 star:		(66)
3 star:		(25)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

I just received the compressor and it's the first one that I've owned. The shroud was cracked upon receipt, but I don't think it's worth the trouble to have that piece replaced.

Now that I've gotten everything figured out, I think it'll work fine, but the manual is a complete disaster. Some important setup instructions are completely omitted and others are so obtuse as to be worthless. If you don't know your way around compressors, the following steps that I took may prove useful:

1. Remove the plastic plug on the back of the compressor and pour in the included oil until the level is about half way up the little transparent indicator window.

2. Replace the disposable oil plug with the long black plastic one that they include (not in the instructions -- the piece is item number 36 on the parts diagram)

3. Remove the other disposable plastic plug from the side of the compressor (high up and toward the back of the shroud. This is where you need to install the air filter (also not in the instructions.) The air filter assembly is item number 35 on the parts diagram -- it's the other spare part included that's chrome and about the size of a hockey puck with a wing nut holding it together.

4. You'll screw in the air filter assembly where you removed that plastic plug, but I'd suggest that you use some teflon tape on the threads to make a good seal.

5. The instructions mention that you're to open the air receiver's drain valve for initial start up. Nowhere in any diagram is any part labeled as such, but I'm pretty sure it's item number 47, a valve on the side of the compressor very near the bottom.

Hopefully this'll save someone some time!

I have had this compressor for a couple of weeks now and really like it. It is a high quality unit clearly built to last. I chose this model over the very popular oil-free pancake compressors mainly for it's compact size and low noise level....and it did not dissappoint me. I would say this unit is half as loud as those typical oil-fee models by P*rter C*ble. I can easly run it indoors while remodeling a bedroom, and hardly hear in the room next door.

The unit is compact, but much heavier duty than similar Cr*ftman compressors I saw at Sears. It recycles quickly and fills the tank in less than 20 seconds. It came with a good owner's manual and a bottle of oil. I did have a problem where the plastic oil filler cap was cracked, but Makita quickly sent me a replacement part under warantee. I would recommend this unit to anyone looking for an occasional use compressor and does not want something large or loud.

I purchased this unit to replace an oil-less pancake compressor that burned out. The Makita MAC700 is super! It has all the attributes of a large high quality oil-lube compressor. I am very pleased to report that the unit is as quiet as advertised. By comparison, the pancake compressor this unit replaced was DREADFULLY loud. I am impressed with the powerful low-rpm motor and the heavy duty oil-lube design. In my opinion, the longevity and quietness that an oil-lube compressor offers, far outweighs the time and slight inconvenience of routine maintenance. At this time, I cannot suggest any improvements to this machine. I love it! If you are looking for a light duty air compressor, I highly recommend the MAC700 Hot Dog Air Compressor. It's great for finish nailers, car and bicycle tires, and kids' toys. A great addition to any home garage!

After working with a friend's older version of this compressor for the last eight months, I decided to splurge and get my own. If this compressor is anything like the older model, it's going to last forever. We left the older model out, under a saw table, in rain, snow, 100 degree heat - you name it. Never had any problems with it.

I've only had this one for 2 days, so I can't speak much about it other than to say it's quiet enough to use and talk at the same time, and it feels very well built. It's also heavier than I expected, but the carrying handle makes moving it around easy on the back.

One thing - I had read the other reviews that mentioned shipping damage and hoped for the best. When it arrived, I checked the box, and there was only one small ding in a corner. What I should have done was kept the FedEx driver there until I actually got it out of the box. It looks like someone must've dropped it, and from a pretty good height! One of the legs was bent about 2 inches, so the compressor would rock when set down. Fortunately, the compressor itself (external tubes and gauges and whatnot) are all fine.

I fired it up and it ran fine, so I decided to keep it. I'll try to hammer out the bent leg at some point. It's annoying, but I don't want to go through the exchange process and be without air for another two weeks.

The startup process is fairly simple. The manual doesn't explain what goes where when you open the box, but it's reasonably self-evident. There are two plastic plugs on the compressor that need to come out. One covers the oil filler, and one covers the air intake port. You replace the plug on the air intake port (topmost plug) with the included air filter, and you replace the oil filler plug with the included oil cap. There's a window into the oil reservoir so you can see how much oil is in it. Before you run it for the first time, fill it (with the included oil) until the oil line is midway in the window. Then, open the air release valve at the very bottom of the air tank and run the compressor for 20 minutes. After that, you should be good to go. Check the oil level periodically, of course!

On a related note, I also bought the Campbell Hausfeld MP520010AV air tool accessory kit to get me started. For the price, I'm happy with that too.

Makita has put a full size, quiet, oil-lubed motor on a small, lighter weight tank; about 20lbs lighter than the 4 gallon tanks. This makes it great for carrying up stairs and around the job site. The smaller size means it can fit through studs or sit in the footwell of your vehicle. I have used mine for finish work, roofing and framing. Of course, with the smaller tank (2.6 gal) it kicks on more often to recharge, but it is quieter than most. It is tall and narrow, so it tips easy in the bed of a pickup. This is not good for transporting, so be sure to pack things around it. When mine arrived, the box said "factory reconditioned". With two emails back and forth to amazon customer service, a brand new one was sent out and the reconditioned one was picked up.

