Thanks

Is there any concern about oil vs oilless compressors (except for the noise) I should worry about painting?  I plan on using the compressor to fill my 10 gal tank so I'm not sure how the question of oil impacts - does it get into the air at all?

Oil lubricated compressors do run the risk of allowing the oil to get into the airflow. There are oil/moisture filters available to eliminate, or at least reduce that issue. The oil-less ones don't have that risk, but can be easily misused by running too long and burning out the motor which is why it is always preferable to have a tank. This allows the motor to cool down. Light duty use, such as hobby airbrushing, shouldn't be an issue.

There are no real difference between oil and oil-less compressors in noise levels.

Since you are planning to fill your existing tank, buy the biggest and baddest compressor you can afford, as long as you have the space to keep it. I use my compressor for refilling bike tires and the occasional use for powering a brad nailer and wish I had gone for both a bigger tank and a more powerful compressor. A mistake I plan on rectifying soon!

I have had my Craftman compressor I bought at Sears for 4 years now. It has a 3 gal. air tank and has never given me a problem.

The cost was right at about $100. Much cheaper then many "hobby" compressors. Also although it is very loud while charging. Once charged I turn it off and use the air in the tank. This makes it totally silent.

Hope this helps..... 

Scott

P.S. It takes about 2 minutes to fully charge the 3 gallion tank.

Ditto- I have one it's 2hp 12 gallon oil-free. It's a beast, but it cost me less than $ 200. I replaced the regulator a couple of years ago, and currently the drain plug on the bottom seems to be frozen.

As mentioned, it is incredibly noisy however, and I don't use it much anymore for hobby work. But it really comes in handy for filling all of the tires around here, the air mattress when we sleep outside in the summer and cleaning up the shop. I suppose it would work pretty well to fill a portable smaller tank, but I have an airbrush compressor now that takes up much less space. The Craftsman is about the size of the top half of a water heater laying on it's side.

jsfman wrote:

Is there any concern about oil vs oilless compressors (except for the noise) I should worry about painting?  I plan on using the compressor to fill my 10 gal tank so I'm not sure how the question of oil impacts - does it get into the air at all?

The Sears Craftsman 1-HP oiled compressor motor is a proven design that represents a good deal for the low end shop compressors. The oiled design makes it much less noisy (but still not quiet) and durable than similarly priced Campbell Housfeld, until you forget to add oil when it is needed. Yes, an oil filter is required for the output. For your purpose, get the cheapest one with the 2 or 3 gallon tank. Two are on sale for $100 this week.

When you compare the spec between a 1-HP Craftsman vs a 1-HP Campbell-Hausfeld, you will find that the Craftsman has almost 10 times the flow (~3.7 SCFM) of the CH (~ 0.39 SCFM). It will take the CH forever to fill your 10 gallons tank.

Good luck. Let us know what you get and how it works out for you.

Thanks all

One final question - is the moisture trap I have on my 10 gal airtank good enough to capture any oil vapor from the charging compressor or do I need to buy a special oil trap?

jsfman wrote:

One final question - is the moisture trap I have on my 10 gal airtank good enough to capture any oil vapor from the charging compressor or do I need to buy a special oil trap?

Your compressor will be discharging into the empty 10 gallons tank. You do not want oil and moisture to get into the tank. An oil filter, moisture trap unit is recommended between the compressor and your storage tank. Sears sell a Campbell Hausfeld unit.

Being careful about units from Habor Freight. Instead of having an oil filter, they actually claim to "add a stream of oil mist to the air tools to lubricate them".

There are many tool compressor users on this forum. They may have better suggestion on cheaper, but effective units. Personally, I prefer and use a Paasche DA400 airbrush compressor.

I have two oil filled compressors, a Badger Millionaire and a Jun-Air silent and neither have ever put oil into the airstream. They both have simple, regulator/oil/water seperators on them.

The oil lubricated compressors will last longer and many times they are a bit quieter especially if they are the belt driven ones that Sears sell....one of the best compressors on the market according to my friend who has been an automotive airbrush artist for 40 years.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00919541000P

MikeV wrote:

I have two oil filled compressors, a Badger Millionaire and a Jun-Air silent and neither have ever put oil into the airstream. They both have simple, regulator/oil/water seperators on them. The oil lubricated compressors will last longer and many times they are a bit quieter especially if they are the belt driven ones that Sears sell....one of the best compressors on the market according to my friend who has been an automotive airbrush artist for 40 years. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00919541000P

Mike, I...I agree with everything you said. But, JSFMAN is talking about a $100 low end Sears compressor.  Isn't it presumptuous to compare your $600+ Badger Millionaire and Jun-Air silent compressors to that compressor?

