Great little compressor
I have had this compressor for a couple of weeks now and really like it. It is a high quality unit clearly built to last. I chose this model over the very popular oil-free pancake compressors mainly for it's compact size and low noise level....and it did not dissappoint me. I would say this unit is half as loud as those typical oil-fee models by P*rter C*ble. I can easly run it indoors while remodeling a bedroom, and hardly hear in the room next door.

The unit is compact, but much heavier duty than similar Cr*ftman compressors I saw at Sears. It recycles quickly and fills the tank in less than 20 seconds. It came with a good owner's manual and a bottle of oil. I did have a problem where the plastic oil filler cap was cracked, but Makita quickly sent me a replacement part under warantee. I would recommend this unit to anyone looking for an occasional use compressor and does not want something large or loud.

Compact and well made!
I purchased this unit to replace an oil-less pancake compressor that burned out. The Makita MAC700 is super! It has all the attributes of a large high quality oil-lube compressor. I am very pleased to report that the unit is as quiet as advertised. By comparison, the pancake compressor this unit replaced was DREADFULLY loud. I am impressed with the powerful low-rpm motor and the heavy duty oil-lube design. In my opinion, the longevity and quietness that an oil-lube compressor offers, far outweighs the time and slight inconvenience of routine maintenance. At this time, I cannot suggest any improvements to this machine. I love it! If you are looking for a light duty air compressor, I highly recommend the MAC700 Hot Dog Air Compressor. It's great for finish nailers, car and bicycle tires, and kids' toys. A great addition to any home garage!

Great Product - shipping bad
I like Mikita tools for their quality build and reliabity. However, I learned my lesson ording big (HEAVY) products on-line. When shipped to retail stores, the unit probably survives shippment fine. Not so when it's shipped by itself. The cardboard packing in the box can't handle shipping abuse like styrofoam can. Our box was clearly tossed around or banged into during shippment which broke off the air filter assembly that screws into the cylinder head. To avoid the HUGE hassle of returning/shipping the compressor to Amazon, incurring shipping charges that were initially free when I ordered the compressor, lugging it back to UPS, and waiting for who knows how long for a replacement, I contacted Mikita and got a replacement part directly from them. The part was provided free for pick-up and was offered under warranty.

really good...
It's a little bit more expensive, but you really have what you pay for... quiet, quality construction. The only thing it's only 3.3 cfm at 90psi. It's lower than the other brand with oil less. I great buy.

An Airbrushing Powerhouse
My Mac700 survived UPS shipping from North Dakota to metro Atlanta, GA just fine.

I use it to power airbrushes along with an added-on airbrush regulator/gauge/moisture trap. This is exactly what I wanted for airbrushing. It has a much longer lifespan than "airbrush compressors". It's noise level is acceptible. It is fast about refilling. The airbrushes work consistently all throughout the refill phase. This is the muscle car of airbrush compressors even though it was made in Taiwan.

This is good to consider as the maximum desirable amp draw for common household electrical outlets. It's right there as high as you wanna go to get the tank filled up. I would not want it to pull any harder on the electricity of the house when it comes on.

It only runs for 15 seconds to recharge from 100 to 125+ psi, which is great. 5 to 10 minutes of airbrushing in silence, and when it comes on it does have some volume, but it is so much less noise than an oilless.

I had to tighten down the crankcase cover (Ref# 29, Part# 304013-E) because it was leaking oil. It's the large exposed part of the motor that you can easily reach and tighten up with a screwdriver. So, make sure yours is tightened up if you have one of these.

makita mac700 2hp air compressor
i purchased this compressor about a year ago from amazon..im a contractor and need a good durable compressor that i can use everyday..this is not a durable unit..i got to use it for two days and they wernt consecutive..the first day i had it on my truck it tipped over,breaking the oil cap and the week brass connector on the tank...i fixed these items and tried it again...the very next day the oil site glass got broken and the same brass fitting got sheered off again..i wont fix it again..way to fragil to be considered portable..very tippy and nothing is protected if you bump into it with anything(except maybe a pillow)it will break...

exellent
so far so good, my hot dog arrived defective from the manufacturer, but makita has an excellent warranty on their tools all i had to do was go to their website and locate their nearest service center where in no time they had my compressor running they replaced all parts with geniune makita brand new parts, mine had a short circuit in the motor and they replaced it with a new one, as far as performance excellent, very easy on your ears. that was the main reason why i bought it and it lived up to the expectations,

It is as advertised
I recently purchased this unit and so far I am very pleased.

