Best Quiet Air Compressor?

[snowracer101]

Hello GJ,

I'm looking for suggestions for a quiet air compressor (<75db). I currently own a Briggs & Stratton 8 Gallon Hot Dog (oil-free) compressor, and while it performs well, it's extremely loud. Using a DB reading app on my iPhone, I was getting readings around 90db at roughly 3' away. I don't have the ability to remotely locate the compressor so it'll be set up in my garage.

I detail cars as a side-gig/hobby, and mostly use my compressor for blowing out interiors, and cleaning buffing pads when doing paint correction. I use air tools (1/2" Impact, 3/8" ratchet, grinder) much less frequently, but I'd still like a compressor that can adequately power these tools.

My current compressor is incredibly loud, to the point it gives me a headache, I also live in a neighborhood so using my current compressor after dusk or before dawn is a no-go due to the noise.


Primary Uses:

• Blowing out vehicle interiors & cleaning foam buffing pads
• Air gun to apply tire/underbody dressings
• 1/2" Impact gun for removing lug nuts and other various tasks

The above uses are listed in frequency of use.

I'm not too concerned with tank size, as if the compressor operates quietly enough, I won't mind it continuously turning on to refill.

I'd prefer a compressor with an output @90psi of at least 5 SCFM, which should be adequate enough to power my impact gun, and keep continuous pressure when blowing out vehicle interiors.

Oh, and my budget is ~$500, I'd prefer to come in under that amount, and really wish not to go above it, but will if a great deal comes along.

Compressors I'm Currently Interested In:

-CAT 10 Gallon 2.0 HP Ultra Quiet Model #10020C

-Eagle 2.5HP 20 Gallon Silent Series Model# EA-6500

-Kobalt Quiet-Tech 26 Gallon Model # 3332643


Any other suggestions?

 

[mike93lx]

CAT is awesome. I have an aluminum tank 1hp and love it. Light, quiet, and enough for nail guns. You would definitely need something bigger for regular blow gun useage, but they do have 20gal 2hp units

 

[IndyGarage]

Take a look at the Makita small compressors. They aren't perfectly quiet, but certainly quieter than my old hot dog compressor.

 

[Citation]

Of the ones on the list in not sure between the Kobalt and CAT. I've got a smaller CAT 5510A. Chinese quality with a nice pump. Stop it is quiet. However, when you look at the specs, remember that the '1hp' CATs are 10 db quieter.

That said, I've played with ways to reduce noise with my larger Campbell Hausfeld belt drive upright, my CAT and Kobalt hotdog that is likely very similar to your B&S.

The CAT is quiet in large part due to the intake muffler (including that little plastic tube hanging out of the filter housing). If you take those parts off things get louder. So I've tried doing similar things to my other compressors. The results are positive. If I recall the B&S has basically no intake muffler (if the filter housing is like the Kobalt). As an experiment I connected the filter via ~3' of rubber hose. Hey, it made a significant difference. Not "quiet" but probably 8db.

I did phone based testing with my CH and filters. So without filter it was about 90db. Adding a CH filter housing (looks like an old school engine air filter housing) got me down to around 84. Adding a bit over 1' of vinyl tube to the intake brought me down to around 81. That was a big reduction for less than $20. In the same test the CAT was around 75db. Clearly quieter but not night and day. Also, per the 10db difference between the 1 and 2hp CAT models, my CH should be about the same as a 2hp CAT.

If the B&S is fine other than noise, you might try some noise reduction before spending several hundred on a new compressor. If you search my recent posts I did show a picture of the type of intake I put on my CH. It would probably fit your compressor as well. A no name version of the filter housing + hose could be had for $10. May be worth a look.

 

[dkmc]

The best quiet air compressor is the one in your neighbors garage 3 houses away....run a 1/2" airline down there.

 

[cowades206]

Purchased a CAT 10 Gallon 2.0 HP Ultra Quiet Model #10020C about a month ago. I was really tired of the old Sanborn oil-less I'd been using for years because it was just too loud to use without ear protection. The new CAT filled it's 10 gallon tank about 10 seconds faster than the 20 year old Sanborn filled its 8 gallon tank about (2'30"). I can be in the garage without ear protection now and even identify what song is playing on the radio. Happy with it so far, but only a month of use. FYI, I bought the 2HP 10 gallon unit because it was the largest that would fit in my little garage. I'm pretty sure the Kobalt uses the same CAT pump, but with a larger tank. I just didn't have room for 26 gallons.