My Mac700 survived UPS shipping from North Dakota to metro Atlanta, GA just fine.

I use it to power airbrushes along with an added-on airbrush regulator/gauge/moisture trap. This is exactly what I wanted for airbrushing. It has a much longer lifespan than "airbrush compressors". It's noise level is acceptible. It is fast about refilling. The airbrushes work consistently all throughout the refill phase. This is the muscle car of airbrush compressors even though it was made in Taiwan.

This is good to consider as the maximum desirable amp draw for common household electrical outlets. It's right there as high as you wanna go to get the tank filled up. I would not want it to pull any harder on the electricity of the house when it comes on.

It only runs for 15 seconds to recharge from 100 to 125+ psi, which is great. 5 to 10 minutes of airbrushing in silence, and when it comes on it does have some volume, but it is so much less noise than an oilless.

I had to tighten down the crankcase cover (Ref# 29, Part# 304013-E) because it was leaking oil. It's the large exposed part of the motor that you can easily reach and tighten up with a screwdriver. So, make sure yours is tightened up if you have one of these.

after visual inspection from the fedex drop off at my house, box was in good condition as was the unit. no scrapes dings or breakage. i have not seen the earlier units that some reviewers say had the shroud cracked, but the plastic shrouding is substantially thick and appears to be made of a softer type plastic of some combination of pvc and resins and flexes quite well. i don't know if it has been changed, but if it is cracked the unit had to have been handled very poorly by the shipping company. i filled with oil to the red mark on the inspection window, opened the drain valve and ran unit for 25 mins. i let it cool for a bit then started the compressor, closed drain valve and let pressure build up in 10 lb increments before opening the valve to purge air. after 10 mins of this building up to the cut out point, i turned unit off and changed the oil. this is good practice when breaking in a cast iron, oil filled compressor. the pressure build in increments helps seat the rings after its been through the standard break in period. this is one of the most important phases of a compressor for longgevity. along with a quality oil. at this time i added 2" wheels to the switch side of the legs and compressor rubber dampening pads to the other. not only does it make it a total of 3" taller to grip the handle, but very easy to roll around quickly. think of it rolling sideways. this was needed due to the tank ends would drag on the ground if not. i have modified a older 6 gallon tank that use to be under a loud oilless compressor if i need more air storage. i removed the motor and compressor and have just the tank. to this i added fittings (input and output quick connects, regulator and saftey valve)to plumb in line with the makita, for a total of 9 gallons. but after seeing how fast the tank on the makita fills, i may only need it for a portable tank for filling tires etc. this makita mac700 looks bulletproof. time will tell. but i as many have read the reviews here on amazon and elsewhere, and they do speak for themselfs.

Just received this compressor from Amazon/ToolKing.
The unloading elbow was snapped off from the check valve assy.
Called Makita to see if I could get the part under Warranty.
No way possible, must go back to Amazon and re-ship new one.
Makita has a problem in the packing of these compressor's which leaves the valve exposed to being crushed inside the container.
Please keep in mind, the shipping box is extra heavy duty, I recieved the box in PERFECT condition, no crushed corners...nothing.The valve is on the side and all it takes is a slight bump and it's sheared off.If you need to put the compressor into service right away, I suggest buying local or
unfortunately another mfg.The compressor is quiet, and seems to
run ok, I have only done the initial start up though.Seems to be a great little compressor.
I'm going to use an easy out to remove the broken thread/stud from inside the valve and just buy the elbow locally(I hope)
You can see many other posts on the internet regarding this same problem.Good luck
Ron
UPDATE: Sorry for the late post.To be fare MAKITA did ship out a new elbow free of charge, I just had to speak with the right "person".(supervisor)The compressor has been in service now for around 8mo. and is working fine.Overall pretty happy with it.I did solder a new elbow onto a lower area of the check valve which works out better when the compressor rolls on its side.Just thought I'd post this update.Again good luck!

I'm a carpenter full-time. I love this thing. It's quiet, low amp draw, and efficient. I've used it for 9 months now, as my only compressor. I'm not a speed demon but I've never run low on pressure. Great stop-cock design (why the heck do other compressors have a tiny little brass knob for our hands? this one has a good lever) - and I never feel any regret for having one tamnk. In fact I'm happy to have a lighter compressor at the end of the day. Nice muffler too - keeps it even quieter. All around I am very pleased with it. Buy oil-lubed compressors - not oil-free - this one is oil-lubed. Just check the oil level by eye, and it's fine. Oil-free dies eventually.

We received the mac700 in a damaged condition. The unloading elbow had a small fitting broken off inside. This fitting was the elbow from the pressure sensing line. We tried to get the broken stub out with an easy out and snapped the easy out off. Amazon would have taken the compressor back but we didn't want the chance of receiving another broken compressor. We ended up going to the service center and buying a new unloading elbow and fitting, cost $30.00. The compressor is very quiet and works well so far. Makita needs to something about the shipping carton. There was no outside damage to the box, other than an oil stain.