The box arrived with oil on the exterior, but it was only from the temporary oil plug.

It is very quiet w/little vibration. I also bought the Bostich 152K which has also been flawless and works very will with the MAC700. If you're considering an oil less compressor,,, don't.
Read the manual and follow the break-in and maintenance procedures and off you go.

This unit is not supposed to be a "contractor's" compressor. If you need a compressor for big job sites, buy an appropriate unit. For home, shop, garage use, it seems perfect.

Always damaged
I had the compressor sent out two times, both times, it arrived damaged. First time, the plastic motor housing was cracked with several pieces chipped off. Second time, the oil plug was broke off and the exhaust port was sheared off. Both times the exterior of the box looked ok.

The compressor looked great, felt great, only wish Makita would have packaged it with more padding. I called Makita and they wouldn't send me the broken part unless I went to one of their distributors, and my nearest one is 40 minutes away. Amazon has been great about both returns, but they won't send me a third compressor. Oh well... Porter Cable here I come.

Arrived damaged
After opening the cardboard box that was obviously crushed, I found the plastic motor cover broked and the brass unloading elbow broken-off in the check valve attached to the side of the tank. I called the Makita service center and explained the problem. They said I should sent it back, but agreed to fix it under warranty. When I took it in I got the same unenthusiastic treatment; 7-10 days to fix, or an additional 10-14 if they had to order the parts. I fault Makita for poor packaging and the FedEx gorillas for their mishandling. This has not been a good experience and one I would not do again.

seems ok
A little top heavy, but seems to be contsructed well. I havent had a chance to use it much, pumps up fast, quiet, doesn't vibrate itself all over the floor, alittle heavy maybe. Had to order a second unit because a fed ex employee stole the first one the day it was to be delivered! Amazon was tip top in handling it and had the second unit overnighted!

great machine

during my lifetime ( i'm 77 years ) I have owned several compressors and this quiet machine has performed the best of any. It does all of the things I ask of it, and then some. The only objection I have and this isn't much, it is a little heavy for me,but i'm sure a younger person would have no trouble.

great little compresssor
Mine arrived in perfect condition--no broken parts. Works great,and it is much quieter than the oil-less. Is perfect for use in the garage and airing up tires etc.My handyman is jealous-because my compressor is better than his!

Reviewer from Arizona
I am pleased with this Makita's compressor. Although it is not that light, it can be moved around relatively easy. I wished it had wheels though. It is powerful enough for most around the house jobs. Comparing it to other light weight/low capacity compressors I had before the engine noise is not that bad. It is well built with good quality materials. For instance the air filter is place in an aluminum container whereas most other small compressors use plastic containers instead which can easily break off. I think they could have done a better job in writing their user manual. The user needs to read it a few times to understand some featuers. Also I think the power on/off switch is not that convenient to use but that is not a big deal because it does the job anyway. This is a good product.

Arrived damaged II1
As with my first experience the second Makita air compressor arrived in the same condition. The same uploading brass elbow was broken when it arrived from shipment. This is a design flaw in the product. The elbow sticks out away from the compressor and it is very fragile and shears off with any type of contact from anything. The packaging was not sufficient to cushion the elbow in shipment. Can you imagine every time the compressor were to hit anything or tip over the elbow would shear off.

Amazon was slow to ship and I got an email that said they were having trouble shipping the compressor to me. I don't know what kind of trouble but the compressor was sent to me several days after the initial time for shipping.

They are going to come and pick up the compressor and refund my money after they get the compressor. They lost a sale. They will only send two out. Somebody in management and quality control needs to wise up regarding this problem.

