compressor help

[steveo2155]

I need help to make a final decision. Ive bern adviced to stay away from oil less compressors. I want a compressor to mainly fill and occasionally rotate tires blow off parts maybe small painting projects. I dont want to spend more than 2 to 3 hundred at the most. I was going for oil less but now I dont know. I want to store in an unheated garage is this possible with an oil lubed? Any recommendations on specific compressors that fit my needs and price? Are oil less really that bad? If its just the noise I can deal with that

 

[firebox40dash5]

A (piston) compressor is basically a backwards engine, missing the explosion part. Oilless should be using sealed bearings or self-lubricating bushings on all the bearing surfaces- crank, rod, wrist pin. However, that still leaves the piston-to-bore... you know, the part doing the compressing. IMO there's only so much you can do with a large sliding surface like that, pumping at high speed, without external lubrication.

I've heard good things about Makita's little stuff. IIRC they're all oiled pumps. Keep meaning to buy one for the house, but since I work in a shop, it just kinda doesn't rate high on the priorities.

 

[steveo2155]

A lot of people I know have had oil less compressors for years and had no problems thats why I ask. Im not going to be using it every week either so I dont want to spend a fortune. Theres a kobalt cast iron 30 gallon oil lubed compressor but that one was 449 which is more than I was looking to spend

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I've used both in my siding business. The oilless is great in the winter but didn't last more than a couple of years, that would be about 15 hours a week. The oil bath is useable once I wrapped a battery blanket around the compressor head, I would plug it in first thing once I got to the site and by the time I finished setting up it was ready to go. I wouldn't work when the high was colder than -16C. That means that it could be -25C in the morning when I started.
edit; For what you are going to do an oilless would be fine.

Richard

 

[steveo2155]

Thats what I thought. I think im probably going to go with oil less. Now I just have to decide between a couple. Here they are...one is a 6 gallon porter cable pancake with 3.7 cfm at 40 psi 2.6 cfm at 90 psi for $129. Two is a kobalt 5 gallon 175 psi with 5 cfm at 90 psi for $220. Third would be the 20 gallon kobalt with 5 cfm at 40 psi for $199. The 5 gallon kobalt has the best cfm ratings. The smaller ones would be more portable for me which I like but I hope they would be big enough. Which one would you guys recommend

 

[zkling]

I'd try and look for a ~30gal horizontal belt driven unit, splash oil lubed unit, used. Usually run ~$100 give or take a bit. Some are 120/240v capable. Lots of them were made and lots of them are out there. Just my 2¢

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You should check what your cfm needs are for your paint gun and decide from there. Also keep in mind; I haven't used air for painting professionally but I think an oilless would mean less filtration so less cost. Most gas stations are using small oilless air compressors around here now so you can use those as a comparison about fill times.
Edit; zkling has a good point.

Richard

 

[Craptain]

For most of your needs a smaller oil-less unit will be fine. For the few occasions that you need more air I would get an extra tank to give you a better reserve for painting. Even then you would be limited by the cfm, but at least you would reserve before waiting for the tank to regain pressure. Not the ideal but also not too expensive.
If and when you need more air you will at least have a baseline on what works (or doesn't).

What do you plan on or think you might be painting? A whole car or a cupboard door? I remember when Sears sold a 10 gallon unit for painting, yet today most of us would not consider it suitable for more than blowing up tires.

 

[compressornew]

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