LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Compressors Oil or Oil-less??

2K views 25 replies 17 participants last post by  NiteWalker 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My compressor is on it's last leg. It's a 3hp 20 gal. CH I bought in 97. The replacement pump is more than the compressor cost new. Time to buy a new one but I can't decide between oil or oil-less. I use it with my spray gun, pin and brad nailers and that's about it. It gets a workout when I am spray finishing. Other than that it sees very light duty. Recommendations please.
 
#2 ·
I would go with an oil compressor. I had a bad experience with a Dewalt oil-less compressor a year ago. And spraying with a compressor will give the compressor a decent work out. I have looked and Rol-air has some good compressors for reasonable prices.
 
#3 ·
I had a Craftsman 33 gal upright that was oil less. It was LOUD!! I sold it in favor of an oiled design and am much happier, as are my neighbors. I would suggest an oil bath type especially if in a residential area. I also have a small Craftsman 1.5 gal that I use for the smaller jobs, airing tires, small brad mailing etc and its an oil type. Nice little compressor and very quiet. I have a friend selling a 2 stage compressor pump, send me a message if interested.
 
#5 ·
I have the 33gal Craftsman upright(~2002), and as Ken says it is loud. That said, the larger capacity sure helps "stretch time" between running intervals. Mine still runs strong. The noise doesn't bother me that much, but since you now have the opportunity to plan this out, why not build an attachment/mini-shed outside your shop and only run the compressor line through the wall? You could design it around whatever model you are considering.
 
#7 ·
Sounds like oil is the way to go. Thanks to everyone for their input. It does help with decisions.
Rol-Air's look nice Jerry. Thanks for the tip.

Great idea to put it out of the shop Mr. H. I'm not sure how the neighborhood watchdogs would react. They monitor every fart that is let….
 
#9 ·
I have a couple of oil compressors and the reason is
because of noise. A lot of them are made with a high
center of gravity and are "tippy" to boot though, so
when you move them in a truck be careful not to let
the compressor tip over, else it will leak oil.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have an Ingersoll-Rand 30 gallon capacity oil and belt drive that I've had for about 15-16 years. In all those years, I've had to put a new start capacitor on it…other than changing the oil, and draining the water , it's been good to go…..It does everything I need it to do, and it even blows up my boat and truck tires…...!!!

EDIT: I had a Cambell-Hausfeld oiless before this one, and I couldn't stand that sucker…..that high-pitched screaming drove me nuts…..kind of like listening to an old Shop Vac….....The I-R is much, much quiter…...
 
#12 ·
Per Horizontal Mike's recommendation, you can add a storage tank for more cushion for your spraying. The compressor starts fewer times overall.

And this important tip: For obvious reasons your compressor will come with the drain cock under the center where you have to break your arm in two places in order to reach it to drain. If you spend a few bucks now and plumb that out to where you can reach it, you're much more likely to drain the tank periodicall,y which is very important.

I live in pretty dry country and I am always amazed at how much H2O comes burbling out when I tap the tank.

Kindly,

Lee
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I do not know why I have not added drain line to mine… I just keep laying down and reaching under to turn the petcock. Sometimes I get the petcock turned off "just right" where I cannot hear it whistling, yet enough to self-drain the h2o from the bottom of the tank as it distills water. I've got a folded rug to catch that crap but there never is enough to make a mess (S. Texas is rather dry).

I STILL need to add that extension though… I STILL need to add that extension though… I STILL need to add that extension though….............
 
#15 ·
10-4 on the drain valve. I am thinking about keeping the tank to use an an accumulator. Lots of choices out there. I turned mine on today. By the time it hit 60 psi it was too hot to touch. Darn, I was planning on my next purchase being a jointer.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
#17 ·
At the "Workshop in the Woods" I have a 4 gal Tool City, Menards brand, oil type compressor. It is reasonably loud and has more capacity than I need for brad nailing, but it's big negative is that it "walks" all over the floor when the compressor is running. I also have to be careful to not overfill the oil reservoir or it will throw oil all over the place.

In Gainesville, where I have very limited space, I purchased a small Campbell Hausfield oilless compressor. It's fine for brad nailing, but pound for pound, it may be the noisest compressor on the market.
 
#19 ·
IF you get an oiled pump, take this one lesson from me: When the manual says do not fill the oil past a line; DON'T FILL THE OIL PAST THAT LINE! Oh boy did I have a major mess on my hand when the oil started to cycle and it began shooting out of the over pressure valve. A bucket and a ton of sawdust later, I finally got it cleaned up.

I have the Central Pneumatic 67847 (Harbor Freight) compressor and am very impressed with it. I have used it to spray and it stays on top of the flow once it is up to pressure. Great product overall (except for the near invisible fill line on the oil reserve).
 
#20 ·
Mike,
Mine isn't on the list but man does it get hot. I sprayed 4 chairs last week and the copper tubing going to the tank changed colors like it was heated with a torch. No thermal devices on the compressor that I can see. I could smell the heat. It was cycling on and off like normal and keeping up fine. I guess something failed in the compressor. Found a replacement compressor nut it was more than I paid for the entire thing new. It's good to see recall news on LJ's. The shroud on mine has melted in places. Mine is made by CH.
Thanks again for the head's up.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
#23 ·
I have the oiled Makita MAK2400 and it works like a charm. It's quiet and provides enough air for my needs. It has a fast recovery time. I bought it at HD and got a Military discount. I got it for $299.00 and that included delivery to the store.
 
#24 ·
Oil all the way. I have a Craftsman 22gal oil less and it is also LOUD, LOUD, LOUD. Even with ear plugs in, I walk out of the garage as it sounds like it is going to blow up. Which, I know It won't but you'd never know it by the noise it makes.
My next purchase will be a 30+ gallon oil type compressor. I also have a small portable 1.5 gal oil craftsman compressor and I use it all the time for airing tires, running air nailers at home and on a jobsite and even the blow gun to blow saw dust off anything. If I know i am going to use a lot of air, I will power up the loud one but reluctantly at that.
 
#25 ·
my vote is Rol Air. Maybe because we do this full time and I know I need a brand I can count on for the next 20 years. I would be relying on my unit to bring me to my next draw so I typically lean toward a unit I trust which would be the Rolair. If this were only occassional hobby use, then maybe a lesser unit would be fine.

My feeling is if the harbor freight unit is only 150.00 then it is likely the unit was manufactured on the cheap with some corners cut. I love the Rolair on a dolly because of mobility and portability, however for less money Amazon shows a dual tank 4.3 gallon 2 hp Rolair for around 259.00. That unit is very adequate for your needs but does not have the pnuematic tires/dolly the more expensive unit has. I will say those portable units can be heavy. I also agree the MAK2400 is a very fine compressor and no doubt the quality that would likely provide 10+ years of satisfied usage, but the comparable Rolair is similar or better quality for 259.00 on Amazon making it a better choice in my opinion.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top