So I’m finally ready to upgrade from my 11.5 CFM @90PSI compressor (it’s plenty for the plasma table but not enough for sandblasting). I’ve found the compressor I want but I have a couple of questions that maybe some of you can speak to. First is the lubrication, there is splash lube and pressurized lube and I know pressurized is superior but I also know splash never fails. Should I be concerned about the pressurized pump failing and possibly fragging the pump or do pressurized lube systems have a nice long lifespan? The other question is about the motor, for a shop compressor should I get an ODP (open drip proof) motor that runs cooler but the windings are exposed to the dust from the shop or the TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) motor that is completely sealed form the shop air but runs warmer and is thus slightly less efficient? Anyhow, this is the compressor that is at the top of my list right now. Even if I don’t get this exact compressor I will get a compressor from this family of compressors (Emax). Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I actually have been waiting for those with more experience to reply but you posting actually educated me as to options I never realized. For starters, I love the fully enclosed motors on any of the tools that I have, that have them.
I actually did a search on the lubrication and this is almost verbatim to the the listing that was given. (The one entry that I did not expect is at the bottom!!! - And I am not making this up for fun.)
I did a search on “pressurized lube vs splash lube” and this was the listings in order.
My summary: Pressure lubrication seems to have the advantage but avoid flavored lubricants.
What are the disadvantages of splash lubrication system?
- Its disadvantages are that lubrication is not very uniform and when the rings are worn, the oil passes the piston into combustion chamber, causing carbon deposition, blur smoke and spoiling the plugs.
- There is every possibility that oil may become very thin or contaminated through crankcase dilution.
- The sensitivity to the oil being at the correct level
- There is a risk that some remote areas lack proper lubrication
What are the benefits of a pressure lubrication system over a splash system in a small engine?
- Pressure lubrication systems provide a controlled flow of clean oil to bearing for less wear and longer engine life. A high-efficiency pump in the oil pan supplies lubricant to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearing surfaces.
- The pressure from the oil pump ensures that even the most distant lubrication point can be supplied with oil. The design of the system is efficient and comparatively cheap. As a result, a smaller amount of oil is needed in the engine.
Why use splash lubrication?
Splash lubrication is a relatively simple method of lubricating industrial gears. The process is easy to handle, cost effective and guarantees good lubrication properties when the oil is filled to the correct level. The oil is distributed evenly throughout the entire gear and fulfils the required cooling properties.
What type of lubrication should be avoided?
Never use flavored lubes for vaginal intercourse—they contain sugar (glucose) and can cause yeast infections. Lubes containing glycerine can also trigger yeast infections.
Always right up there on your advice, Jim! 
Sometimes humor just writes itself. I did not expect to learn that with that particular search.
Definitely an AI augmented answer.
AI has come a LONG way…I’m going to pull the trigger probably this weekend or next week so I still have a few days to sort this out.
I pulled the trigger today, I ordered the air compressor from Home Depot. I ordered the pessurized lubrication version of the one I linked in the OP.
Anyhow, it won’t be available for pickup for 2 weeks so I have some time to upgrade the existing wiring from 8AWG to 6AWG for the larger AMP breaker and draw. I did some digging and the pressurized lubrication system actually has a pressure gauge right on the pump which alleviates my only big concern which was not knowing if the pump was crapping out on you. 38CFM@100 PSI should get me uninterrupted sandblasting. Pretty excited, I’ll post pics when I get it and install it. I’m a big fan of the automatic tank drain which you can set to how often you want the tank to drain and for how long the valve stays open when it does drain.
Now, don’t mess it up by making the wrong choice with the type of lubrication! 
I am happy for you. Sounds like a great choice.
You know that home Depot says you can order up to 5 of those at that price ($4424.00). If you are feeling flush, I know a few people that wouldn’t turn one down!
As much as I’d love to spread the good fortune, I have a 3D printer and a laser engraver to buy yet and those two together will be about as much as that compressor…You are 100% right though, I do need to get a couple of oil and filter change kits since the incredible warranty on that compressor does depend entirely on your regular maintenance.
If you feel like it, I think this forum needs a good, robust thread talking about 3D printers. I know you were involved with that other discussion. Perhaps a new thread/topic would be great. Have you made a decision on the printer?
I don’t have one so I don’t really have anything to add to the conversation…but I know there are some here who would say “that never stopped you before from adding your two cents!!!”
What can I say??? I have things that seem to percolate to the surface!
I did make a decision, I’m going to buy the Bambu Labs X1 Carbon probably next week. I have another project wrapping up and that’s keeping me busy through this coming weekend but after that I will pick it up. Might not do anything with it until that new compressor is up and running though, I need to run a 60A circuit for it and make some space. Damn thing weighs 870 pounds…it’s gonna be a fun time getting that thing installed. Luckily I just finished building a 2000lb engine hoist. I definitely don’t have enough knowledge or experience for a 3D print thread but a few guys do. When I pick it up I’ll start one though for sure.
Nice!
