These kits are usually oil less air compressors. They are fine until you really need them. If you over work them the piston ring melts from the heat and it's game over. If you keep the duty cycle low and it stays cool they are ok for homeowner type uses.

I'll just quote some replies on another forum:

"What you need to do is decide which air tools you might possibly get in the future and then find out how many cfm or air they use. Most tool catalogs will have the information. If all you are going to use is nailers and small "impact" type tools, you will not need as big a compresser compared to what you will need to run an air sander or drill. I will tell you from experience that an air powered sander or grinder will eat up a lot of air and will need a fairly large compressor if it is going to run for any length of time. I have a 3 hp Sears at home and a 10 hp Curtis at the shop. The Sears one works ok with impact wrenches etc, but fire up the sander and it cannot keep up. The 10hp is a two stage and runs at a higher pressure. It will keep up with almost anything we have in the shop except for the bead blast cabinet. So it really depends on what tools you plan on using."

"You can get by with a little 2 gal compressor from Lowes or Harbor Freight. Very light weight. Goes to about 120 psi. But it will cycle often. Will not push a paint sprayer or air wrench, but it will work fine for one nailer. Cost less than $100, sometimes around $75."

"You have some basic choices. You can spend $100-160 and get a good quality oilless unit that will do all that you want it to do, be small and portable but still be somewhat loud. Bostich, PCable, etc.

Or, you can spend $200-300 and step up to an oil-lube unit in a dual tank or single 4 gal tank design and get better durability and quite a bit quieter operation.

Or, check out the Bostich compressor thread that mentions their TrimPro compressor which is super lightweight, quiet and will run trim nail guns and such for $150 or so.

What ever you do - I highly suggest not getting the big mombo $200 Coleman type 4-6HP compressors that you see at SamsClub or HD or Lowes - you know, the 3-4' tall jobs... I did that at first, and they are not that great because they are super LOUD and take forever to fill up!

My suggestion is to get a good brand small oil-lube compressor and stay away from large units or cheapo units like HF.

There are a couple great deals going right now - one in particular is the Amazon clearance sale (check thread) where they are selling a Dewalt twin-stack oil lube with a 2" brad nailer for about $200 - wow - what a price! The brad nailer is worth $100.

Also - Sam's Club is clearing out Bostich twin stack oil-lubes for $197 or so. Also a good deal is the Porter Cable twin nailer compressor combo for $175 at Amazon - although it's an oiless - so it'll be louder - it comes with two nailers that are worth a good $150 or so; makes the compressor seem pretty cheap.

Either of these choices or their equivalant will handle roofing, framing, trimming, tires, rafts, some airtools and blow guns.

Best possible choice for an all-around compressor.

I have a friend who bought a HF compressor and that thing has never been right - don't low-rent this purchase and don't buy a husky, ridgid or craftsman - they are designed to be cheap - don't be fooled by the colors or the fancy features."

"As others have said, the pancake will work fine for the amount of air you will need for nailers. If you want to get a brad and finish nailer, the porter cable set will be a pretty good deal for you. The pc brad nailer is a really nice gun, the finish nailer is solid not as good as the hitachi, and the set usually comes with a stapler or sander as a throw in. I think Amazon has the kit for $289 or so and they have been offering all kinds of discounts in the last month, $75 off $300 purchase, etc."