Hot Dogg !
Makita has put a full size, quiet, oil-lubed motor on a small, lighter weight tank; about 20lbs lighter than the 4 gallon tanks. This makes it great for carrying up stairs and around the job site. The smaller size means it can fit through studs or sit in the footwell of your vehicle. I have used mine for finish work, roofing and framing. Of course, with the smaller tank (2.6 gal) it kicks on more often to recharge, but it is quieter than most. It is tall and narrow, so it tips easy in the bed of a pickup. This is not good for transporting, so be sure to pack things around it. When mine arrived, the box said "factory reconditioned". With two emails back and forth to amazon customer service, a brand new one was sent out and the reconditioned one was picked up.

Excellent product
It was shipped without any damage, all parts are present. It works great, simple install and pretty straightforward operation.

Never Learn
Even though I saw serveral instance where the unit came in broke, I thought mine would be OK. Wrong!! Compressor arrived with damage to the shroud and the oil cap. Both appeared because of packaging. Still working trying to get the parts to repair.

Recieved damaged, Makita service hopeless
Just received this compressor from Amazon/ToolKing.
The unloading elbow was snapped off from the check valve assy.
Called Makita to see if I could get the part under Warranty.
No way possible, must go back to Amazon and re-ship new one.
Makita has a problem in the packing of these compressor's which leaves the valve exposed to being crushed inside the container.
Please keep in mind, the shipping box is extra heavy duty, I recieved the box in PERFECT condition, no crushed corners...nothing.The valve is on the side and all it takes is a slight bump and it's sheared off.If you need to put the compressor into service right away, I suggest buying local or
unfortunately another mfg.The compressor is quiet, and seems to
run ok, I have only done the initial start up though.Seems to be a great little compressor.
I'm going to use an easy out to remove the broken thread/stud from inside the valve and just buy the elbow locally(I hope)
You can see many other posts on the internet regarding this same problem.Good luck
Ron
UPDATE: Sorry for the late post.To be fare MAKITA did ship out a new elbow free of charge, I just had to speak with the right "person".(supervisor)The compressor has been in service now for around 8mo. and is working fine.Overall pretty happy with it.I did solder a new elbow onto a lower area of the check valve which works out better when the compressor rolls on its side.Just thought I'd post this update.Again good luck!

Quiet, Solid, Well Made
After all the reviews that complained about shipping damage, I was pleased when mine arrived in perfect condition. Box was sturdy and rigid. What a top quality piece of equipment. I wanted a portable compressor for using my nail guns at old houses, and was ready to replace my antique mastodon shop compressor. I was thinking I may have to buy two compressors, most portable units were too loud for the shop. A few weeks ago I bought a Ridgid brand "oil-free" compressor at Home Depot but it was so loud that I couldn't use it indoors, even covered with a chunk of old carpet. It had good air flow...but it was noisy, it rattled and vibrated across the floor. I think some of the sheet metal came loose also. I looked at the Makita MAC2400, which was a quiet, quality unit, 4.3 CFM ..but it weighs 80 pounds. Portable...only if you want to become a soprano. This little Makita weighs only 30 pounds and is amazingly quiet. 3.3 CFM is higher than many of the 75-pound twin stack compressors I saw. Tank is only 3 gallons so it will cycle more than a twin stack...but as quiet as this thing is...you won't notice. Actually...most of the twin stacks are only 4.5 gallons, so..I wonder how big a difference it will be. To reduce cycling in the shop, I attached my 5-gallon air tank (the kind you use for putting air in a flat tire) to the tank side of the regulator with a T and snap coupler. In the shop the tank is effectively 8 gallons...and when I take it to a job...I un-couple the 5 gal. Tank...and just use the 3 gal hot dog tank. I'm sure this is somewhere in the owners manual of things NOT to do...like don't use the compressor in the bathtub. You won't be disappointed with this unit. It's a large, high quality compressor mounted on a small, portable tank. You'll get really spoiled if you're used to a noisy oil-less compressor. I got the free Amazon shipping. I ordered it on Friday morning and it arrived on Tuesday...I'm sure it depends on where you live. Amazon estimate was 10 days. I shopped around and couldn't beat the Amazon price with free shipping. I saw some reconditioned units on Ebay sell for $130 plus $40 shipping. Highly recommended.

