Compressor for blowing out
Discussion
If the main purpose of a compressor is light usage for blowing stuff out, are you better off with an oil free one?
I've got electric impacts and nail gun already, but could do with something small, low CFM for blowing out spark plug holes, lawnmower, wood projects and so on. Occurs to me that the usual advice of "get an oil lubricated one" might be counterproductive for this usage.
I've got electric impacts and nail gun already, but could do with something small, low CFM for blowing out spark plug holes, lawnmower, wood projects and so on. Occurs to me that the usual advice of "get an oil lubricated one" might be counterproductive for this usage.
It depends on what you mean by oil lubricated.
AFAIK they all have oil in the sump to lubricate the internal moving parts.
Or if you mean the air outlet has a lubricator on it, I think they are generally on much bigger stuff or additional extras added onto the outlet.
Could be wrong on either.
Obviously you don't want one with an inline lubricator, or if it has one, just don't put any oil in it or remove it.
AFAIK they all have oil in the sump to lubricate the internal moving parts.
Or if you mean the air outlet has a lubricator on it, I think they are generally on much bigger stuff or additional extras added onto the outlet.
Could be wrong on either.
Obviously you don't want one with an inline lubricator, or if it has one, just don't put any oil in it or remove it.
I thought (but happy to be corrected) that traditional compressors have a splash lubrication system that results in a small amount of oil getting past the piston rings and hence into the air it puts out. Whereas oilless ones have a teflon coating on the piston/piston rings instead. Hence no oil, but a shorter life.
An oil-free version should run a bit cleaner I would think. There would be no blow-by from the oil splashing around in the crank to make its way into the piston area that compresses the air into the tank.
I have only run oil sump compressors from 1.5hp on job sites up to our shop compressor that is 25hp. The little portable compressor never appears to have much of anything coming down the line but that is mainly because we have no line filter on them after the tank to trap it and actually see what is being expelled.
If you are just using the compressed air to blow items off/clear I wouldn't be concerned about either version. Oil or no oil in the sump.
The little portable compressor will have minimal storage but there will be enough to blow out an engine block before the motor kicks in to recharge. Look for a quiet version if possible. Some are louder than others.
Hope that helps.
I have only run oil sump compressors from 1.5hp on job sites up to our shop compressor that is 25hp. The little portable compressor never appears to have much of anything coming down the line but that is mainly because we have no line filter on them after the tank to trap it and actually see what is being expelled.
If you are just using the compressed air to blow items off/clear I wouldn't be concerned about either version. Oil or no oil in the sump.
The little portable compressor will have minimal storage but there will be enough to blow out an engine block before the motor kicks in to recharge. Look for a quiet version if possible. Some are louder than others.
Hope that helps.
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