DeWalt vs Makita Air Compressors for Garage Shop - Need Real World Opinions!

Hey folks, I'm setting up my garage shop and need an air compressor that can handle my nail guns, impact wrench, and occasional spray painting. I've narrowed it down to DeWalt's 6-gallon pancake and Makita's 4-gallon MAC series. Both are similarly priced around $300. Anyone have hands-on experience with these? I'm leaning toward DeWalt because I already have some of their batteries, but Makita's specs look solid. Worried about noise levels too - my garage shares a wall with the house.

Will, I've run both on job sites for years. The DeWalt pancake is a workhorse - we've got three that have been dropped, rained on, and still kick after 5+ years. But they're LOUD. Like, wear-ear-protection loud. The Makita MAC series is significantly quieter and lighter, which matters when you're hauling it up stairs all day. For a garage setup where noise matters, I'd go Makita. Their oil-less pumps last just as long if you maintain them properly. Pro tip: get the extended warranty either way.

Following this thread! I'm just starting my apprenticeship and my boss has the DeWalt. It's definitely loud like Tim says, but it never seems to quit. One question - does the Makita's smaller tank (4 gal vs 6 gal) mean it cycles more often? I notice the DeWalt keeps up with framing nailers pretty well without constant running.

Felix199 - good observation. The Makita does cycle more frequently, but their compressor motors recover faster. In practice, for nail guns and impacts, you won't notice the difference. Where the DeWalt's larger tank shines is continuous-use tools like die grinders or sandblasters. Will, since you mentioned spray painting - if that's more than occasional, consider stepping up to a 10+ gallon tank regardless of brand. The pancake/compact compressors will run constantly trying to keep up with a spray gun.

Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. Tim - the noise factor is big for me since I often work late after the kids are asleep. Felix807 - I do spray maybe once every few months, mostly small furniture projects. Sounds like the Makita might be the better fit for my needs. Anyone know if the MAC5200 goes on sale often? Might wait for a holiday discount if it's worth it.