Damaged!!!
Received unit and much to my dismay...it was damaged. The Black plastic engine housing was cracked with the broken pieces in the box. Additionally, the paint on the handle and the tank was abraded. The box itself was undamaged and the packaging seemed robust. Not sure how unit could be damaged inside with no box damage outside?

The unit itself seems to be very sturdy and I am looking forward to a replacement. If it too is damaged, I may invoke the Makita warranty to get replacement parts instead of buying retail. I still am excited about the unit...just not the packaging or the condition of the unit out of the box.

Damaged Goods
After reading the previous negative reviews which I thought were anomolies, I received the unit and much to my dismay...it was damaged too.
The black plastic engine housing was cracked but remained in place, the air/condensation release valve at the base of the tank was broken off at the tank !?#%#! After a little hand work I removed what remained of the fitting, reversed and reinstalled the valve.
Although very robust the shipping box itself was damaged and showed signs of oil leakage from within the box. Factory installed oil for testing leaked from one of the temporary oil fill caps. The unit is packaged very well with internal blocking and bracing but it must be being mis-handled during shipment for the damage I'm seeing to occur.
After repairs (seems odd to repair a brand new machine) it seems to run great, no oil or air leaks....yet.
Although I've only operated the unit for about an hour it's very quiet I'd say less than 70dBA at 10 feet which is important to me since my wife and I will occassionally use it inside the house.
My 2-cents.
Don

shipping problems
We received the mac700 in a damaged condition. The unloading elbow had a small fitting broken off inside. This fitting was the elbow from the pressure sensing line. We tried to get the broken stub out with an easy out and snapped the easy out off. Amazon would have taken the compressor back but we didn't want the chance of receiving another broken compressor. We ended up going to the service center and buying a new unloading elbow and fitting, cost $30.00. The compressor is very quiet and works well so far. Makita needs to something about the shipping carton. There was no outside damage to the box, other than an oil stain.

Misleading specs
I purchased this compressor because of the many good reviews and many mentioned it's not heavy. However, when I tried to carry the compressor which was specified as being 30# it seemed heavier than that. So; I decided to weigh it and to my surprise it weighed over 50#. In fact it weighed more than my 5 gal pancake compressor. It's very disappointing since the I purchased the Makita for its lightweight and quiet running. Did Makita alter the compressor in some way that added 20# to it?

Please have someone proof read the specs.
This is a beautifully made little compressor. It arrived in good condition due to good packaging. Once filled with the oil, it ran just as quietly as I've heard. HOWEVER!! I can't be sure where I got the impression that this was a 30 lb. compressor, but it isn't. Its over 50 pounds. I bought it based upon the 30 lb. impression because I was tired of lugging my Hitachi EC12. I'm keeping the MAC700 for 2 reasons: firstly, it is about 15 pounds lighter than the Hitachi, and secondly, its designed to be easier to carry. Its possible to be a little bit pregnant.

Very good
I placed an order on Monday with free shipping. I got it on Thursday. Amazing. The compressor is packed very well without any damage. It is built with high quality. Small and strong. It is a little bit heavy. I hope it could have wheels. I did a test run. It could fill the tank within a minuate. Very good. One draw back is that its manual is not well written. After running it over 20 minuates, I discovered that I did not install the air filter. The manual did not mention it at all. But overall, I am really impressed by its quality. It sound is as loud as a car inside a garage. Not too bad.

broken twice
This item showed up broken twice. Fixed it myself the second time. Worse than that is after fixing it I looked online to write this review and it is $25 cheaper. I should have sent it back a third time and gotten the discount.

Chalk up one for the good guys!
Hooray, mine got here undamaged! (even though the American Tourister testers at Fed Ex had punched two big holes in the box, as usual. The other day I watched them throw a box containing a fragile clockwork I had ordered out of the Fed Ex van window onto my concrete driveway!) And with that, it's all Makita quality! Quiet, quick, and built to last. I would chance it again for this compressor.

good news
Just what I wanted and at what appears to be the best price..

