What is the difference between Porter-Cable air compressor models that have a type 1 or type 2 behind the model#?

When searching for a tool or machine part at eReplacementParts.com, the product's model number and type number are always necessary to ensure an accurate part match. Even when a model or type number is only different by one digit, the parts for that model or type may not be compatible with other models and types.

Each manufacturer uses a different model and type number system, and manufacturers often call type numbers by different names. Some type numbers are especially difficult to find on the tool or machine.


This article provides explanations and pictures for finding model numbers and type numbers for several tool and machine brands, making it easier to order the right part for the right tool.


Explanations are listed below alphabetically by brand, but first, some additional information about model numbers and type numbers will be helpful.


Model and Type Numbers
Model numbers distinguish a manufacturer's models for a certain kind of tool within a given tool category (like drill/drivers and nailers). For example, two different power sander designs from the same brand would be distinguished by having two different model numbers. This is true for every b rand, that they separate major designs by model number.

However, manufacturers often update the design or features of a tool model, creating types of tools with the same model numbers. Most manufacturers distinguish the different types of a tool model from one another by assigning type numbers to them in addition to the tool's model number.


This is where it gets tricky. Finding type numbers for tools can be difficult because of the following reasons:

• Type numbers can be very different from brand to brand. Sometimes an entire type number is just one digit or letter, and sometimes type numbers are very long numbers or long combinations of letters and numbers.

• "Type numbers" go by different names, depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers call them type numbers, while sometimes they are called the: engineering number, series number, or bar code number.

• Some model types are only distinguished by the year of the model.

• Type numbers can be very difficult to find, sometimes located on the inside of a tool's housing (like some Ryobi tools). Fortunately, most type numbers are listed on the name plate with the model number.

• When a manufacturer does not anticipate redesigning a tool or machine model, the first type of that model often does not have a type number assigned to it by the manufacturer. Designs that follow the first type will usually have type number designations.

• Some manufacturers do not use a type number system at all, and instead change model numbers for each new design. In this case, the model number is the only number needed to match the right parts to the tool or machine.