Review: Harbor Freight Fortress Pancake Air Compressor 

The newer PC compressors apparently added some features, and kept the vibration "feature." Is your drain valve also the type in the video, I'm curious to know? As far as draining at the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with bleeding off some air first with the safety valve. I sometimes do the same with a blow gun while I clean off my tools. But, you want to leave enough air in the tank to push out all the water. On a hot, humid day it's surprising how much water can collect in the tank.

@@enduringcharm Thanks for the reply. Yes, my drain valve is the same as the type in the video.

I'd drain it from the bottom instead of the poop off valve, get as much moisture and contaminants out as possible that way.

I have a video on that one coming out next, and I was also very impressed.

@@enduringcharm Is the second video out yet?

@@tmotorman Yes, it's here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7TlScD8_qpU.html

Well, yes, the maximum pressure is different. Really I was just trying to illustrate the real-world consequences of waiting for the compressor to stop running, whatever the max pressure. If you saw my review of the ultra quiet series after this one, I made the point that a quicker recovery time may be more important than overall capacity in the real world since you tend to fire off a few nails (or whatever) and pause while you set up for the next step. If the compressor recovers quickly during that pause that's all that matters.

@@enduringcharm It's fine as long as your continuous duty tool requirements are within the limits of the compressor. Then it should keep up and you'd have no down time waiting for it to come back up to working pressure. If you just have a few nails to drive and don't run tools that need more airflow, the small compressors will be fine. Just may want to plan for the future in case you get tools that do need more than nailers, like impact wrenches or sanders. Then it may be too frustrating to have to continually pause while waiting for the low cfm compressors to catch up. I like compressors with smaller tanks and higher CFM capability, because they'll come up to working pressure quickly from an empty tank, and they're able to keep up for continuous duty even without the large tank that just act as a buffer to make up for low CFM.

I just picked up my 2 gallon fortress today, can’t wait to fire it up.

Normal for a contractor, that's for sure. Every tool gets a certain amount of abuse no matter who owns it. They're meant for doing work, not sitting on a shelf, so I do call out design issues which contribute or detract from longevity. The Fortress model is definitely better in this regard for recessing the gauges and providing a cord wrap.

You should see this video, which talks about recovery time between two Harbor Freight compressors: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7TlScD8_qpU.html

To be clear, the point of mentioning the Porter Cable model was not a comparison between current models. It was only to demonstrate the features of the Harbor Freight model in contrast to the older Porter Cable compressors that many of us have bought over the years.

You have to look at the SCFM requirements of the sander. If it requires, say, 7 CFM at 90 PSI, then you can check what your compressor can provide. This one in the video can only do 3 CFM at 90, and would therefore be underpowered for that job. My sense is that most air sanders will require a high CFM capacity and require a shop-sized air compressor. If I were in your shoes I'd look into a cheap random orbit electric sander, which can be purchased for $30-40 and will do the job just fine if you can get power to the work.

Electric or battery powered is best in that situation. Air power isn’t efficient with that kind of tool. Way more expensive to run.

No, these smaller compressors don't have enough capacity to do painting, you'd be waiting for it to catch up constantly. See this review, which is another good compressor which would work for your purpose: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xZe9KY5RiRE.html

I made a video about this! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-P0hxO9CoUVs.html

It's not unusual. You may have a slight leak from the fitting, which can be tightened or replaced. You could have a slight leak from the drain valve too. Under normal use it isn't a problem. Incidentally, you should not be leaving the compressor pressurized when the work is done and you put the tool away. Drain the tank of water and leave it unpressurized when in storage.

Honestly, I use the "ultra quiet" fortress much more often (See ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7TlScD8_qpU.html). But, they are both holding up very well. No issues to report at all.

I can't disagree. However, see the video I'll have coming out in another day or two about a different Fortress compressor which impressed me much more.

Be sure and check out my next video on a different fortress compressor (coming out in a matter of days). I was pleasantly surprised about what I found.

Not so fast! It's important to understand that sound levels vary dramatically according to distance from the source and other factors. So my readings could well be due (at least in part) to different measuring methods. That said, if you want a quiet compressor, check out this other review of mine of a truly quiet unit that I've had a good experience with: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7TlScD8_qpU.html

No. See this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7Df0kSYHoyc.html

The noise does grate on you after a long day. You need to check out this review of a different Harbor Freight compressor that I've now made my primary unit on my trailer. It's VERY quiet. As long as you are not doing heavy framing nailer work, it will be just fine. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7TlScD8_qpU.html

What tools would you want to run with it?

