Makita has come out with a new teeny tiny air compressor, model AC001. Its small and lightweight design features a 1/6 HP (peak) motor, 1-gallon air tank, and 125 PSI max pressure output.
Makita says it’s designed for “powerful, portable performance.” They don’t provide full dimensions for the compressor, but say it’s 14″ long. With a 1-gallon tank it’s bound to be small. The roll cage increases the compressor’s size, but offers protection for the pump and motor assembly. It weighs in at 23.1 pounds, which should be easily manageable, even if you have a short hose and need to move it around a lot.
Compressor Specs
- 1/6 max HP motor
- 1-gallon tank
- 0.58 CFM at 40 PSI
- 0.45 CFM at 100 PSI
- 125 PSI max pressure
- 14″ long
- Weighs 23.1 lbs
- Universal coupler (447013-E, presumably pre-installed)
Price: $170
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Makita is really into making things small these days. First it was their 18V vacuum with 1-cup capacity, and now a 1-gallon air compressor. Given the specs and small size, this looks to be a reasonable option for small-nailer trim work.
The nailer is small and portable, but there’s a downside it doesn’t seem very powerful, as its airflow volume is pretty limited.
Less that 0.5 CFM at 100 PSI? That’s really not a lot. In comparison, Bostitch’s CAP1512-OF nailer ($135 via Amazon) has a 1.2 gallon tank and 2.0 HP (peak) motor, and it delivers 2.8 CFM at 90 PSI.
It seems to me that Makita’s new compressor can drive brad nailers, pin nailers, and maybe smaller air staplers. It might not be powerful enough for a finish nailer. I don’t think it’ll work well with finish nailers, although I can’t really tell, as I don’t think I’ve ever used an air compressor with airflow specs this low before. Every compressor I’ve used, even my old Black & Decker compressor delivered over 1.0 CFM at 90 PSI. That B&D compressor was maybe rated for 1.2 CFM at 90 PSI.
Rolair also recently came out with a 1-gallon air compressor, the Air Buddy AB5 (~$160 via Amazon), which is more powerful (1/2 HP vs. 1/6 HP) and capable of greater airflow than this new Makita model (0.7 CFM at 90 PSI vs. <0.45 CFM at 100 PSI). It’s also quieter (68 dB vs 72 dBA for the Makita), although a 72 dBA rating still makes the Makit quieter than plenty of other models.
If you’re looking for a larger and better featured air compressor for trim work, I heartily recommend the Rolair JC10.
I’d choose a Rolair air compressor over this or another Makita model any day of the week, but that’s just my brand preference. In general, Makita compressors seem to be well regarded, at least as far as Amazon user reviews go, but I personally don’t see Makita as a leader in air compressors or air nailers. You’d think that this would have changed since my “Unfamiliar tool of the week” post about a Makita brad nailer when I was reminded that that oh hey, Makita makes air tools?, but it hasn’t.
Makita says that the AC001 air compressor is “ideal for case and base installation, trim and finish carpentry, cabinet and furniture construction, and more.” As long as you keep in mind that this compressor is built to work with smaller nailers, you probably won’t be disappointed with its performance.