Garage Gazette

TOOLS AND THE SHOP => COMPRESSORS/AIR TOOLS/LINES FILTERS & MISC. => Topic started by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 06:12:46 PM

Title: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 06:12:46 PM
i keep a portable air compressor in my back machine shed for blowing off equipment, airing tires, etc. some time over the last few months it quit working. i suspect the motor but it really needed to be replaced anyway. no shields, questionable tank and possibly older than i am.

this followed me home yesterday, a fortress, 26 gallon, 175 psi oilless compressor. i wanted a vertical as it will take less space and the old horizontal was a bitch to move around. it will only see occasion use in an unheated building so i thought oilless would be the ticket. as a bonus the quiet feature is true to life. it is unbelievably quiet.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 06:16:04 PM
the only issue i had out of the box is the lack of a shut off valve. it may sit for weeks or months, so a handful of fittings and a valve made that happen.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 06:18:08 PM
keeping track of accessories is a pain. a scrap of aluminum and few minutes time solved that issue as well.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 06:23:33 PM
i had the new red hose on inventory and the yellow coiled hose, chuck, air nozzle and gauge were on clearance as a package at tsc for ten bucks.

the roll cage protects the controls, gauges and couplers pretty well.

it was on sale for 360 so i have barely 400 hundred in it total.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: The Magic Ratchet on September 25, 2023, 07:14:06 PM
Nice, sounds perfect for your use. Best of luck with it and hope it lasts as long as your old one.

Lou Manglass
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: goodfellow on September 25, 2023, 07:58:04 PM
Very nice work Harlan, and the CFM specs are pretty damn good for an oil-less compressor. For occasional use, you did well.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: muddy on September 25, 2023, 08:29:00 PM
Nice compressor!

I'm sure you've seen these before. But these are very handy.

If course you could always make your own with a regular blow gun and some brake line....

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_RG1002BK?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&campaign=GSC-Tools-Equipment&campaign_id=8553470562&adgroup_id=107047174069&adtype=pla_with_promotion&gclid=CjwKCAjw38SoBhB6EiwA8EQVLnR4CYtRfDa0EzJfphZJ3NKJIgINlYGVU7lfWXSgH0rg81kCxsL8eRoCMRkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&



Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman

Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: oldnslo on September 25, 2023, 08:58:44 PM
Muddy, thats exactly what I did, but with copper tubing hose-clamped to a 1x2" furring strip of wood for rigidity. At 6' long, I can dust off the mower deck on the riding mower from 4' away and not get dusty.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 10:13:22 PM
Nice compressor!

I'm sure you've seen these before. But these are very handy.

If course you could always make your own with a regular blow gun and some brake line....

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_RG1002BK?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&campaign=GSC-Tools-Equipment&campaign_id=8553470562&adgroup_id=107047174069&adtype=pla_with_promotion&gclid=CjwKCAjw38SoBhB6EiwA8EQVLnR4CYtRfDa0EzJfphZJ3NKJIgINlYGVU7lfWXSgH0rg81kCxsL8eRoCMRkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&



Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman

i made something similar years ago and use them on occasion. i have a variety of blow guns in different lengths and styles but the one i use when i really want to move stuff is a four-foot chunk of copper tube with an air coupler attached to it. no valve, no handle, just straight through. of course, not osha  approved.

IT WILL REALLY DANCE AROUND IF YOU LOSE YOUR GRIP ON IT!
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: skfarmer on September 25, 2023, 10:20:17 PM
Very nice work Harlan, and the CFM specs are pretty damn good for an oil-less compressor. For occasional use, you did well.

i have no illusions that it will keep up to my 80 gallon 2 stage but it should handle most jobs quite well. it should be quite handy to have a unit that can be easily moved. i have a smaller 1 1/2 gallon hot dog style oiled craftsman but it is pretty limited on capabilty and it will make your ears rattle. it is amazing how quiet it is. i was shocked and believe the claims are totally accurate or at least my ears tell me that.

the spots to wrap the cord and hang the hose is a nice touch as well.
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: Heiny57 on September 27, 2023, 08:02:04 AM
Nice pick up and fixes.  :bravo_2:
Title: Re: harbor freight fortress ft26175 air compressor
Post by: hickory n Steel on September 28, 2023, 08:18:48 PM
Looks great.

I bought a 10 gal Fortress hotdog compressor back when I got my taxes and I really love that compressor.
It's quiet as hell, fills up fairly quickly, and has nice knobs and such.