Great compressor
This is a great little compressor with good output for the price. It is very quiet running.
Mine arrived with a broken part which was no fault of the manufacturer, but they prompted sent me a replacement part without a problem. This does weigh 50# so it is a bit heavier than some, but well worth it.

Another Damaged compressor
Like many other reviewers, mine too arrived damaged....both the shroud and the unloading valve were broken (see other reviews) with no apparent damage to the shipping box. Makita service would not replace parts under warranty so I had to send the whole unit back to Amazon. Am waiting for my replacement unit (backordered) from Amazon with my fingers crossed. It's time Amazon stepped up to the plate and acknowledge that there is a serious problem with this unit arriving damaged. Also I am EXTREMELY dissatisfied with Makita's response to this issue. This will be the last Makita product that I own.

Lives up to all reviews
I was really nervous when opening up the box because of all the complaints about shipping. They were right. the packing is substandard and the unit was skewed around in the box but fortunately sustained only minor scuffing at the tank ends. Follow the break-in directions! Put on the filter and add the oil. After the break-in it ran up to working pressure in 30 seconds. A neat, heavy-duty item. Yes it is heavy and I will have to be careful to keep it from tipping over in the field. BUT all that weight comes from the powerful motor and cast-iron cylinder.
I have a suspicion that people who are really dissatisfied with their purchase are much more likely to write reviews so this is for balance.

Very efficient Compressor
After reading some reviews here on Amazon.com, I decided to purchase "The Hot Dog" compressor. As lot of reviewer mentioned, it is quite and works very efficiently. When I received the packgae, the compressor had oil over it leaked from the bottle supplied with it. That's a shipping problem. One thing I would like with the compressor is a package of some hose connectros and adapters.

Great Compressor - A Little Top Heavy
Actually 4.5 stars. This thing is built so much better than my old pancake compressor that there's really no comparison. It's quiet (for a compressor) and handles all my nail guns without a problem. The only thing that keeps it from being 5 stars is that it is a little top heavy so you have to tie it down when transporting. The flip side of this is that it's narrow enough to carry comfortably without banging your leg with every step.

It looks like all the complaints were with units damage in shipping, not with performance. Mine arrived just fine. After using this for about a year, I'd say, to those with a problem: "send it back and get a good one" before I'd settle for using another basic pancake model - It's worth the hassle.

Damaged Goods
This looks like a good air compressor, but unfortunately I never got to find out. The manufacturer's packaging almost guarantees that it will arrive damaged as mine did. The carton was not significantly damaged, but apparently the unit was dropped which crushed the oil fill tube housing. To make matters worse, the company won't stand behind its product by reparing the shipping damage. The only good news is that Amazon was great in handling the return and issuing a refund. If you really want this product, it is best to pay the extra $50 and buy it from a store where you can examine it before you pay. Otherwise, find a product that is properly packaged for shipping.

Very Good Product
Received compressor with great aprehension due to the negative reviews on the shipping "damges". Compressure shipping box did have it's usual holes in several places ala UPS but compressure did survive the trip unscathed. Broke it in and unit performed as "advertised". Makita does produce quality products.

Great compressor for my CD Eraser operation, bearable noise level
I bought a $300 DeWalt compressor and it was very loud. I have a blister packaging machine in the garage that requires compressed air to operate the heat sealing plate. I am packaging my own product in the garage, as a startup operation. Search under SunZag to see my CD Eraser product, also DiscEraser.com. It's a revolutionary new way to dispose of CD-R and DVDR media by encouraging people to RECYCLE instead of traditionally breaking, cutting, or shredding them, which creates e-Waste and is bad for our environment, ending up in landfill because discs do not biodegrade. Anyhow, this Makita compressor is used in the garage along with my machine and the noise level is bearable. It is kind of heavy, I wished Makita attached 2 wheels so that it is rollable. The handle is good for carrying it, it is taller than wider, the shape is odd for carrying it, but it takes up very little floor space. Instructions are not really detailed. Remember to put the filter before running it, before breaking it in. And the oil, must pour 2/3 of the bottle inside the crank case before you break it in.

