The excellent Craftsman 6-gallon air compressor is part of the company’s hard-to-miss refreshed and expanded lineup. We use it to inflate tires on ministry vans, tires on neighbors’ bicycles, and as the power source for framing nailers. Here’s how this reliable compressor works.
Pros
- Enough power to inflate our high-pressure passenger van tires
- We couldn’t outrun the 2.6 SCFM
- Easily portable with helpful handle design
- Durable materials and rubberized feet
- Oil-free pump
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Check out our Best Air Compressors article for our top picks across a variety of applications and uses.
Performance
Hyper Inflation
Parker Street Ministries is in its third decade of neighborhood revitalization in Lakeland, Florida. It serves the area’s residents with academic enrichment programs (and transportation to/from the programs), home refurbishment, general neighborliness, and more. It takes a lot of tools to accomplish these things, including one like the Craftsman 6-gallon air compressor.
The ministry has several large vans for transporting kids to and from our academic programs. Obviously, keeping everyone safe is our top priority and that starts with properly inflated tires. The vans sport high-performance tires that take a bit more oomph to inflate. The 150 PSI, 2.6 SCFM Craftsman 6-gallon air compressor has all the oomph we need. We’ve had other pancakes compressors that couldn’t get the job done so that’s a great benefit.
We often find ourselves inflating bicycle tires for kids as well as adults in our neighborhood who don’t have vehicles. It might seem like a little thing, but it gives us a chance to serve and talk to neighbors who we may not otherwise know.
Pressure Points
Through the efforts of staff, volunteers, and neighbors, we’ve rehabbed scores of homes over the years—and there’s more to do. We used the Craftsman to run a Ridgid framing nailer and it performed flawlessly. Craftsman put up a list of recommended applications for the Craftsman CMEC6150 6-gallon air compressor as well as some to avoid:
For Use With
- Bolting
- Brad Nailing/Stapling
- Finish Nailing
- Framing Nailing
- Roof Nailing
Not Recommended for Use With
- Air Brushing
- Drilling
- Cutting
- Grinding
- Spraying
- Sanding
- Surface Prep
- HVLP Painting
The CMEC6150 is simply a well-built, powerful, and portable compressor. Particularly notable is the carrying handle design and rubberized feet to protect its legs and the surfaces it sits on. The oil-free pump also makes this compressor virtually maintenance-free. Living in Florida, we find it wise to drain moisture from the tank after each use using the drain valve.
We could easily read the large pressure gauges for tank and output.
Adjusting output seemed familiar using the front twist knob. Twin 1/4-inch NPT ports let you connect two hoses and tools to the compressor at once time. This could be very handy. For example, we appreciate dual air outlets when using both a framer and a positive placement nailer.
Craftsman CMEC6150 Price
The Craftsman 6-Gallon Air Compressor is a great deal at $99 bare and $149.00 for the kit. Here’s how it stacks up to some of the competition.
- Craftsman CMEC6150
- Bare: $99
- Kit: $149
- Porter Cable C2002: $99
- Bostitch BTFP02012: $99
- DeWalt DWFP55126: $129
The Bottom Line
The new Craftsman CMEX6150 6-gallon air compressor offers a lot for the price: great performance, air power, portability with its handle design, rubber feet, and tough construction. It cycles quickly enough for ~90PSI nailing applications. You may not have success running two active roofing nailers on this compressor or a sander—but that’s not its intent. Instead, you get a decent amount of air and reasonably quick recovery time at an above-average value.
Craftsman 6-Gallon Air Compressor Specifications
- Model Numbers:
- CMEC6150 (Bare)
- CMEC6150K (Kit)
- Max PSI: 150
- SCFM:
- @ 40 PSI: 3.5
- @ 90 PSI 2.6
- Number of Couplers: 2
- Drain Valve Type: Manual
- Phase: Single-phase
- Stage: Single stage
- Tank Size: 6 gal
- Amps 10
- Pump Type: Oil Free
- Horsepower: 0.8
- Tool Weight: 30 lbs
- Max Pressure: 150 psi
- Decibel: 82 dB
- Prices:
- CMEC6150 (Bare): $99
- CMEC6150K (Kit): $149
