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Initially I was concerned about storing the Husky compressor but was pleased to find that it fit in the same footprint as my old pancake-style compressor! Click image to enlarge

Husky Q26 QUIETSERIES™ Compressor

Variable speed/sound comes to compressors

Text & photos by Tom Hintz

Posted –

Oil-free compressors are popular with woodworkers because of their near maintenance free operation and lower cost. The problem is that they are louder than the crankcase, oil bath versions. The Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 embodies new thinking that not only lets the user reduce the sound produced but also to adjust how hard the compressor works according to the job. Variable speed isn’t just for routers anymore.

Initial Impressions

At first glance, the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is quite large. However, its upright configuration gives it a surprisingly trim 22“-wide by 19.5“-deep footprint. Its 44.75“ overall height is a consideration but most will find that the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 requires less square footage than many far less capable pancake compressors.

The overall fit and finish is very good. The top mounted controls are easy to access, understand and use. The 10“-tall pneumatic tires make moving the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 to special jobs outside of the shop nearly effortless. This will be an especially interesting feature for homeowners as it is frequently much easier to go to the job rather than bring it to the compressor.

Power and Pump

The motor and pump assembly is surprisingly small for the power it has. Solid copper and braided steel lines are a nice, durable touch. Click image to enlarge

The Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is a single cylinder, single stage compressor that uses a wide, cogged belt to power the heavy-duty piston and connecting rod. A strong 1 ½ Hp (running) universal type motor provides the power without taxing common 110V circuits excessively. While single cylinder compressors are commonly prone to vibration, the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 runs very smoothly.

All of the mechanics and controls are top-mounted for easy access. This operational package is contained in a surprisingly small unit that has minimal impact on the overall height. Also top-mounted is a quick-connect coupler that accepts the popular ¼” NPT hose ends. The use of all-copper and braided stainless steel pressure lines is another nice touch that instills confidence in the durability of this machine.

Controls

A simple lever operated On/Off switch arms the automatic pressure switch that controls when the compressor runs and shuts off in response to tank pressure. In our testing, the pressure switch maintained plenty of tank pressure without running the compressor excessively.

Easy to read tank and line pressure gauges and a self-bleeding line pressure adjuster make this an easy compressor to use. Click image to enlarge

A pair of gauges show tank and line pressure very accurately. I checked the readings with an air pressure test gauge known to be accurate and both seemed to be within 2 PSI of the actual pressure. The dial-operated line pressure regulator is self-bleeding so that the gauge reads the new pressure setting without having to operate a tool to refresh the line pressure.

The Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is equipped with a top-mounted pressure relief valve and a finger-operated petcock on the bottom of the tank. Because the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is mounted on the large tires, reaching the petcock is easier than with many smaller compressors. That eliminates one of the more common excuses for not draining moisture from the tank every day.

Speed – Duty Control

Most unique is the three position speed control that lets the user tailor the Husky Q26 to the tool being used. Noise is significantly reduced in the Medium and Light Duty ranges. Click image to enlarge

Husky came up with a novel idea of adding the three position, variable speed control. This is a nifty idea because it allows the user to adjust how hard the compressor works based on the tool being used. One of the most common air tools used in a woodworking shop is a nail gun. Since these guns use very small amounts of air, it takes a long time to lower the pressure in the 26-gallon tank. That minimal air draw makes it easy for the compressor to keep up when running at the light duty setting.

Running the compressor at a slower rate not only reduces wear and tear but also lowers the level of sound it produces drastically. While slowing the compressor may not work for a mechanic, in a woodworking setting it makes a lot of sense and works well.

Bonus Tools

As if the price of the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 and the included 25-foot air hose is not good enough, Husky throws in six air tools in the package reviewed here. While most are not directly related to woodworking, they do give the in-home repair manager (that’s you, the homeowner) a new range of capabilities that are likely to come in very handy on occasion. If you handle some vehicle repairs they will be of even more interest.

Just in case the $299 price tag isn't good enough, Husky throws in six of their air tools to boot! Click image to enlarge

Included are a ½” impact wrench, 3/8” air-drive ratchet, air hammer gun (with two bits), ¼” die grinder (with stone bit selection), a full-sized (1 quart) spray gun and a tire inflator gun with gauge. All of these tools come with fittings to plug into the air hose.

In the Shop

I know the level of sound generated by oil-free air compressors is an issue with many. If you are expecting the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 (or any oil-free compressor for that matter) to be silent, you will be disappointed. As long as the laws of acoustics and physics remain in force, that ain’t going to happen. However, if you are looking for an oil-free compressor that is capable of running substantially quieter than the typical models on the market, the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 just may be for you.

Husky did a very good job of isolating the motor and compressor from the tank and floor, both of which can make an air compressor sound louder. The large, pneumatic tires further isolate the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 from the floor. However, the major reduction in sound comes from the variable speed feature. This may sound overly simple but notice that Husky is the first I am aware of to do this.

Moving the Husky Q26 around the shop, or wherever needed is easier than my smaller, less powerful pancake compressor thanks to 10"-tall pneumatic tires. Click image to enlarge

The variable speed makes lots of sense in the woodworking environment because we most often use it to power air nailers but occasionally need more air, especially for those who spray finishes. Other common home repair tasks also require higher volumes of air and the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 allows dialing up the compressor as needed. With 26 gallons of 155 PSI air to draw from, the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 turns on very infrequently and though it does run a bit longer at the slow speed to replenish the tank, it is much quieter than any other oil-free compressor I have had while doing so.

Following the suggestions on the tool-use chart to set the speed control I found that the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 does in fact work well with the recommended tool types. Despite this level of flexibility, the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 never seemed to be struggling to keep up with the tool being used. It also never strained the 110V circuit that was powering it.

Though I have used the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 extensively in my shop, I’ve not had to set it above the medium duty level for woodworking tasks. Most of the time the light duty setting is more than adequate which keeps the noise down to where my shop radio, the phone and conversation is still easy to hear. When using air tools that require the heavy-duty cycle, I found that they made far more noise than the compressor making the sound produced in the heavy-duty mode a moot point.

When I first heard about this 26-gallon compressor, I thought its physical size might be a problem in my garage-based shop. What I discovered is that because of the vertical configuration, the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 actually uses a bit less floor space than my previous pancake-style compressor did. It does need more headroom but that kind of space is way easier to find in most shops than pure square footage.

See It Work!

Click one of the links below to see a short Windows Media video of the Husky Q26 in action. Dialup - Broadband

Overall the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 performed very well. Using it is very straightforward and the controls hold no surprises. My biggest problem with the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is forgetting to turn it off at the end of the day. The 26-gallon tank holds so much air that I have gone a full day without the compressor kicking in even though I had been using a brad nailer frequently.

Conclusions

The Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is a very capable compressor that handles all of the normal woodworking chores with ease but also has the power to keep even the more industrious do-it-yourselfer supplied. The large tires make taking the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 to where you need it for out of the shop work very easy. Since most woodworkers wear both hats, this is an important point.

With a street price of $299.00 (1-10-2007) the Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is a bargain on its own. Add the included hose and six-piece air tool set that comes with it and it’s an outright steal.

The Husky QUIETSERIES™ Q26 is available at the Home Depot store near you or on their web site.

Visit the Home Depot web site.

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