Metabo HPT, formerly Hitachi Power Tools and known as HiKoki internationally, has introduced a new corded pancake-style air compressor, which they are calling “The Tank.”
The most important thing to know about the Metabo HPT “Tank,” model EC914S, is that it features a 6 gallon air capacity with 200 PSI max pressure rating.
Metabo HPT says that “The Tank is the Industry’s First 200 PSI high capacity pancake compressor.”
This higher pressure rating allows The Tank to deliver 4 CFM at 90 PSI.
It has the capacity to run several air nailers at the same time – 2 framing nailers, 2 siding nailers, 2 roofing nailers, 3 finish nailers, or 5 brad nailers.
They say “at 200 PSI and 4 CFM at 90 PSI, you can get more work done with less weight.”
Basically, the higher pressure rating means that you can fit more air inside its 6 gallon air tank. Given the same volume air tank, and the same set outlet pressure, a higher pressure compressor will deliver air for longer. Or, as seen with the CFM rating, it can deliver a greater airflow to power more tools and potentially greater power.
If it helps clear things up, consider the ideal gas law equation, PV = nRT.
Simplifying things (air is not an ideal gas), the ideal gas law says that the pressure (P) and volume (V) are proportional to the amount of substance (n), and temperature (T). R is a constant.
So if you have two 6-gallon air compressors, and ignoring any temperature differences, the one with the higher pressure rating will hold more gas.
Got it? Among 6 gallon air compressors, a higher tank holding pressure means more air in tank.
Metabo HPT says that The Tank, with its specs, will deliver 30% more airflow than other compressors.
It has 2 quick-connect couplers, a metal handle, low maintenance oil-free design, and it weighs 41 pounds.
The 41 pound weight is said to be 22% lighter than Metabo HPT’s traditional EC99S twin-stack compressor, model, although it is unclear why this comparison is being made.
The Tank offers 25% greater PSI compared to Metabo HPT’s basic pancake air compressor, EC710S.
- 6 gallon capacity
- 200 PSI
- 4 CFM at 90 PSI
- Weighs 41 pounds
- 2 couplers
- 1.3 HP
- 13.5A current draw
Price: $199
Buy Now(via Amazon) – coming soon
Discussion
In this image, Metabo HPT’s “basic” pancake-style air compressor is on the left, and the new The Tank air compressor is on the right.
The new air compressor weighs more, but you get 200 PSI holding pressure vs. 150 PSI, and 4 CFM vs. 2.8 CFM at 90 PSI.
Metabo HPT says that this new air compressor delivers 25% greater PSI than their basic pancake compressor, which is true, but if you look at the new model compared to the basic model and its 150 PSI pressure as the reference, the difference is actually 33%.
To be clear, a 50 PSI difference is 25% with respect to the new model, and 33% with respect to the basic model. What this means is that it seems Metabo HPT is being more modest with their specs and marketing claims than necessary.
What all this comes down to is the new air compressor being designed to handle greater airflow and thus greater simultaneous loads from multiple nailers.
For individual users, the higher pressure rating could potentially allow for longer work between air pump cycling, but it could also mean longer fill-up times, depending on motor speed. Fill-up time, cycling pressure, and duty cycle were not discussed in press materials.
With the added capabilities of this new air compressor comes slightly greater weight, and a higher price tag compared to HPT’s “basic” 6-gallon pancake-style air compressor.
