Air compressor: Which to choose Oil filled or oil free design

I am considering purchasing an air compressor for light home use. It will only be used occasionally, and I wanted to get opinions as to which type unit to buy. I am not necessarily limited to the two models in this post, but these are the types of compressor I am considering.

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I have liked this Husky model from Home Depot for several years. It has a 26 gallon tank, with a single stage oil-filled cast iron compressor.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=&langId=-1&catalogId=&productId=

The other style that seems more popular is the oil free pump, similar to this unit from sears. It also is a 26 gallon tank.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p___P

I have attached pictures of the two units that are mentioned here. Cost isn't that big of a driver. I want something that will last well with limited use, and operate in an effective and satisfying manner. My assumptions going into this are that the oil filled pump would be considerably quieter, and that the oil-filled would last much longer.

It seems however that there are many more oil-free units of this type being produced, so I wanted to get some opinions from users of either or both type. Maybe my assumptions aren't valid. I have seen oil-free designs that are portable with ~25 gallon tanks from DeWalt, Kobalt, Campbell-Hausfeld, etc. The oil free designs also seem to typically have a higher Max PSI rating. Thanks...

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Comair.

Example pictures of a couple of the compressors...

Oil free design...

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Husky cast iron oil filled compressor...

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Rotary screw air compressors are complicated pieces of machinery and let&#;s face it, they are not inexpensive. If you look at the total cost of ownership, however, the initial purchase price is minimal compared to the energy cost required over the life of your compressor. Here are a few money saving tips that can help reduce the cost of operating your equipment:

• Change your air filter regularly
  • The intake air filter is your first line of defense in protecting your compressor and its lubricant. A dirty, clogged filter element causes loss of efficiency and reduces lubricant life. A clean element will help your compressor run cooler and use less energy.
• Change your oil filter every hours
  • Plain and simple: if you don&#;t change your oil filter element you&#;ll do damage to your compressor. This inexpensive part removes dirt and abrasives from the lubricant. When changed regularly, it will extend the life of your lubricant, protect your air/oil separator and reduce wear on your compressor.
• Change your air/oil separator every hours or at least annually
  • If you have oil-flooded rotary screw compressors the air/oil separator provides the final removal of oil from the air stream. Contaminant and particulate build-up in the element will cause pressure drop across the separator to increase. As a rule of thumb, every 2 PSIG increase in pressure drop raises BHP use by 1%. Servicing your air/oil separator will also keep your oil carryover low and reduce lubricant consumption.
• Keep your aftercooler/oil cooler clean
  • Check for dirt or particle accumulation on the coolers. As the exterior fin surfaces become clogged, dirty and damaged, your coolers lose their ability to effectively dissipate heat. Increased running temperatures can damage your compressor and reduce the life of synthetic lubricants.

• Oil Analysis
  • Synthetic lubricants do a great job of protecting your compressor and holding up in harsh environments. However, they don&#;t last forever. Take the guesswork out and get professional analysis done regularly.  It will tell you if there are any issues. As synthetic lubricants break down they can become corrosive and create varnishes, so being proactive in this area will save a lot of money in the long run. (Lewis Systems offers free analysis on all lubricants that are purchased from us).

These aren&#;t overly complicated things to do, but they can be overlooked easily. Our Service Team would be happy to help you out with developing a routine maintenance program that fits your needs and budget. Proactive maintenance is a lot less expensive than reactive maintenance.

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