Air compressor recommendations?

[J P Stein]

I've had an oilless 20 gal Craftsman for 10-12 years & it was used when I got it.
I've used it to sand blast, paint cars, run tools....yada. It still makes 120psi.
Still going like the Energized bunny.....getting to look kinda gnarly tho. Noisy sumbytch. To the right of the table saw. It don't get much love. ......

[rnln]

"intakexhaust suggested" works great. Thanks intakexhaust .
I did it tonight when changing oil. The only thing I complain about this task is the drain bolt is not pointing down, makes oil drain is very messy. The PO probably never change his oil; therefore, the oil is full of metal shave. I ran the compressor a tank full, then drained it again. Both took 20 oz of oil.
In ajusting the PSI, there were two separate adjusters to adjust the max and the min (turn on the compressor when air comes down). Mine was at 90 PSI max, and min at 65 PSI. I adjusted it to max at 120 PSI and min at 75 PSI. I want to max it at 125 PSI but the whole machine shakes bad after 100 PSI so I got scared

Originally Posted by Superman

Your "electric air compressor motor" is an electric motor. Obviously, you don't put oil in that. The oil goes in the v-shaped thing.

The Harbor Freight oil is probably fine but, if it were me, I'd prolly get a bottle of synthetic. It won't take much oil to fill it.

The air tool oil gets dribbled into the brass nipples on the air tools themselves. Before you hook the air to it, just dribble some air tool oil into the air connection on the tool.

I am doing a clutch in a pickup truck right now. Using my ol' small, Craftsman compressor which I got used for cheap. It works great but only seems to go to about 80 psi. 125 psi would have worked MUCH better. I had to use a breaker bar on some fasteners that my air wrench would have loosened if my compressor were making 125 psi. I wouldn't hesitate to mod yours the way intakexhaust suggested. I'm considering looking to see if that mod can be done to mine. Compressors don't explode, BTW. 125 is not unsafe. It's just a matter of how much harder your motor and compressor mechanisms will have to work, and whether your air tools are sufficiently robust.

[hcoles]

Is this a place to start a conversation regarding getting the water out of the compressed air?
On my $100 used Craftsman (Devilbiss) 3hp, single stage, dual cylinder compressor I'm working on designing an after-cooler and inline water trap downstream of the tank. I was wondering why the water drops out when the temps are still above the local dew point. I think I found out why - the dew point rises with pressure. e.g. at 150psi the dew point is near 125F. This is why you can build a DIY aftercooler with drain and an inline water separator and it works to get very much of the water out. Do I have a point or am I off track? Or maybe no one cares, which is fine also. This was something I was curious about. BTW - I got the regular oil from HF and "flushed" my compressor, will probably do a final flush with synthetic oil.

[rnln]

Hi guys,
This old compresser of mine was running for years (once in a while). Thanks everyone again.

Yesterday it decided to stop. The electric motor made some eeee noise, but the wheel/belt didn't turn. Probably it got too hot. It ran again, after I helped turn the wheel by hand. But then it stopped again after couple mins. Then I checked oil, oil of the pump (the v-shape component), it is so low. Maybe this is the problem?

Now, don't laugh, I can't remember which oil I used, even reading all the responses above. Can someone please tell me which of the oil I should use from the pic below?
Thanks much in advance.

This is my compressor:


This is the oil I want to add:


I think the oil I filled last time was 1 of these:


I also have this at home now.


Thanks much everyone.

[rnln]

Somehow I feel like the 2-cycle engine oil was the one I put in there in the past, but don't know if that is correct.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

Can I jump in for a related silly question?

I have been using a craftman maintenance free from Sear for years. Everytime I turn it on, I afraid the neighbor complain, even during the day. I also had my hands on the little tiny one from lowes, same loundness. Now, you know that I wish I can work in my garage at night sometimes, but I couldn't.

I always heard you guys talk about oil and belt driven but never experience one. Once, I went to Draco's place to play with his car at night. Close to midnight, we needed the air compressor and he turned it on. I was so supprise that I couldn't hear anything, even standing close to the garage door, outside and door closed of course.

Question is, are all the belt driven and oil feed air compressors that quiet, or it's still depend on brand/model/type?
Thanks.

