Oil-Free or Oil Lube compressor?

Which is better? Basically I am looking for more bang for the buck! I am looking at Craftsmen Compressors out of their new catalog.

The oil-lube unit is a 7HP 60 Gallon Vertical. Max psi is 150 and it does 12.4 SCFM@40psi and 10.2SCFM@90psi. The price is $450.

The oil-free unit is 7 HP 60 Gallon Vertical. Max psi is 175 and it does 9.6 SCFM@40psi and 9 SCFM@90psi. This one is $550

Which would be the better choice?

The oil free works fine, but is loud as hell. Might be worth the extra few bucks for the quieter one...

My $0.02

Originally posted by Mo
The oil free works fine, but is loud as hell. Might be worth the extra few bucks for the quieter one...

My $0.02

Actually the oil-lube one is the cheaper one(if this is the one you meant was quieter). My friend has the regular series of the Oil-Free one and you cant even hear yourself think when it is running.....
The ones I listed are the Professional series(they dont list the regular ones anymore)...

oil using. I have to rebuild my oilless once a year. Whoever thought a plastic piston and semi metallic sleeve was a good idea is seriously gay.

Belt driven oil-filled compressor is the most pleasant to have in the shop. Direct-drive oil-less units are totally obnoxious.

Also, Sears LIES about the HP on thier compressors. Divide by at least two for the real number. Most of the manufacturers have followed suit on thier single-stage compressors, and even a few of the smaller two stage units. Read the data plate on the motor if it says "HP:SPL" then compressor rating is a lie.

I've got a little oilless unit. It's obnoxiously loud, and doesn't make enough air to do much of anything. I've also got one with an oil sump; belt driven iron cylinder twin, 220V, upright 60 gal. tank, 10 CFM @ 90 psi. I'ts much quieter and will run anything I've got (but a die grinder does keep it busy). The only reason I keep the little oilless one is because it's portable and still works. But when it dies (and it sounds like that may not be too far away) the tank goes onto the truck, the compressor part goes into the trash.

Oilless may have an advantage if the main thing you'll use it for is to shoot paint, but dryers and filters are cheap too.

Don't go oil less. I have the craftsman 6.5 HP 33 Gallon and it works great but is loud as hell. I would sell it in a heartbeat.
Anyone interested?

Stay away or you'll be sorry!!!

Originally posted by Emmettology 101


Actually the oil-lube one is the cheaper one(if this is the one you meant was quieter). My friend has the regular series of the Oil-Free one and you cant even hear yourself think when it is running.....
The ones I listed are the Professional series(they dont list the regular ones anymore)...

woh... didn't look at the prices you qouted.... go with the oiler. Cheaper and quieter. Win-win.

The oil lube one you list is rated for 150 psi, so it probably is single stage.

Whereas, the 175 psi oil-less, is probably a two stage unit.

Hence the price difference.

Originally posted by Kevbo
Belt driven oil-filled compressor is the most pleasant to have in the shop. Direct-drive oil-less units are totally obnoxious.

Also, Sears LIES about the HP on thier compressors. Divide by at least two for the real number. Most of the manufacturers have followed suit on thier single-stage compressors, and even a few of the smaller two stage units. Read the data plate on the motor if it says "HP:SPL" then compressor rating is a lie.


Here is what Sears lists on their site about HP..

>>Horsepower (tools)
Horsepower is a measurement of motor torque multiplied by speed. Horsepower also refers to the rate of work (power) an electric motor is capable of delivering. See TORQUE, RATED HORSEPOWER and MAXIMUM DEVELOPED

Rated Horsepower is a motor's running torque at its rated running speed. The motor can be run continuously at its Rated Horsepower without overheating. If the motor is required to give an extra spurt of effort while running, the motor is overloaded and develops extra horsepower to compensate. The most horsepower that can be drawn from a motor to handle this extra effort is its maximum developed horsepower. See TORQUE, HORSEPOWER and MAXIMUM DEVELOPED HORSEPOWER.

Torque
Torque is a measurement of rotation or turning force. Torque is measured in ounce inches (oz. in.), ounce feet (oz. ft.) and pound feet (lb. ft.). See HORSEPOWER, RATED HORSEPOWER and MAXIMUM DEVELOPED HORSEPOWER

Maximum Developed Horsepower
If a motor is required to work harder than its idle speed, the motor is overloaded and must develop extra horsepower. The most horsepower that can be expected from a motor to handle this extra effort is referred to as its Maximum Developed Horsepower. See HORSEPOWER, TORQUE and RATED HORSEPOWER
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