@@enduringcharm I’ll be running the Vortex and Tornador tools. Pretty much just for blowing air.

Well, air guns in general do run through a lot of air in a short time. I use open blow guns for dusting off tools, or blowing out debris, etc. Your detailing air guns may use slightly less air. But, much depends on the length of time you'll be using the air before stopping for some other task. If you just give a few squirts of air at a time and then move to a different task, then almost any compressor will have enough capacity. But, if you are using the air for 30 seconds, a minute, or extended times, then you will quickly run down the compressor tank before it has a chance to recover. Compressors have two components--the compressor motor itself, which is capable of producing X amount of air, and then the air tank, which holds a reserve of pressurized air. Generally speaking, an air gun is going to require a big tank because you need that stored air to draw from to prevent your compressor motor from running all the time. I have several other compressor videos you might watch. If you are only going to be using occasional squirts of air, then you should consider the Harbor Freight "quiet" compressor I reviewed. It is MUCH quieter than this pancake compressor even though it has a smaller tank. But, if you will be using your air guns for more extended periods, I think you should think about a much larger tank--like a 30 gallon or more. I also did a review of a HF compressor that size which I still have in my shop. That will keep up with greater demand.

@@enduringcharm thank you so much! I really appreciate all the details. I’m glad I asked the right person before I made a purchase. I will watch your other videos. Stay safe, God bless. Subbed! 🤙🏼

I've never used a tool warranty in my life. Either the tool works when I buy it or it doesn't. If it doesn't it gets returned, if it does I use it till it dies. I've repaired lots of my tools over the years, but none that were within a waranty period. I think of warranties as more of a marketing gimmick than real utility. Typically the warranties are so limited or so difficult to fulfill that it's more effort than it's worth.

@@enduringcharm I heard they charge a restocking fee too that's no good either ?

No, air impact guns will require more capacity for any serious use. They eat a lot of air. This compressor would be appropriate for general household duty like pumping up tires, or finish nail guns in carpentry.

For me that's the main use of this compressor--finish nail guns. I've had some questions about using framing nailers with small compressors like this and I may do a video on that in the coming weeks.

@@enduringcharm lol no i meant shooting the porter cable with a handgun to destroy the compresor

Oh, ha! Yeah, my luck the bullet would ricochet off the tank and take out my eye. I don't know what I'm going to do with this thing, it's still sitting in my shop. Maybe I'll hand it over to one of my kids when they get a house.

@@enduringcharm it will last like another 5 years

I've had a 150 psi PC for 14 years only thing I had replace was the regulator internal spring components..it handles framing guns as well as brads. Noise ? All compressors make noise, I don't mind as long as it brings in the moolah ..old reliable..take care of em they last..however I want to try the new fortress see how it stands up to actual working conditions. Good reviews

See my review of the "ultra quiet" compressor. I was very much impressed with the low noise level of that one.

These compressors are set from the factory to a maximum pressure shut-off. Besides that, the motors start to strain at the upper end of the pressure range so you can hear when they get to the cut-off pressure. Even if the safety valve failed, probably the motor would give up or a hose or fitting would leak long before the tank ruptured. They're pretty safe in that regard. I'm probably a bigger danger to my own life than my tools!

I wasn't really hating on the Porter Cable--I'm amazed that the thing still runs! Here in the Northeast the roads are so bad that no matter how I tie down the contents of my trailer, stuff is going to get beat up. So, the PC compressor gets points for durability, even though the noise level and performance is not remarkable. This HF pancake compressor I've not used much since the video was made. Instead, I've gravitated toward the "ultra-quiet" HF compressor reviewed in another video. The reduced noise level is a huge plus for me and for clients, and it actually performs pretty well. We'll see in 15 years what it looks like!

That's the definition of a house brand. A brand used exclusively by one retailer for products typically sold at a discount. This is a Harbor Freight brand. You can't buy a Fortress tool in any other store or online retailer.

@@enduringcharm thanks. So I am considering either this pancake or either the 2 gallon and 4 gallon jobsite compressor. It will be 90% used for a plasma torch. I know you've reviewed both, which one is your favorite?

Between the pancake compressor in this video and the ultra quiet I reviewed here (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7TlScD8_qpU.html) the latter is far and away my favorite. The reduced noise is so much more pleasant to work around. However, I have concerns about your plan. Plasma cutters typically have a fairly high CFM draw and I doubt either of these compressors will keep up with your cuts, especially longer ones. I suspect the minimum compressor you'll need is somethin more like this one that I reviewed (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xZe9KY5RiRE.html) so check your plasma cutter requirements.