Great compressor, but check the box thouroughly before signing for delivery!
After working with a friend's older version of this compressor for the last eight months, I decided to splurge and get my own. If this compressor is anything like the older model, it's going to last forever. We left the older model out, under a saw table, in rain, snow, 100 degree heat - you name it. Never had any problems with it.

I've only had this one for 2 days, so I can't speak much about it other than to say it's quiet enough to use and talk at the same time, and it feels very well built. It's also heavier than I expected, but the carrying handle makes moving it around easy on the back.

One thing - I had read the other reviews that mentioned shipping damage and hoped for the best. When it arrived, I checked the box, and there was only one small ding in a corner. What I should have done was kept the FedEx driver there until I actually got it out of the box. It looks like someone must've dropped it, and from a pretty good height! One of the legs was bent about 2 inches, so the compressor would rock when set down. Fortunately, the compressor itself (external tubes and gauges and whatnot) are all fine.

I fired it up and it ran fine, so I decided to keep it. I'll try to hammer out the bent leg at some point. It's annoying, but I don't want to go through the exchange process and be without air for another two weeks.

The startup process is fairly simple. The manual doesn't explain what goes where when you open the box, but it's reasonably self-evident. There are two plastic plugs on the compressor that need to come out. One covers the oil filler, and one covers the air intake port. You replace the plug on the air intake port (topmost plug) with the included air filter, and you replace the oil filler plug with the included oil cap. There's a window into the oil reservoir so you can see how much oil is in it. Before you run it for the first time, fill it (with the included oil) until the oil line is midway in the window. Then, open the air release valve at the very bottom of the air tank and run the compressor for 20 minutes. After that, you should be good to go. Check the oil level periodically, of course!

On a related note, I also bought the Campbell Hausfeld MP520010AV air tool accessory kit to get me started. For the price, I'm happy with that too.

Makita MAC700 -nice little compressor
I almost didn't order this compressor after reading all the reviews about shipping damage, but mine arrived in perfect shape.

My old pancake compressor finally died. It was so noisy that I was almost glad to see it go. The Makita is a beautiful machine. It is resonably portable and very very quiet for a compressor. No problem at all running it inside a room close to where you are working. The drain valve at the bottom makes quick work of draining the tank at the end of the day.

As noted in other reviews, it is a little top heavy and can fall over if just put in the back of your truck. Just tie it to something and you'll be fine.

I've only had this for a few weeks, so I can't comment on long term reliability.

Air Compressor Report
Nicely made unit. Traded down from a large 26 gal. unit as I was done with a construction project and needed a smaller one for routine household chores. Seems to work well and not noisy at all. The handle makes transportation easy. Only disapointment is that it takes a lot longer to remove my truck tire lug nuts as it has to cycle often to maintain CFM and pressure to operate impact gun........

Best in Class
Quiet, small and lightweight. Will run a big nailer all day with very little catch-up, Will run on a small (Honda 2000) generator. A+++

Quiet, as far as compressors go.
The Mac700 lives up to its description, it's quiet and the PSI/CFM are what I need to drive my framing tools-100 PSI @ 3 CFM. The Low RPMs are what keeps it quiet(er) compared to similar compressors and that's what I needed for working in the closed quarters of a basement.

The powers that be heard about the shipping problems.
I just received my MAC700 and crossed my fingers because of the shipping woes others have wrote about. My MAC700 was shipped USPS and the cartoon was in perfect condition when I received it. Upon opening the carton it was obvious they had made significant changes to their packaging. The compressor was in a second cardboard enclosure that isolated it from anything else in the first carton, the accessories (air filter, oil) were individually packed in sealed plastic bags and isolated in their own cardboard compartment. The compressor came with a universal quick change connector installed. On full load it draws just under 12 amps. And as most have stated it is quiet. I'm planning on using it on a job trimming out a new house so I'll report back if there's any significant issues

Smashed crankcase cover
The infamous packaging/delivery problem persists. The compressor came by USPS and I had to pick it up from the post office. The shipping carton is in perfect condition, but, upon opening the box, I was stunned to see the crankcase cover was smashed in and the uploading tub was dangling.

