The oil-type compressors require somewhat higher maintenance
(you have to remember to change the oil once in a while),
are less buzzy when they run (a lot of people can't stand
the sound of the oil-less) and purportedly more rebuildable
(though I haven't yet heard of an oilless one needing rebuilding).
That stuff, I think, comes down to personal taste. As far
as I can tell, the *real* difference is that the oilless one
won't put any oil in your lines. If you paint, this matters a lot.
Oil extractors aren't perfect. Not having oil in the lines to start with
means you don't have to remove it before it gets to the gun.
I run an oilless. It's noisy, but I built a shed for it and don't care.
I run "clean" air everywhere, and have a small unit with an oiler and
a water trap that I put at the beginning of the last hose segment.
I segregate my hoses, and have a couple that never see oil (with different
coupler style). This has worked very well for me.
|