compressor intake muffler suggestions please

[atch]

My compressor has an inlet of 2 3/8" o.d. This is actually an adapter I fabricated to bolt over the rectangular intake hole. There are reasons it had to be that particular diameter but that's not germane to this post.

I'm thinking of buying a radiator hose or some type of flexible hose to hook onto this and then connect an automobile (or other) muffler to that hose.

So my question #1: what is the absolutely quietest auto muffler that you're familiar with?

According to Grainger, McMaster Carr, Amazon, etc., 2 3/8" i.d. hose is quite expensive.

Question #2: Does anyone have a better 2 3/8" solution?

It could be a long piece or just a coupler to go directly from compressor to muffler. I would like to have it long enough to mount the muffler separate from the compressor to eliminate vibration damage issues though. I'd like to hang the muffler from the ceiling above with flex hose connecting to the compressor.

If I have to I could weld a transition onto the adapter I mentioned above so diameter is not 100% critical.

 

[kabinenroller]

I just installed this on my new IR compressor, it went from 89db to 82db. It is still too loud but at least the intake does not make as much noise as it did from the factory. Maybe Solberg has something that will fit your application.

https://www.zoro.com/solberg-filter-silencer-1-in-mnpt-35-cfm-max-fs-10-100/i/G3664446/

 

[rsanter]

You may be overthinking this.
Because there is minimal to no heat to be dealt with and the best way to reduce or eliminate sound is to bounce it around.
You could build a box from wood with a series of baffles in it as your intake muffler.
You could easily step the intake tube up in size and use a corrugated flex hose to connect the box to the compressor.

One previous setup a member did was to connect a series of pipes and elbows in an S shape up to an automotive air cleaner.

Up also have other noise that just the intake, I would look at building a hood over the compressor portion that is sound insulated but that leaves enough air flow for cooling

 

[nadogail]

Maybe you could find some repurposed flexible ducting in a salvage yard.

 

[csp]

What type of compressor is it? May make a huge difference in the amount of noise reduction you end up with.

 

[HMCFab9]

Look into Solberg products

 

[Samh]

Look into Solberg products

Agree on this. I got a muffler and silencer for mine, and made it tolerable even right next to it

 

[pcmeiners]

I mounted two really oversized Slolbergs on mine, still makes noise, but the suction sound is less and filter changes are far less.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I wonder if I could use some Solberg stuff. I used to think intake noise wasn't even a consideration with mine. It's oiless. I was thinking the noise was mostly the piston flying back and forth at fifteen gazillion RPM.

Tommy

 

[Citation]

What is the flow rate of this compressor? Step the large pipe down to something like a 3/4” OD pipe then use an "automotive" style filter + a length of rubber hose on the inlet port. Works nicely.

 

[Citation]

I wonder if I could use some Solberg stuff. I used to think intake noise wasn't even a consideration with mine. It's oiless. I was thinking the noise was mostly the piston flying back and forth at fifteen gazillion RPM.

Tommy

As an experiment I tried to reduce the sound level of a cheap oil free compressor. It did help but I wouldn't call it quiet.

 

[BillK]

I have a car muffler on mine but an air cleaner on the end made the biggest difference.

 

[ssdave]

Solberg silencer/filter is best. You can use a Fernco plumbing flexible coupler to adapt your 2.38 inch pipe to other sizes. Fernco makes a wide variety; here's a link to their table of sizes: https://www.fernco.com/products/flexible-couplings/stock-couplings

 

[kaymccampbell]

I used a couple chunks of vacuum cleaner hose, and some PVC, to remote my air filters to the dead space in the ceiling and soffits in the shop. I put a little access panel on the soffit to access the filters. It made an amazing difference.

 

[andyvh1959]

Anyone got pictures? I have an upright Sanbourn 6.5hp air compressor going into my shop and I can make the setup to quiet it up now before I get the air compressor in place. I like the idea of using the space up in the trusses, breathing in through the soffit venting above the insulated ceiling as part of the intake.

 

[Spareparts]

I used a cheap glass-pak muffler on mine with 12" automotive air cleaner wrapped with a strip on foam over that, really quitened it down a lot. motor starter is a lot noiser than the compressor running, kinda makes you jump when it starts. Instead of rubber hose what about the flexible exhaust pipe???

 

[redmondjp]

If you are close to an outside wall, simply using a remote air intake works very well, so long as you have a rubber coupler between the pump and the piping to isolate the vibration so it doesn't transfer/couple into the piping and whatever the piping is attached to.

 

[dmcintosh]

I am curious if the high cost of the 2 3/8" has to do with the size? 2 3/8" seems to me like an odd size. For what it is worth (not sure of sizes) I've gotten fuel neck filler hose from Napa in the past for not too much.

 

[atch]

If you are close to an outside wall, simply using a remote air intake works very well, so long as you have a rubber coupler between the pump and the piping to isolate the vibration so it doesn't transfer/couple into the piping and whatever the piping is attached to.

It's over 30 horizontal feet (+ some vertical) to the nearest outside wall that I could use. That's a possibility though.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought a Ford Crown Victoria V8 intake air filter. It helped to silence the compressor intake. I do not use it now because a friend "needed it"
The filter on the compressor is a DONALDSON and it does not silence anything. I like it.
Buy and use ear plugs.

 

[csp]

The square intake makes this sound like an oilless compressor, which you're never going to quiet down with moving the intake.

Asked earlier for compressor info, but that fell on deaf ears. Nobody else seems to have considered this either.

 

[atch]

The square intake makes this sound like an oilless compressor, which you're never going to quiet down with moving the intake.

Asked earlier for compressor info, but that fell on deaf ears. Nobody else seems to have considered this either.

Sanborn
Black Max
5 hp
model B51-A21-80V-SWC

I appreciate all the suggestions herein and the time it took for all posters to make them.