After that earlier discussion, David seemed to have high appraisal of that particular printer. Based on that discussion, I would have definitely started by looking at that one.
There is always something out there looking for our money. In the last 12 months, we bought 3 refrigerators. I could have bought a 3D printer!!!
I’m excited to get started with it but I’m also really looking forward to making more signs on the Pro. I’ve been using the Pro to make parts for the random thing’s I’m building which has been great but doesn’t always work. The log splitter I’m finishing up for instance has a 1" thick steel plate for the wood to press against and that’s well beyond the capability of the Cut60 I use on my table so I had to do it the old fashioned way with oxy/acetylene and a cutoff wheel…That video will be up next week, just finished powder coating it last night and I’ll get it assembled and a first run this weekend then I can edit the build video.
I am very interested i making a intake silencer like the EMax you ordered or like the Flexzilla compressor with a same system.
it make a lot of sense since most of the compressor noise travel out through the intake,
seems simple enough.
When you get yours would you be kind enough to take a few pictures of the silencer box.
they want 1500$ just for the silencer add on
Not a problem, I’ll get all kinds of pictures posted when it comes in. I can probably give you dimensions too. I think a baffled intake should be a big help on sound, same with the low RPM pump. I’m guessing with a metal brake it would be pretty easy to cut and build with the Langmuir table. It looks like they are just using Rivnuts for the screws, I bought a Rivnut installer from Astro Pneumatic for I think $75 to build the powder coat oven and it works great.
We just bought our 2nd one for the new house. You wouldn’t think that 2 normal adults would need 45 cu ft of refrigerator/freezer capacity but apparently we do. 
To be fair, we have two in our old house but we did that when we had 4 kids. The extra freezer keeps mostly my stuff (there’s a rib roast, a dozen packages of bacon, about that many ice creams…). The fridge side is mostly my wife’s stuff - extra vegetables that won’t fit in the main fridge, flour and other baking stuff she doesn’t want to store at room temp, white wine… 
You’ll want to consider what kind of things you’d like to do with the 3D printer and how big the things you’d like to make will be. I started out with FDM (the melting filament kind of printer) but moved over to a resin printer a couple of years ago. The FDM has a bigger size capacity - like 3-4 times as big on average but not as good quality as the resin. The resin printer takes as long to make one thing as 10 things whereas the FDM takes longer & longer the more things you’re making at once. So you really need to think about what you’re looking to do to decide which tech to go with and then dive into the models/makes of the kind you want.
Yet another factor I was not aware but very interesting. I like the sound of the resin.
Refrigerators:
My daughter gave us their old refrigerator 3 years ago. We got used to it and this spring she said she wanted it back to help with her cut flower business. I had gotten used to it for beverages and overflow things. It was out in the “shed” so it did not take up space in the house. I insisted that I wanted to continue to have a refrigerator. That was the first refrigerator bought in April 2023.
My wife and daughter reminded me that we planned to replace the 15 year old refrigerator in our vacation home. They hated it because it froze the lettuce and the ice cream melted (because some people don’t realize that refrigerators don’t keep things very cold in an 85 degree house with 12 people going in and out of it). It is a vacation home: deal with it. After all, it is not as privative as camping! I lost that contest. That was the second refrigerator and it was bought in May 2023 but not delivered until July due to a mix-up with Costco.
Two weeks later, our refrigerator in our home died. The repair guy, who we have used a lot and trust, refused to come out. He said “it is the compressor and those linear compressors fail 100% of the time and the one I put in will fail within the next few years.” Refrigerator #3.
LG had a problem with their early linear compressors so when they started getting a raft of bad press and sales started to drop so they sucked it up and guaranteed them for 10 years. And redesigned them to work better but kept the 10 yr warranty. The “linear compressors suck” trope hasn’t been true for a few years now.
I really like the resin printers for the quality and resolution but they have pretty small work areas, I’m certain that I want to go with FDM which has the added benefit of many different material types and the X1 Carbon comes with a 4 filament system that will let you print with four different materials and make the filament changes on the fly itself. Mostly though I think I just have to buy a machine that comes with a “poop chute” which is where the X1 evacuates the excess filament when it changes spools.
There is a 7.5HP open motor at a business that my father worked at in the 50’s, on a Quincy compressor. Has never had any work done to it and still in use today. TEFC are good for dirty environments, but for guys running these in the home shops not sure it makes much difference. Motors are not what they used to be as far as quality.
This would happen with splash or pressurized. Some of this looks like its talking about gas engines as they refer to plugs.
This makes no sense
True and more important in splash system.
Pressure does not make oil clean (unless ran through a filter)again they are talking about engines
And this I don’t think really matters on your compressor.
My 2 cents for what its worth, I would buy a splash system of quality before I would buy a pressure of poor quality.
What I think is more important than any of this is, stay away from the compressors that use high pump RPMS to achieve higher CFM’s
The slower the compressor runs the better.
AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANLY IF YOUR GOING TO SEARCH LIKE JIM DELETE YOUR SEARCH HISTORY FOR GODS SAKE!