• Manufactured by Maxus
• 888-241-5858; www.maxustools.com
• Cost: about $300
I hate lifting my 80-lb. twin-tank air compressor into the bed of my pickup truck. But the rusty water that drips out of the drain valve is even more annoying. It’s a reminder that my compressor’s steel tanks are rotting from the inside out.
The new Maxus X-Lite solves corrosion problems by replacing standard steel tanks with rust-resistant aluminum. The aluminum tanks also make the compressor 50% lighter than similar steel-tank models, according to Maxus.The X-Lite weighs 57 lb., a weight reduction my back can definitely appreciate.
From a functional standpoint, the Maxus compressor offers 3.7 cfm at 90 psi, and the tool looks as if the placement of its components was considered carefully. The pressure gauges, hose valves, and 1.3-hp oil-lube motor assembly are protected by a hefty roll bar, making the compressor’s survival in the back of a truck a little less dicey. Also, with the compressor planted firmly on its rubber feet, the pair of hose valves points straight out rather than down toward the ground, making hose hookups a cinch. The only thing I found a bit awkward was the positioning of the on/off switch; it’s on the side of the compressor rather than the top or the front.
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