keilau wrote:

MikeV wrote: I have two oil filled compressors, a Badger Millionaire and a Jun-Air silent and neither have ever put oil into the airstream. They both have simple, regulator/oil/water seperators on them. The oil lubricated compressors will last longer and many times they are a bit quieter especially if they are the belt driven ones that Sears sell....one of the best compressors on the market according to my friend who has been an automotive airbrush artist for 40 years. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00919541000P Mike, I...I agree with everything you said. But, JSFMAN is talking about a $100 low end Sears compressor.  Isn't it presumptuous to compare your $600+ Badger Millionaire and Jun-Air silent compressors to that compressor?

My bad!  I guess I didn't read the post as well as I should.

keilau wrote:

Being careful about units from Habor Freight. Instead of having an oil filter, they actually claim to "add a stream of oil mist to the air tools to lubricate them". There are many tool compressor users on this forum. They may have better suggestion on cheaper, but effective units. Personally, I prefer and use a Paasche DA400 airbrush compressor.

There is a big difference between an oil lubricator, that adds oil to lubricate pneumatic tools, and oil/water filters, that removes oil and water.

Air compressors are tools. You can buy specialty compressors for hobbies, such as the excellent DA400, or you can buy "garage" compressors that can do double duty as both a source for air for your airbrush and for its more regular industrial use. The main differences between them are cost, size and most especially, noise. The air is identical.

Mike,

The point that I tried to made was that those cheap compressor may need an oil removing filter which, unfortunately, are usually expensive. Many of the cheap tool shop regulator/filter/moisture-trap combo unit do not remove oil. On the contrary, they often have a "lubricator" cup to allow user to add oil to their air tools downstream. Not all the new airbrush users are experienced air tool users who know the difference.

I wish I can afford and justify owning a Jun-Air someday. They definitely will not need an oil removing filter.

keilau wrote:

I wish I can afford and justify owning a Jun-Air someday. They definitely will not need an oil removing filter.

I bought my Jun-Air from a guy on Ebay for $200. 

It is a 220V model but I use a step up transformer to power it and it is connected to a 5 gallon air tank for a 4x4. 

You can't see it in this picture but the 1/2 HP Jun-Air is behind the air tank on this cart. 

MikeV wrote:

keilau wrote: I wish I can afford and justify owning a Jun-Air someday. They definitely will not need an oil removing filter. I bought my Jun-Air from a guy on Ebay for $200.  It is a 220V model but I use a step up transformer to power it and it is connected to a 5 gallon air tank for a 4x4.  You can't see it in this picture but the 1/2 HP Jun-Air is behind the air tank on this cart.

This is the Jun-Air compressor for me next time.

After my experience adding a tank to the Paasche DA400, my conclusion is that it is not worth the money and effort. Making it lead proof is a nightmare if you have both NPT and BPS threads. I just can't find the needed parts at my friendly local hardware store. It can be done, but I ended up spending more than I would have buying a Sparmax with tank.

keilau wrote:

MikeV wrote:  keilau wrote: I wish I can afford and justify owning a Jun-Air someday. They definitely will not need an oil removing filter. I bought my Jun-Air from a guy on Ebay for $200.  It is a 220V model but I use a step up transformer to power it and it is connected to a 5 gallon air tank for a 4x4.  You can't see it in this picture but the 1/2 HP Jun-Air is behind the air tank on this cart.  This is the Jun-Air compressor for me next time. After my experience adding a tank to the Paasche DA400, my conclusion is that it is not worth the money and effort. Making it lead proof is a nightmare if you have both NPT and BPS threads. I just can't find the needed parts at my friendly local hardware store. It can be done, but I ended up spending more than I would have buying a Sparmax with tank.

That's the same 1/2 hp compressor that I have. A good unit for sure. 

Personally I would rather go with a Silentaire model as parts are cheaper and easier to find. 

Jun-Air is more arrogant and thinks their compressors are the Rolex of the compressor world after talking to them in emails a few years back. Can you say, "Arrogant?"

jsfman wrote:

So the current moisture trap I have on my 10 gal tank between the tank and my airbrush will not capture any oil vapor?  Just don't want to spend lots of $$ on an oil trap if my current system will be ok.  Perhaps I should lean toward an oil-less compressor since the price is the same as an oil one and I would be using it to fill my 10 gal tank.

The Senco Model 968 got some very good reviews.

It pumps only half as fast as the cheaper, oiled Craftsman compressor. But should still give you decent performance. You can order it at Sears.