Need a bigger compressor. Oil-oilless?
Hey guys, need to look into buying a new compressor. I sprayed some water based Laquer this past week w/ my little Grizzly 10 gallon compressor and things went amazingly well, especially for my first time spraying. Heck, right or wrong, I didn’t even pay much attention to settings. Laquer seems to be pretty forgiving, at least to me.
Anyhow, my only issue of course was that this little compressor had to run quite a lot and I am sure I need to go bigger. I am limited to 110v, so I am looking into the 30 gallon compressors that are pretty common. I know, many will turn me to the 60 gallon 2 stage monsters but its just not in the cards right now. One note-I bought the Wagner Conversion gun that many guys talk about and it works great and is apparently setup for smaller compressors.
Onto my question-what is the story w/ oil vs oilless compressors? I know most will jump right out and say that oilless compressors are junk and there is no option…but, as I read and research I am seeing more and more people(and seemingly well versed in compressors) state that the days of the oil free compressors being junk are over and are now very comparable in terms of life expectancy. I could also see some advantages to an oil free compressor because of no worries about air contamination w/ oil and my finishes.
2nd question…if I am completely wrong and oil lubed compressors are still the way to go, how do I go about setting up filtration on an oil compressor? I haven’t a clue. Please tell me I don’t need to lug around a big clumsy filter right at the gun. Hoping I could hook it up at the compressor.
sorry for the long thread. Appreciate any comments. thanks
Edited 4/21/2006 10:19 pm ET by woodk2
Replies
Well I have a Porter Cable CPF6025VP, 25 gal tank/135psi/5.8scfm@90psi. It's Oil less and I have put it through its paces. Built my shop with it, Having two big framers going at once, It didn't come on very often. Run a rotory grinder W/no problem. One reason for getting it is to get a sprayer(when budget permits). Go for the verticle model. Built two closets under the stairs to house the dust collector and compressor ( space saver ) The Compressor is Mfg by DeVilbiss for PC so you can't go too wrong.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S. Counter Sales, Tech Rep. http://WWW.EAGLEAMERICA.COM
Bruce, sounds similar to a Craftsman model I was looking at this morning. The one I'm looking at is 30 gallon, something like 8.6 CFM @ 40psi. It's a vertical model and is on sale for around $250 I believe. Seems like a decent deal to me. The numbers certainly look good on the thing. The noise doesn't thrill me w/ the oil-less models but I have also heard that the newer models are not quite as noisy and are now comparable w/ the oiled models. Again, I am only regurgitating what I have read as my experience is very limited in compressors.
When you check out the Sears model again, Look for the tank UM certification tag welded to the tank, that will tell you who made it for Sears. DeVilbiss makes compressors for many vendors, Same,Same just different colours and names. Noise is one reason I built it into a closet under the stair-case. All compressors make noise, the oil less sound more like a quiet chain saw than the slower Oil type.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S. Counter Sales, Tech Rep. http://WWW.EAGLEAMERICA.COM
Compressors that use a 1725 rpm motor tend to be noticeably quieter than the more common 3450 rpm. I have a Paslode twin-stack that you can stand near and still have a conversation.Regards,Ron
The size of the tank isn't nearly as important as what cfm it's rated for. Try to buy one that is rated for 8 cfm @ 40 psi. If you get one much smaller than that you will be very limited on spray gun selection.
woodk2, an oilless compressor will probably work well for you until you need higher capacity or more volume. The big difference is noise mostly and its really a big difference. Isolating the compressor for your work space is recommended for your ears as well as to keep it from inhaling lacquer and dust which will shorten its life. Oil less is cheaper and sometimes you can find them cheap at home centers, Costco, big retailers,etc. Father's Day is nigh, treat yourself to the best deal you can find. aloha, mike
Mike/others. Thanks for the replies. I think I may go w/ conventional wisdom and opt for the oil lube model. Menards has a Sanborn(made by Coleman)30 gallon oil lubricated/belt drive vertical model that pushes something like 7.0cfm @ 40psi for around $300 when they run one of their sales. Seems like a very fair price. Heck, for those w/ 220, you can get an 80 or 100 gallon( I forget) 2 STAGE for $750! That seems like a really great value.
I was comparing this to a Craftsman 33 gallon oilless that does 8.6cfm at 40psi. Not certain I believe these numbers to a "T" but they do make me toss and turn on my decision. The Sanborn and the other oil lube models just seem to be more rugged in their construction, less like toys. I just have to figure out how everyone filters the air from oil that might get into the finish.
Any addl comments much appreciated. I can't find to many threads on compressors in my searches.
woodk2, your separation issues will mostly be with water from the air and there are a number of good answers to that. Your compressor dealer will have simple ones and very good (expensive) one are available. Oil shouldnt be a real problem until your compressor is wearing its rings and that is determined by how often you change the oil and wether you use synthetic oil or not. aloha, mike
Mike, thanks for the reply. Gosh, I thought oil contamination was more of an issue in all oil lubricated compressors. I don't doubt your advice, but why do I frequently see talk of using a filter w/ oil compressors and spray finishing. I would love to not worry about attaching filters, so I do hope you are right. Also, this particular Sanborn compressor I am looking at uses synthetic 10-30 motor oil. I was impressed w/ this fact...it even comes locked and loaded w/ the synthetic oil. Thought it was a nice touch by the manufacturer, albeit a simple one.
One more for ya...if I am using all water based finishes, is a little water in the line that big of a deal? Logic tells me that it wouldn't be that much of a problem.
thanks again.
Edited 4/23/2006 11:38 pm ET by woodk2
you are right, water will not be a problem mostly unless there is alot of it. aloha, mike
Come on guys, do you really mean to say that in the United States of America you are still having to put up with piston type compressors, with belts, oil, water and noise?(just a small joke).Philip Marcou
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