Upon receiving the Metabo HPT cordless compressor, my first thought was, “Come on, really?” I know there are very few outlets on some job sites, but in my entire career I’ve never been unable to find a place to plug in. So, I figured a cordless compressor was a solution without a problem—but I was wrong.

The first time the compressor saved me 10 minutes was when filling the tire on my tractor, which was parked outside the radius of where I could easily run a cord. On my walk to the tractor—without 100 ft. of cord in tow—I was delighted to discover just how light the 2-gal., single-tank Metabo HPT compressor is. Though it doesn’t hold as much air as a twin stack, comparatively it’s a dream: light, well-balanced, and easily stored. Shortly after the tractor situation, my customer’s car tire went flat, and the cordless compressor easily took care of the problem.

In terms of actual carpentry, the compressor spent a few days setting interior doors and base molding. One battery runs for a half-day shooting 1-3/4-in. brads. With smaller nails, it doesn’t cycle all that much and it runs quietly. The compressor can run a framer or a siding nailer, but the pump kicks on every five nails; it’s not made for these larger nailers, but it works in a pinch. I also used it with a narrow crown stapler to tack up ship lap siding for a screened porch using the MultiVolt adapter instead of the battery and the tool didn’t miss a beat.

While the compressor has proven plenty durable, there’s a filtered air intake on the back of the unit that’s a bit flimsy. Also, the DC adapter has a fan that seems to run a lot, even when the compressor doesn’t—but these are hardly deal breakers. The tool works well and has become my go-to compressor for small jobs.

Mark Clement (@MyFixItUpLife), a carpenter in Ambler, Pa.

From Fine Homebuilding #313

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• Tool Test: Twin-Stack Air Compressors

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