Air compressor - wet (oil) or dry ?

[JM2]

Starting afresh, looking to buy a new or good second-hand. Small compressor 1.5hp+ small reservoir 25/50L. mains (1ph). Mainly for air line, perhaps some air cleaning, maybe some small paint spraying but none in mind just yet. Light use expected.

So, do I go for oil lubed (and filter) or dry ?




Any brands to stay away from ?
- cheepies from Aldi/Netto worth a punt ??

 

[MrTinker]

You need to use a filter or combined filter/regulator on either type, to remove the water out of the air, especially important if you plan on using a spray gun, not that you'll be able to do much spraying, with a compressor that small.

IMO the oil free idea just dosen't wash, a piston going up and down in a cylinder needs lubeing, if you want it to last.

 

[merlin50]

a small compressor is a toy you need to think bigger, and go for oil lubed.

 

[JM2]

What would be a minimum then, for a starting point ?
Comp/reservoir.

 

[MrTinker]

All depends on what you want to do with it, if you are only going to use it for pumping tyres up, blowing dust out of things, a small one might well do. If you are planning on using a spray gun, 14CFM/ 3hp minimum, if you plan on using air tools, say a sander for instance, 18CFM/ 4hp minimum, but these are expensive and you can't just plug them into a 13A socket, so you would also be looking at getting supply cables etc. installed. A lot of expense if you are not going to use it.

 

[JM2]

Thanks.

I'll keep looking (for a slightly larger one).

 

[merlin50]

my 14CFM/ 3hp is fine with air tools if only one person is using it.