Customer Reviews

Thomas Compressors T-2820ST 13.5 Amp 2-Horsepower 4-Gallon Oil-Free Twin Hot Dog Compressor

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After getting off to a bad start...the first one was damaged in shipping...this is a great compressor. I run all 3/8 inch hoses, megaflow couplers and installed a triple outlet manifold on it. Everything operates without skipping a beat. And always on 15 amp household outlets without ever popping a breaker. I've used it for air guns, various types of light and heavy duty nail guns, and shop tools. Haven't tried it for spray painting yet, but Capspray uses it for their best HVLP sprayer setup, so that should work fine also. Very quiet compared to other compressors of the same size, but compressors will never be mistaken for a 'silent' partner. Excellent recovery time. Only con is that it's on the heavy side. Highly recommended.

pros:
1. its the quietest oil free compressor i've ever used.

2. Fill ups FAST. serioulsy, i was very suprised by how quick this baby is.
3. light enough to carry.. but just.

4. no loose parts. everything comes tight and solid.

cons:
1. barely light enough to carry comfortably.
2. not as quiet as i was, perhaps unrealistically, hoping for\
3. volume gauge is hard to read.
4. pressure adjustment is difficult and flimsy plastic.

I am a builder. We use these compressors everyday. I bought them initially becasue they will not blow a 15a circuit on an extention cord.
We came to like the low weight (lighter than any of our single cylinder compressors) and the fact that it is quieter than out pancake compressors.
I have bought 3 in 2 years and they have performed flawless.

My new Thomas compressor, T-2820ST, is quiet enough to run in the house and is so well balanced that it is not too heavy to move around. Oiless, 5cfm @100psi, 100% duty cycle, 9 second come-back with capacitor-aided start(i.e. 12 ga. extension cords can be used); this is the Cadillac of portable compressors. The paint job on the tanks could be better and air fittings could be included, but those are minor issues. The overall machine is well-built and runs very smoothly. Proudly made in Wisconsin.

I was looking for an American made compressor. Thomas compressors are American made and are truely well built. I looked at the other Thomas compressors, but decided to get the double compressor instead. It was the best choice I could have made. It works excellent, using nail guns and I also spray with a Sata HVLP, using another small compressor pumping air into a manifold. I would high recommend this compressor above all others.

I have used this compressor for about 9 months now and it works very well. I have made a few modifications to it though - I used brass nipple elbows to move the one air cleaner closer to the interior of the unit as it sticks out and is likely to be broken off, 2) I installed a ball valve for the tank drain since the threaded petcocks never last and are tough to use. It does have a fast recovery and the tank will hold compressed air for weeks without leaking. It is a bit heavy. Worth the price.

I had past experience with a smaller Thomas compressor and got largely what I expected: quiet, a little pricey, fast recovery and no frills. Thomas could provide more of the items the more popular brands come with: twin outlets, system pressure gauge as well as outgoing pressure gauge, ball valve water drain for the tanks and more protection of the plumbing from outside forces.
I had read a review from an earlier buyer and did what he had done: made my own manifold, provided for a second gauge, added a ball valve instead of the factory drain valve and rerouted the air intake for the outside compressor so the filter wouldn't be in harm's way. Maybe an additional fifty dollars in parts and some time, but otherwise we like the unit and it lives up to it's reputation for quiet running and fast recovery. Supports the occasional use of high air use guns such as framing guns a lot better than most oil-less compressors I've seen. Will support two coil siding guns and many other combinations with ease and is easy on amperage draw. Great tool.

This product was received on time and in good condition. It is a very quiet compressor and works very well. I've had no problems with it to date.

While not cheap, Thomas' oilless compressors are the gold standard. We have used several of them since 1997, and are on our second of this twin cylinder model. The twin cylinder model is quiet and powerful, and we have run them continuously with significant duty cycle for days at a time. They don't last forever, but Thomas' customer service is excellent and will help you keep it going if something fails and are capable of doing the repairs yourself (we haven't used service centers). If you are a heavy duty user, like us, I highly recommend it.

There's not much for me to write about the item itself that the other reviews haven't hit. It's great. Everything I had hoped for in a portable compressor and more.

But ...

The first came damaged so bad I wouldn't even attempt starting it. Sent it back. The second came also damaged. This time, the dent in the motor body didn't look like it would prevent operation, so I turned it on and it purred like a (very loud) kitten. Except for the dent, it's perfect.

So ... 5 stars because it's a great item, and because Amazon was top notch to work with. But someone needs to put the screws to who ever is doing the packing. Packing peanuts would be a vast improvement, and some actual self forming foam pieces? Heck. They might all get there undamaged.