- Oil-Free Air compressor
- Buyers Guides
- What Is an Oil-Free Air Compressor?
- An oil-free air compressor is an air compressor that the mechanical components are typically coated with a permanent lubricant material. They are generally more portable, less expensive, and easier to maintain than oil-lubed compressors, which is why they’ve become the most popular choice for household use and basic contractor work,but also used in many factories and industrial settings.
- How Long Do Oil-Free Air Compressors Last?
- You can generally expect anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 hours of service. However, the lifespan depends largely on maintenance, proper care, and usage habits. Most oil-free air compressors aren’t intended for long-term continuous use applications. In other words, they’re not ideal for running for several hours at a time.
- Key advantages of oil-free air compressors
- Low maintenance
- Generally less expensive than comparable oil-lubed models
- Perform better in cold temperatures
- Virtually no risk of contaminating the air with oil
- Relatively easy to transport
- More environmentally friendly
- What Size You Need?
- Inflating Tires, Sports Equipment, and Mattresses – If your main reason for getting an air compressor is to inflate your bike/car tires, pump up your basketball, or fill rafts/air mattresses, Small ones in the 1 or 2-gallon range will work just fine for you.
- DIY Projects – Things like upholstering furniture with a pneumatic stapler, installing trim with a nail gun, or cleaning tight spaces require a slightly larger compressor in the 2- to 6-gallon range.
- Automotive Work – If you plan on using the compressor to operate automotive tools like impact wrenches, a larger compressor in the 4- to 8-gallon range will be fine.
- Painting and Sanding – Painting and sanding with a compressor are two things that require high CFM and near-continuous airflow. This means you’ll need a large compressor that won’t be constantly turning on and off to keep up with your airflow needs. These compressors generally more than 10 gallons.