You played with his what at 12pm, and he let you?

[rnln]

his car...

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

Somehow I feel like the 2-cycle engine oil was the one I put in there in the past, but don't know if that is correct.

I just use simple 30W oil in my old compressor. I don't have one anymore but the 60 gal in my shop, which is hardly on anymore. We switched over to cordless tools. Cheaper to run and no tripping over air hoses. Got tired of fighting the air hose too.

Instead of investing in new air compressors and updating elec. to accommodate them (having 220 is nice but not always necessary in a home situation) in home shop, spend the money on cordless tools. Cordless impact, ratchet are used often when it comes to car repair, but I do understand the need for compressed air if sand blasting or an air chisel is needed. How often is the question? 200 bucks for an impact. 120 for an air ratchet will satisfy most your automotive needs.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

his car...

Which car, Ron?

[gtc]

You local hardware store should have bottles of air compressor oil. Those you show may work, but are not the same thing.

[gtc]

Also, might as well drain out the oil that remains, I’m sure it is pretty nasty at this point.

[rnln]

I dipped the in a stick to look at the old oil, it looked pretty clean like new. Draining it is fine, but if I can remember which of these I put in the past, I can just add more now and be done with it.... hate things like this happen in the middle of the project.

Is there such a 2-cycle or 4-cycle for this pump's fluid/oil? I guess not?
The reason I asked because reading back on old replies, but I guess it is for gas motor, which I don't have. My motor is electric. Am I right?

Thanks guys.

..... I can't remember what did I use the 2-cycle engine oil (in the pic above) for if not this air compressor's pump. I think I will add it in tonight, temporarily for now and will drain out after couple weeks. If anyone can see that it will destroy my compressor, please stop me
Thanks again.

BTW, what "makes 2.5 gallons" means? Do they use this oil to mix with something else? I know that I didn't, because I never mix any oil/fluid in the past.
I wish I have good memory....

[masraum]

Just FYI, 2 stroke oil is normally mixed with gasoline and used in 2 stroke motors (some motorbikes, chainsaws, weedeaters, leaf blowers, etc...).

[rnln]

Any other purpose, like this compressor pump? I don't have anything that has 2 cycle motor that I can remember.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rnln

Any other purpose, like this compressor pump? I don't have anything that has 2 cycle motor that I can remember.

seems pretty unlikely to me, but I can't say for sure.

https://www.aircompressormachine.com/what-kind-of-oil-goes-in-an-air-compressor/

[john70t]

(from a brief search):
Parts and diagrams: https://www.matoemparts.com/#Parts_By_Category

Quieting tweaks: https://airpsi.com/low-noise/how-to-quiet-an-air-compressor-6-noise-reduction-tips

60db 2.5gal 2.4cfm https://airpsi.com/low-noise/rolair-jc10-plus-trim-finishing-super-quiet-air-compressor/

68db 8gal 2.4cfm https://www.campbellhausfeld.com/air-compressor-8-gallon-horizontal-quiet-dc080500.html

73db 20gal 4cfm https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-20-Gal-Vertical-Electric-Powered-Silent-Air-Compressor-3332013/311273546?MERCH=REC-_-pip_alternatives-_-300085154-_-311273546-_-N&

[Fast Freddy 944]

Crafts-man air compressors, I have 2, a small one and a large one..

[rnln]

Hi everyone,
I am about to dissect the pump but want to double check with you guys first to see if anyone know what the problem is. Some things seize and if there is an easy solution? Or bearings, pistons?
Thanks everyone again.

Here is how it is now,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0_xYe3dG9o

That noise is not me. It's the pump this makes me feel that the pistons/cylinders are fine. Maybe the bearings? I remember right before it became harder to turn, I was keeping it running for too long to adjust the max/min pressures. So, maybe I overheated some parts?

[rnln]

I read someone mentioned the air filter need to be clean, otherwise it can cause this problem. Does anyone know where would I find it on the compressor? I looked around the unit and didn't see anything like a filter.
thanks in advance.

[1990C4S]

That is not a dirty filter problem.

Take the tubes off the heads and see if you are feeling compression, or bearing friction.

It may just need to be run for a few minutes to loosen up if it has been sitting.

Can the motor get it started?