I think I know what Dewalt’s goal is these days – to compel everyone to buy into their FlexVolt cordless power tool platform – and it might be working.
Behold, the new Dewalt 60V Max FlexVolt cordless air compressor, model DCC2560T1.
It’s a 2.5 gallon unit with a compact design, 135 PSI max pressure, brushless motor, it’s made in the USA (with global materials), and it’s less expensive than I would have guessed.
Dewalt says it’ll deliver cordless convenience with the power of a corded tool.
- 2.5 gallon tank
- 135 PSI max
- 1.2 SCFM at 90 PSI
- One-Turn regulator for “fast and accurate pressure adjustment”
- Can drive over 1220 nails per charge (brad? finish? we’ll find out)
- Brushless motor
- Oil-free pump
- Weighs 22 lbs
- Heavy duty roll cage
- 15.5″ H x 14″ L x 12.5″ W
It looks to me like the Dewalt FlexVolt air compressor can do anything that a typical ~2.5 gallon air compressor could do, which would typically mean lighter nailing and air fill-up tasks.
With an SCFM rating of 1.2 at 90 PSI, this wouldn’t be the choice for all-day framing. But it should be able to handle finish nailers, staplers, brad nailers, pin nailers, and other similarly sized tools with ease.
Here’s a closer look at the control panel. Ah, so that is what a “One-Turn” air regulator looks like. I like it!
Price: $299 for the (1) battery and fast charger kit, DCC2560T1
Buy Now(via Acme Tool)
First Thoughts
This is not the first cordless air compressor to market – Ridgid has Dewalt beat by a couple of months, with their 18V 1 gallon air compressor.
The Ridgid is a capable and highly portable model, but I can’t find myself thinking that this Dewalt model is far more appealing. It has a larger air tank, it’s more powerful, and it looks to have a fantastic design that takes up as little space as possible.
I like the look of the roll cage, especially since it hugs the space-filling air tank and compressor. There are good things about boxier designs with extended roll cages and handles, but a big negative is that they take up more space.
Hmm. That One-Touch regulator – can it ever lose its accuracy? I suppose one could fix up an inline air pressure gauge to check every now and then. And it’s not like traditional regulators and pressure gauge combos are infallible either.
The “tried and true” method is to slap in a bi-directional regulator knob and a second pressure gauge – one for tank pressure and another for output. But that takes up more space.
With this Dewalt model, you get a tank pressure gauge, and the regulator that’s adjusted to a rough pressure setting. You turn the dial to the desired pressure, instead of watching a second pressure gauge as you turn an ordinary air regulator.
I’m trying to find a “catch” here – anything to quell my excitement and optimism even just a little bit. But so far I can’t find any reason not to be happy. This seems to the cordless air compressor that users have been asked for!
The new One-Turn regulator? I am VERY interested to learn more about it, and to see how well it works. Is this something we’ll see on Dewalt’s corded air compressors?
One thing I’m happy to see is that the new Dewalt cordless compressor looks to have been designed from the ground up. I guess it’d have to be, since it’s engineered with a brushless motor and space-conserving design.
Are any parts of it user-serviceable? That’s something some users look at when shopping for portable and stationary air compressors. I’m going to take a guess and say “no.” But if true, that’s a tradeoff of having a more compact and portable air compressor without sacrificing on tank capacity or power. Then again, a lot of smaller air compressors aren’t really user serviceable either.
I think the price is fair – $299 for the kit. Maybe more than fair. A fast charger is $70 on Amazon, and a 6.0Ah FlexVolt battery pack comes down to around $90 each if you buy a 2 pack for $179 on Amazon. Based on that, I’d guess a bare tool price of $199, at least at launch. As of the time of this post, several Dewalt FlexVolt 1-battery kits are $100 more than their bare tool prices. Ridgid’s is also $199 for the bare tool.
What’s your take? “I want one NOW!” or “Eh, who cares”?
If you’re not a Dewalt user, what would your take be if your cordless power tool brand of choice came out with the same exact tool but in their trade color?
Do you know what would make this even better? If it had an AC port for cordless or corded operation. Maybe that’ll be available on a following 120V Max model.