DeWalt Stationary Electric Air Compressor (80 gal)

First impressions

I set the DeWalt 80-gallon compressor in the back corner of a mid-size shop, wired it to a dedicated 230V circuit, and ran a flexible whip into my existing hard lines. It’s a big, serious machine—470 pounds of vertical tank with a cast-iron two-stage pump on top—and it presents itself like a shop fixture, not a portable appliance. Out of the crate, the fit and finish were solid, guards aligned properly, the control panel was straight, and the quick-connects and gauges were leak-free. It ships with synthetic blend compressor oil in the pump, but I still checked level and fasteners before first start. Good habit with any reciprocating compressor.

After a 25-minute break-in run with the tank drain cracked open, I closed the valve and let it climb to cut-out. It did so briskly and with a confident, even cadence. If you’ve been living with a small pancake or 30–60 gallon single-stage, the step up in both speed and composure is immediately noticeable.

Setup and installation

You’ll want a dedicated double-pole breaker and appropriately sized wire for the 22A motor draw (consult your electrician and the manual; runs longer than a few dozen feet may warrant upsizing wire to limit voltage drop). The motor includes thermal overload protection, and the factory pressure switch settings landed right where I’d expect for a two-stage: cut-in around the mid-140s and cut-out at 175 PSI.

At nearly 80 inches tall, make sure you’ve got ceiling clearance and enough room to service belts and filters. I placed mine on vibration isolators rather than bolting it directly to the slab. That tamed transmitted vibration and kept the noise character cleaner. If you need to move it later, a pallet jack under the tank skirt makes life easier, but plan ahead—it’s top-heavy.

One gripe: the manual drain is tucked low under the tank. It works, but crawling on the floor daily gets old. I added a short length of pipe, a 90°, and a ball valve to bring the drain out to the front. If you’re in a humid climate, consider an automatic drain.

Controls and usability

The integrated control panel is genuinely useful. Two quick-connects and a regulator on the front let you plug in a tool for one-off tasks without walking back to a wall regulator. The tank and outlet gauges are easy to read at a glance. For full-shop plumbing, I still prefer a high-flow regulator and water separator after an initial drop leg, but the onboard regulator is perfectly fine for a single bay or mobile work right at the machine.

The pump is a belt-driven, splash-lubricated, two-stage unit with cooling fins and a large flywheel. It’s a conventional, proven design. Belt alignment was true from the factory, and tension was correct. I rechecked after the first week; minimal adjustment needed.

Performance

On paper, 17.9 CFM at 100 PSI and 17.0 CFM at 175 PSI puts this compressor in the sweet spot for general shop use. In practice, it matches the spec sheet well. Here’s how it behaved on common tasks:

• 1/2-inch impact and tire work: Effortless. The high cut-out pressure helps with stubborn fasteners and seating large beads. The tank recovers quickly between bursts.
• DA sanding and die grinding: Continuous sanding at 90 PSI will keep it cycling, as expected with any reciprocating, but it maintains line pressure without dropping tools off a cliff. Plan for intermittent breaks or a small reserve tank if you sand for long stretches.
• HVLP spraying: With a proper dryer and regulator downstream, it held stable pressure and volume for panel work. Temperature and humidity management matter more than compressor brand here; the 80-gallon capacity gives you a decent buffer between cycles.
• Small cabinet blasting: With a modest nozzle (3/32) at 80–90 PSI, it kept up better than typical 60-gallon units I’ve used, though the pump stayed on most of the session. For heavy blasting or large nozzles, you’d want more CFM or a rotary screw. For occasional blasting, this is workable.

From empty to full, recovery times were in line with a healthy 5 HP two-stage. The duty cycle isn’t published, so I treat it like most reciprocating units: avoid extended 100% duty. It’s happiest in that 50–75% window where it cycles and gets time to shed heat.

Noise and vibration

Noise is always subjective, but I measured 82–83 dBA at about 3 feet and mid-70s a room away in an open shop. For a cast-iron two-stage, that’s respectable. It’s not whisper quiet, and I wear hearing protection when I’m working right beside it, but it doesn’t dominate the space like small, high-RPM oil-free units tend to. Mounting on isolators and using a flexible connector into your hard lines helps keep the building from becoming a soundboard.

If you’re planning to park it in a small attached garage, consider a closet with ventilation or placing it in a utility space to keep the noise out of your work area. In a larger shop, it blends into the background once you start working.

Air quality and moisture management

A compressor is only as good as the air you deliver to tools. The pump runs warm—as all reciprocating pumps do—so moisture is part of the equation. I run a short riser, then a cooling loop and a particulate filter/water separator before a high-flow regulator. For paint work, a refrigerated dryer makes a night-and-day difference. The 80-gallon tank helps precipitate water, but you still need to drain daily. This is where that extended drain or an auto drain pays off.

Maintenance

• Oil: It arrives with a synthetic blend. I did an early oil change after break-in, then moved to regular intervals. The sight glass is clear and easy to check.
• Belts: Inspect and tension as needed. After the first few hours, mine settled in and hasn’t moved much.
• Fasteners: Re-torque the pump and motor mounts after the first week. Heat cycles can loosen things.
• Intake filters: Easy to access; keep them clean to minimize pump temperatures and noise.
• General: Check for leaks, especially at the factory quick-connects and any new plumbing you add.

Parts support is straightforward, and the warranty splits coverage—longer on the pump, shorter on the rest—which aligns with industry norms at this tier.

What I’d change

• The factory drain location is inconvenient. A simple extension or auto drain should be standard on a tank this large.
• The integrated regulator and quick-connects are handy, but they’re not a substitute for a high-flow mainline setup. I’d love to see higher-flow fittings or a bypass option built-in for shop plumbing.
• Documentation could be clearer on recommended breaker sizes for common wire lengths. Most buyers will involve an electrician anyway, but better guidance helps planning.

Who it’s for

• Small to mid-size professional shops running multiple pneumatic tools, tire machines, or light blasting.
• Serious DIYers with adequate space and 230V service who have outgrown 30–60 gallon single-stage units.
• Users who need 175 PSI and a stable 15–18 CFM without stepping up to the price and maintenance curve of a rotary screw.

Who should look elsewhere? If absolute quiet is critical (shared spaces, late-night work in an attached garage), a scroll or well-enclosed rotary screw will be more neighborly—but also far more expensive. If you need sustained high-CFM blasting or multiple painters at once, you’ll outpace any 5 HP reciprocating; move up a class.

The bottom line and recommendation

After living with the DeWalt 80-gallon compressor, I trust it as a shop cornerstone. It builds pressure fast, maintains usable CFM for real tools, and does it with a composed noise profile for a cast-iron two-stage. The integrated control panel is genuinely convenient, the motor protection is reassuring, and the ASME-rated tank and overall build inspire confidence. Plan on adding an extended or automatic drain, plumb it thoughtfully with a dryer if your work demands clean air, and give it the electrical service it deserves.

I recommend this compressor for shops that need a dependable 5 HP, 175 PSI workhorse with enough air to run most pneumatic tools without drama. It’s a practical, durable step up from 60-gallon units, and while it’s not whisper-quiet or maintenance-free, it earns its footprint with consistent performance and sensible features.