Portable workshop compressors - is "oil-free" really that bad?

[Belchos]

I am looking to replace my old compressor. It has tripped its last breaker, got stuck on its last "high spot," and, most important, it hardly compresses air anymore. I use it for ranch stuff: tires, impacts, nailers, and dust blowing. Noise is not a factor. I will not use the new one a lot, but it has to run an impact lug wrench for pickup and trailer tires.

I read the thread on the Craftsman Compressor carefully. I looked at the usual suspects at Home Depot, Lowes, and Sears. I looked at the Northern Tool catalog. Here's my problem and question. I like the DeWalt 15 gallon 120 volt best for its portability (I live in Oregon during the summer, and I will move the compressor a lot for nailers, etc. ) but, but, but, it has an oil-free pump, and I have always been warned against them (electric motor shop guy, tool salesman at Home Depot (beleive it or not) and general reading). DeWalt has a good reputation for its compressors, and I assume some of the old problems with oil-free have been designed around.

Finally, the question: are they so bad that I should get one of the cast iron pump compressors no matter what?

 

[Grizzly]

I'd get the oil type hands down. Besides quieter, which your not concerned with, They will last 3 times longer. I have 3 compressors and my favorite is a twin tank DeWalt, oil type, on wheels. I love it's portability and it can run two nailers all day.

 

[Belchos]

Thanks Griz. Sometimes when I get an old stock trailer out to use, it may have three low tires, so I need some capacity.

 

[JFaughn]

It does not look like you need the capacity , if you did the oil / cast iron last longer [ I have gas eng. Emglow with a cast iron Koller 8 h, 25+ yrs ]
Also I do not think you can get high capacity out of the oilless .
I've got a Dewalt 120v also .

 

[BTighe]

would you truck DC if they told you your truck engine was oiless. it just doesnt make sense to me. ive got an emglo with some ugly yellow paint on it that has run great for the last 4 years. its only a 4 gal but gets the job done. ive used it with inpact wrenches too(patiently) and got by. regulator is a POS though. ive run it in rain and dust you cant see through and it keeps going. not to mention i failed to change the first oil after break-in(15hrs). went 3 years no problem. just bought a makita 5 gal and so far it too has been good. i use it in the garage mostly and is adiquate for what i do.

 

[y-knot]

Oil free compressors are light, less expensive to build, and can be packaged much smaller. They work fine for the guy that has a very occasional use. They do not work well for anyone that does much with air driven tools, prolonged use like drills, sanders etc. I could not and would not buy one, while I have bought several medium sized compressors, they were are oil bath type and lasted. What I would call a shop compressor, 80 GAl tank 2-stage pump and at least a 7HP motor, is for heavy use with air tools and tire mounting equipment. A Garage compressor would be 20-40 Gal tank, single stage pump and 3 hp motor, great for occasional air tool use and tire inflation. Both would be of the oil bath type, the shop compressor may even be one with it's own oil pump. Anything less then the Garage compressor I guess you could go oil less and be happy.

Also, take alook at what electrical requirements you have. While most small compressors can be wired to run on both 120 or 240 volts, the amperage draw would be the issue that may cause the concern. For a compressor to be truly portable, it most be capable of running on a 120 volt receptacle with a 15 amp draw or less, or have it's own power source. Good luck and think things through.

 

[Briman]

I have an oil free compressor. I got it somewhere around 1990. It gets more than casual use but less then heavy use. Once in a while I put it in the back of the pickup and take it somewhere for portable use. I used it alot this week end and I think it's starting to make some more noise than normal. I have used it for a long time and it owes me nothing. It is not good for impact wrenches but will run a nail gun all day long. I will get a much larger oil bath compresor when this one fails. But that leaves me without the portabilty of a smaller compressor. The bottom line is that the oil free unit I have is 17 years old and has seen regular use. I would buy another for portability and light shop use.

 

[SMorneau]

The oil free compressors are fine except for the noise. The construction of my Craftsman looks like it would last about 10 minutes but it has been running air tools for years and has never given me any trouble. That said I hate the noise and I have been eyeballing a cast iron unit.



If I were going to buy a smaller oilfree compressor I would make sure my Honda EU2000i could power it.



Has anyone here got any experience with the Castaire brand assembled here in MN? The have some very low RPM models they claim to be about as quiet as you can get without going to a screw compressor.



Scott

 

[TBurow]

i have been abusing my cast iron oil filled 5hp 20 gallon camobell hausfeld from home depot for 13 years without so much as a hiccup, running a tire machine and air tools daily, they have my vote for durability. i have seen far too many oilless compressors explode with moderate use to ever go to one. unless you like to see crushed aluminum and piston parts flying around, i do as long as it is someone elses.

 

[Belchos]

Thanks everyone. This really pinpoints the decision, and I have decided to do both. I am getting the DeWalt oiless portable (light weight, wheels, upright) and I am rebuilding my 5hp oil lubricated compressor. It became clear to me when reading all of this that one cannot have it all in one machine. The answer - two machines.