Fortunately, Makita head quarter is only about 20 miles from my house. I called the service department and the manager is very friendly to offer for the repair. After waiting for an hour at the service shop, I came out with a working compressor.

I only have had the compressor for 3 days, and, it has been working like they advertised.

no shipping problems here
What can I say? No shipping problems here, arrived quickly and in perfect shape. As has been mentioned, it is a little bigger than the picture makes it seem. Is a little heavy at around 50 lbs, but it is a well made tool and feels like it.

Great Product....Bad Manual
It is what it is... A well put together compressor that is wonderful for the weekend warrior. My item arrived in good condition, although I could see a little leaked oil on the packing cardboard. This compressor is well built and should last a long time. Yes it runs quietly, and while it is heavy, the carry handle is well designed to assist in moving.

My only beef is that the instruction manual is pathetic and has not been updated. I assume that Makita used to ship this item with air filter attached because there is no mention in the manual that you have to install the filter. It is not difficult to perform this procedure, mind you, but it would be nice to have it mentioned in the manual under the section on setting up the compressor. C'mon Makita, hire an English editor for a day and update your manual! Oh, and include some pictures with your parts description! In addition, you may mention that you have to remove the temporary oil cap and install the separately packaged cap (also not mentioned in the m

Received Item, but can't use it yet.
Based on other reviews, I'd have probably agreed and given this item 5 stars. BUT, because of the poor packaging, and the probable mishandling by UPS, the Unloading Valve was broken off inside the main Check Valve. These to pieces are located on the side of the unit, right next to the outer wall of the cardboard shipping box. So, if this package was dropped on its side, which very likely, it would receive this type of damage. C'mon guys, properly package this stuff SO IT WON'T GET DAMAGED!!

Makita Delivered
My Makita compressor was delivered 1 day after placing my order - by UPS, no special handling. And no shipment damage. This machine is beautifully done, attractive, compact, and performs as advertised. Instead of a noisly BRBRBRBRAAT that my previous compressor made, this machine just purrs, and conversations can be made without raised voices right on top of the unit. Instructions are clear and simple. Set-up consists of adding the supplied container of oil, screwing on the chrome air filter, and running the unit for 15 minutes under no load to lubricate cylinder and valves.

You won't find this compressor at Lowe's or Home Depot, and the ones you do see there are physically bigger, not much more capacity, and twice as expensive. The closest unit I could find was on eBay - 4 Gal unit oiled Eaton compressor at $165. But it weighs 175 lbs. versus 151 for the Makita, and has a 15 amp running motor at higher RPM versus Makita's 12 amp at slower RPM (and noise levl is probably higher than Makita). If you have to go to the next notch higher in rated capacity, this one might work for you, But this Makita is going to blow away a lot of the competition. I couldn't be happier.

Great Little Compressor by RMB
I brought this unit and during the 20 minute break-in period, I had the compressor setting 8ft. away from my sciddish dog, and the noise level was so low she did not even bat an eye, she just layed there. This unit is quite and light weight. It was shipped in double thick cardboard boxes and arrived like a shiney new car, not a scracth! I just recieved it so I haven't had a chance to use it on the trim yet, so I'll write back to let you know about the performance. So far excellent!!!

Great little compressor
I've used this guy for about a month on a siding project, and it's worked very nicely. It is indeed much quieter than most, but still keeps up with my coil nailer. I haven't tried it with two nailers at once; that might push it a bit, but I can't say for sure.

As another poster mentioned, the manual does a poor job of telling you how to break-in. Be sure to fill with oil and install the air filter before starting.

Only negative comment is the same as many others mentioned; poor packaging design resulted in the "unloading elbow" getting snapped off in shipping. It required drilling out the check valve, retapping the threads, buying an equivalent part at the hardware store, and reinstalling. Serious PITA, but cost was minimal and repair works fine.

All in all, a great little compressor, and the best choice if noise is a concern.