I avoid the chain stores - prefer to buy from my neighbor - so that lets Home Depot out. We dont have Northern Tool in Seattle anyway.
I would prefer the ingersoll Rand mainly because there is an Ingersoll Rand shop in Seattle so parts are available. The #30 has been made for years.
ALSO you are always better off with staged compressors. Much more efficient.
Make sure you read the motor nameplate and look not only at running amps but at locked rotor amps when choosing wire size. Allow for distance (over 10 feet).
ALWAYS oversize for starting current ESPECIALLY on compressors.
Put water cooled aftercooler on it to remove water from air and use warmed water to preheat cold domestic water or heat shop in winter. Depending on who you read 50 to 60% of input power is wasted as heat on compressors.
Dan Bentler