 

[383]

I'm happy with the Kobalt Quiet tech I bought last summer. Regen time isn't spectacular, but with the 26 gallon tank it hasn't been a problem for me. It is nice being able to hold a conversation in the garage while the compressor is running.

 

[electroman187]

I've had a CAT 5510SE for a couple of years. When it first arrived, the quick release connector leaked due to excessive pipe sealant getting into the mechanism. They sent a new connector and all was good. It's been a great, quiet compressor. Sooo much quieter than its replacement. Everyone that sees/hears it is impressed.

One minor gripe is that the pump technology won't allow you to store air in it for any moderate length of time. It slowly leaks out over a matter of hours.

 

[Citation]

I've had a CAT 5510SE for a couple of years. When it first arrived, the quick release connector leaked due to excessive pipe sealant getting into the mechanism. They sent a new connector and all was good. It's been a great, quiet compressor. Sooo much quieter than its replacement. Everyone that sees/hears it is impressed.

One minor gripe is that the pump technology won't allow you to store air in it for any moderate length of time. It slowly leaks out over a matter of hours.

That must be something with yours. I have a 5510A that holds air for weeks if not months. However, I did find and fix a leak in addition to fixing the improperly installed seal in the regulator. That seal is why I got the thing in new-open box condition for $60. The lip seal was upsidedown and wouldn't hold at higher pressure settings. After fixing the factory deflects the thing seems to work nicely.

 

[tarbellb]

Also look at the Estwing quiet compressor, excellent build quality, and some nice bonus features too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075R9RNJ3/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But heavy, not real portable.

 

[electroman187]

That must be something with yours. I have a 5510A that holds air for weeks if not months. However, I did find and fix a leak in addition to fixing the improperly installed seal in the regulator. That seal is why I got the thing in new-open box condition for $60. The lip seal was upsidedown and wouldn't hold at higher pressure settings. After fixing the factory deflects the thing seems to work nicely.

Haa, no kidding. Well, I'll have to take a closer look into the matter. Thanks for the info!

 

[snowracer101]

Also look at the Estwing quiet compressor, excellent build quality, and some nice bonus features too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075R9RNJ3/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But heavy, not real portable.

That was another model that caught my eye, but I forgot to mention it. My only worry is the 3.8 SCFM @90psi. I have a 1/2" Impact Wrench that claims to require ~5 SCFM, however my B&S compressor powers it just fine. I guess I have to decide if I'm willing to compromise a bit on power for low-noise output.

 

[Citation]

That was another model that caught my eye, but I forgot to mention it. My only worry is the 3.8 SCFM @90psi. I have a 1/2" Impact Wrench that claims to require ~5 SCFM, however my B&S compressor powers it just fine. I guess I have to decide if I'm willing to compromise a bit on power for low-noise output.

Sadly flow requirements are a confusing mess. First, your impact almost certainly needs more than 5 cfm. That's why you have a tank. It actually provides the air. The pump just refills the tank. My 4 gallon, 4 cfm compressor never had an issue keeping up with my 1/2" impact. When pulling wheels off my car I could get 1 4-lug wheel off before the compressor had to recycle. 15 seconds later it had fill pressure again and I was maybe ready to pull the next wheel. Basically, as I used my impact the 4 gallon tank was never an issue. Really the blow gun was the tool that first made me want a bigger compressor.

 

[BarryWells]

An air compressor quiet is like looking for a chainsaw quiet. FORGET IT.
GET THE AIR YOU NEED. Build an outhouse for it and open the farthest door from the shop to let the air cooled motor get flow.
Then go look for a quiet 44 MAG. You wont find that either but the shop will have air.

 

[stickshift]

Then go look for a quiet 44 MAG. You wont find that either but the shop will have air.

 

[mike93lx]

An air compressor quiet is like looking for a chainsaw quiet. FORGET IT.
GET THE AIR YOU NEED. Build an outhouse for it and open the farthest door from the shop to let the air cooled motor get flow.
Then go look for a quiet 44 MAG. You wont find that either but the shop will have air.

Lots of fail here. There are quiet compressors and chainsaws
I have one of each.

 

[383]

An air compressor quiet is like looking for a chainsaw quiet. FORGET IT.
GET THE AIR YOU NEED. Build an outhouse for it and open the farthest door from the shop to let the air cooled motor get flow.
Then go look for a quiet 44 MAG. You wont find that either but the shop will have air.

Maybe not quiet, but certainly a lot quieter. My old oil free compressor would wake me up at the opposite end of the house if it cycle during the night, I can't even hear my Kobalt quiet tech in the house. My 60v Dewalt chainsaw doesn't require earplugs either.