Noise Insulation for shop compressor?

[Doofy]

Would like to upgrade but for a 60gal comparable unit the California Air Tool compressor is 3 times the money! Maybe I need to make that jump if I could unload my Husky brand. The advertised decibel levels are 'quiet' impressive!

I thought the same thing until I saw the $$$ signs for those California Air units. I would wear Muffs inside before I would ever even consider upgrading. I just went out and checked the decibel level at 6' and it was at 90 dB. If I can tweak that down to 75dB or so I would be content. Getting to old to spend to much on tools.

 

[ruffdog]

I thought the same thing until I saw the $$$ signs for those California Air units. I would wear Muffs inside before I would ever even consider upgrading. I just went out and checked the decibel level at 6' and it was at 90 dB. If I can tweak that down to 75dB or so I would be content. Getting to old to spend to much on tools.

Yes, 90dB is getting up there for sure. My 60gal upright has rubber feet and a intake silencer. If I needed to, I would plumb up a motorcycle or auto muffler to quiet things down. Even my central vacuum unit in the garage has the large sound deadening muffler.

 

[orezok]

I did a little experiment on my outside intake silencer set up. I have a 60 gal Husky compressor which is noisy. I took a dB measurement 3 feet in front of the compressor and it was 88 dB. I measured the sound outside 3 feet in front of the intake silencer and it was 98dB. A 10 dB reduction inside the shop. That is a huge reduction for 3 feet of tube and a $30 silencer. I have no idea how high the sound was inside before the conversion.

 

[Doofy]

Best thing is that the silencers and a little hose are cheap compared to hearing damage. Not sure why you have to get old before realizing this? Yes I do, it's because we are invincible when young and dumb. My ears, and eyes and joints have told me this.

 

[downsizingnow48]

DE can you install a silencer on the intake? That would be an inexpensive and easy first step.

 

[ericm979]

There are companies that make quiet large compressors. They have huge boxes for inlet silencers, like 2'x2'x1'. I don't know what is inside them but since the compressor is always running at the same speed the frequency of the sound will be the same, then the muffler can be designed for that frequency. That will work better than a generic muffler designed for a range of frequencies.

 

[mbu]

I don't have time to read all the responses so if someone has mentioned this before I apologize for stepping on their post(s) ...

The best way to reduce noise of an air compressor is to REDUCE its speed! In order to cut cost, air compressor manufacturers sell by their CFM ratings - faster speeds mean more CFM and therefore exponentially more noise. Box store compressors are notorious for fast speeds.

Install a smaller sheave on the motor end of your compressor and you'll be amazed in the difference in sound! Quality compressors run slow and quiet.

 

[dragoneggs]

DE can you install a silencer on the intake? That would be an inexpensive and easy first step.

I'm going to have to investigate that.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm going to have to investigate that.

I have a cheap Harbor Freight compressor, direct drive, that is insanely LOUD!. One of it's key selling points was how quiet it was. It is the loudest small compressor I've ever heard. It came with an intake silencer, which does a very small bit of good, but it's still too loud to be near when it's running.

I'm tempted to get a better silencer. Here's a bunch from Grainger I'm looking at. We have a local store, so I could pick it up there.
Intake Filters and Silencers - Air Compressor Accessories - Grainger Industrial Supply

While I was looking at Home Depot, I also saw this on their website. Kinda pricey, though...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Califor...of-Cabinet-for-Air-Compressor-SPC03/206273760

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have my compressor in another building and I never looked back. Nice having air, and no noise at all.