Air compressor

[john in la]

Looking for a small air compressor.
Something in the 10 to 20 gallon range with about 4 scfm.

Should I limit my search to oil lubed models or are the oil free models just as good.
Never owned a oil free unit before so I know nothing about them.

This will not be for everyday use.
Once or twice a month at the most.

 

[Pete in Holland MI]

Oil free are generally cheaper. Noisier. Have a duty-cycle that requires them to rest a bit between cycles (thus can't use it for extended periods.

Oil sump cost a bit more. Quieter. Can have a much longer duty cycle, so those occasional jobs requiring all it's air for a long period is do-able. If you are in cold weather, they are lethargic to start. Change the sump oil out for synthetic and it'll start at 0F just like summer time.

Either......drain the tank regularly, especially after long runs and humid weather to prolong the life of the tank.

 

[Tony in SD]

Couldnt say it any better than Pete did! So Im X2.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

I've seen a lot of oil free compressors for sale, sitting beside the road for free, and in the junk pile. Can't remember seeing a wet base compressor sitting beside the road. I'll stick with my wet base. It has served me well for over 25 years.

 

[kcm.MN]

John, you could also consider one of the Ultra-Quiet type compressors that are available now. California Air Tools sells them, as do several other brands. Harbor Freight also sells what is supposed to be a very good model.

If I had a need for more capacity, I'd rather get two of these compressors and run them in tandem rather than to have a large compressor. If I had a shop that was a regular air hog, THEN I would look to a larger brand-name wet compressor; Quincy or SpeedAire, just to name my personal favorites.

I have one of the small California Air Tools compressors. It's made in China, but is UNBELIEVABLY quiet! When it arrived, I tried it out in our very small Living Room. Wife and I carried on our conversation almost as though it wasn't even there. Filled up quick, also. Mine is the CAT 4710SQ (4.7 gal tank, 1hp compressor. Tanks come in either steel or aluminum.

Many manufacturers are now selling industrial-sized units that have multiples of these compressor heads on a single large tank. If you want to learn more, could always do a search on Youtube for [color=green:c73be66712][b:c73be66712]ultra quiet compressor[/b:c73be66712][/color:c73be66712].

 

[504]

Look at HF line.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I bought a 0.6 hp California Air compressors.
Most oil free compressors run at 3550 RPM's and are noisy.
The California Air compressor runs at half that speed.
The motor uses brushes which means you can use it on a generator. I use it as my
portable air source.
Yes it's ultra quiet compressor, Hard to tell it running when I powered with a
generator. My 3500 watt generator can't start a 1.5 hp induction motor oil air
compressor.
I think my generator could handle a 1 hp California compressor.
I have gotten many years out of an oil compressor.
Oil free compressors don't last that long.
george

 

[dr sportster]

I bought a Rigid at Home Depot and it can fill my air shifter tank to 120 psi.

 

[Texasmark1]

Oilless are noisy. If that's ok go for it.

 

[danofarming]

The Oil less do not have a very long life.

 

[Texasmark1]

I bought a nice little V twin about 30 gallon yellow tank, black pump with serious air cooling fins around the cylinders, big-for the size of the compressor, cap start-cap run motor. roll around from HF for about 300 bucks. Had it over a year and really like it Single stage but pumps up to 150 psi...their setting, not mine. My 60 gallon of a popular brand finally croaked after 30+ years and I decided hat I don't need that much air.

As I mentioned earlier, I owned a couple of airless and I bought a third on a pancake tank and since it's small I can tolerate the noise and It is not for a high volume task so I can wait for it to fill the tank.

 

[Hdonly]

For limited use, I vote for California Air Tools compressor. Mine is very quiet for an air compressor. I have had it for about 6 years. No problems with it at all. I saw one here said his had a brushed motor. Must be different from mine as mine is brushless.