GOOD AIR COMPRESSOR BRAND? oil filled or oil free pump? and which brand?
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From: EAST, usa
GOOD AIR COMPRESSOR BRAND? oil filled or oil free pump? and which brand?
I am trying to decide which air compressor I should pick. I heard that the OIL filled ones are really good and last a long time unlike the cheap oil free one. I am just going to work on my car and thats it and maybe play with painting but nothing major just enough for me to do the job. Thanks..
Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: Norcal
oiled are quieter too. I'd suggest a 30+ gallon oil drive.
if youre gonna paint, at the very least get an inline dessacant drier (those little filters that you see at home depot are useless), unless you can afford a refrigerated air dryer which would be most ideal; moisture is bad when painting.
if youre gonna paint, at the very least get an inline dessacant drier (those little filters that you see at home depot are useless), unless you can afford a refrigerated air dryer which would be most ideal; moisture is bad when painting.
H-T White Ops
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Nor Cal
Ask yourself these....
What's your budget?
How long are you expecting this compressor to last?
If you want a compressor to last a long time, get a belt driven oil unit with a nice 35+ gallon tank under it. Change the oil once a year, keep the filter clean and belt tight, oil the motor every 3 months with a few drops of oil and it can last many many many years. A nice belt driven compressor is going to set you back a few more bucks than it's normally smaller and noisier counterpart
Oil-less, direct drive compressors are usually smaller than the belt driven ones. They spin at much higher rates and hence are noisier. They don't have the cfm ratings of the bigger oiled ones and generally have a shorter life span due to the lack of lubrication. Most oil-less compressors have teflon rings to seal the piston against the walls. These will wear out of time. I consider these types of compressors disposable units.
I recently purchased an 11 gallon oil-less. I got a good deal on it and I needed to paint my car. I had to take some breaks here and there to let the compressor catch up on the pressure every now and then. I've actually used this thing to break free axle nuts. Just gotta let the pressure get all the way up to where it shuts off (125psi in my case).
Personally, if I was you, and you want to keep this thing for a while, go with a nice belt driven oil unit. I would have, but money was short and I move around a lot.
What's your budget?
How long are you expecting this compressor to last?
If you want a compressor to last a long time, get a belt driven oil unit with a nice 35+ gallon tank under it. Change the oil once a year, keep the filter clean and belt tight, oil the motor every 3 months with a few drops of oil and it can last many many many years. A nice belt driven compressor is going to set you back a few more bucks than it's normally smaller and noisier counterpart
Oil-less, direct drive compressors are usually smaller than the belt driven ones. They spin at much higher rates and hence are noisier. They don't have the cfm ratings of the bigger oiled ones and generally have a shorter life span due to the lack of lubrication. Most oil-less compressors have teflon rings to seal the piston against the walls. These will wear out of time. I consider these types of compressors disposable units.
I recently purchased an 11 gallon oil-less. I got a good deal on it and I needed to paint my car. I had to take some breaks here and there to let the compressor catch up on the pressure every now and then. I've actually used this thing to break free axle nuts. Just gotta let the pressure get all the way up to where it shuts off (125psi in my case).
Personally, if I was you, and you want to keep this thing for a while, go with a nice belt driven oil unit. I would have, but money was short and I move around a lot.
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