But speaking of deaf ears not one person has answered my original two questions. Well, maybe if I didn't articulate "Question #2: Does anyone have a better 2 3/8" solution?" well enough. I meant does anyone know of a better method of connecting 2 3/8" to a muffler.

I really am interested in alternatives like you all have been suggesting though.

 

[ssdave]

Sanborn
Black Max
5 hp
model B51-A21-80V-SWC

I appreciate all the suggestions herein and the time it took for all posters to make them.

But speaking of deaf ears not one person has answered my original two questions. Well, maybe if I didn't articulate "Question #2: Does anyone have a better 2 3/8" solution?" well enough. I meant does anyone know of a better method of connecting 2 3/8" to a muffler.

I really am interested in alternatives like you all have been suggesting though.

I answered: FERNCO. Easy adapter for different sizes, and 2 3/8" is a FERNCO size available.

 

[e36jon]

Greetings Atch

I am just doing a drive-by on the thread (Haven't read the whole thing) but I have a spot to look for adapters that may get you the connection you want: Shop-vac replacement hoses & adapters. I've been trying to replace a shop-vac hose and there is a whole world of stuff to get you from size 'A' to size 'B', in all sorts of materials so maybe you can find just the right thing. Hope this wasn't all spelled out in the first post or anything...

Best of luck

Jon

 

[atch]

I answered: FERNCO. Easy adapter for different sizes, and 2 3/8" is a FERNCO size available.

Yes, Dave, you did. Sorry; I had forgotten your response. I should have reread the entire thread before making such a rash statement.

I did check the Fernco website (when you posted) and probably found what I need. I can also go to my local plumbing supply house and probably get it right off of their shelf.

Thank you for the information/suggestion.

 

[atch]

Greetings Atch

I am just doing a drive-by on the thread (Haven't read the whole thing) but I have a spot to look for adapters that may get you the connection you want: Shop-vac replacement hoses & adapters. I've been trying to replace a shop-vac hose and there is a whole world of stuff to get you from size 'A' to size 'B', in all sorts of materials so maybe you can find just the right thing. Hope this wasn't all spelled out in the first post or anything...

Best of luck

Jon

Thanx, Jon. I'll research this. I had never thought of shopvac hose.

Also dmcintosh mentioned fuel filler hose which might work.

 

[atch]

So far no one has recommended a muffler so I'll forget that idea.

Automobile air cleaners have been suggested. I wonder...

Would 2-3 round air filters; stacked and mounted inside an upper and lower steel or wood plate (one with a hole and pipe/tube going to compressor intake), provide any/much sound deadening? If I did this would wrapping the whole shootin' match with foam rubber add to the deadening properties?

 

[Citation]

The square intake makes this sound like an oilless compressor, which you're never going to quiet down with moving the intake.

Asked earlier for compressor info, but that fell on deaf ears. Nobody else seems to have considered this either.

Check out this thread. I think this is a similar head.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194327
and a video about the same/similar

 

[Citation]

Sanborn
Black Max
5 hp
model B51-A21-80V-SWC

I appreciate all the suggestions herein and the time it took for all posters to make them.

But speaking of deaf ears not one person has answered my original two questions. Well, maybe if I didn't articulate "Question #2: Does anyone have a better 2 3/8" solution?" well enough. I meant does anyone know of a better method of connecting 2 3/8" to a muffler.

I really am interested in alternatives like you all have been suggesting though.

You don't need 2 3/8" plumbing. Reduce that to something like 3/4" and then you can follow the lead of others. I'm a big fan of the "automotive style" filter housing + a few feet of rubber tube. It works really well.
So a filter housing like this guy is using.

He used a muffler at the other end of the rubber hoses but my experince with my CAT and my CH belt drive compressor is really the hose hanging off the end does most of the work.

 

[Steve W.]

So far no one has recommended a muffler so I'll forget that idea.

It is my understanding that any "muffler" operates on the principle of restriction. Not necessarily a restriction of air flow, possibly one of acoustic propogation.

The acoustic pulses from your modest air flow (compared to an automobile that would use the 2 3/8" muffler) would probably just echo around inside the baffles. There would not be much pressure change that would help attenuate those pulses, like there would be in something with a 1" or maybe 1 1/2" bore.

Many of the early responders DID reply to your request about "mufflers", but they were not 2 3/8", nor were they automotive. The suggestion for checking out the Solberg products was not just a wild guess, it was made based on experience.

.

 

[Lynden]

The automotive industry uses many sizes and shapes of flexible couplers and reducers.

https://www.google.com/search?rls=e...hVBKH0KHWdGDQgQjJkEegQIAxAB&biw=1099&bih=1013

Check Spectre Performance. They may have the size of adapter you need.

https://www.spectreperformance.com/cat/air-intake-components-couplers-reducers-epdm

 

[csp]

I did check the Fernco website (when you posted) and probably found what I need. I can also go to my local plumbing supply house and probably get it right off of their shelf.

Home Depot/Lowes/Menards etc have them. No need to go to a plumbing supply house.

And yes, adapt it down. Both of my Quincy's use 3/4" NPT on the intake side. There's no need for it to be anywhere close to 2-3/8" in size.

Looking at a parts diagram for your compressor it looks like the flange for the output to the tank will also fit the intake port. Buy an extra of that part and the end of it looks like it is already NPT, and likely 3/4".

 

[Rsharp66]

I needed to get my intake outside because the room next to my compressor has my blaster and grinders and I wanted clean air. I just ran some 2 inch PVC thru the wall then hung a cheap car muffler on the wall. Last addition was a motorcycle air filter to keep the bugs out. Clean air and quieter than it was for sure. sounds like a car running when you stand right next to it.

 

[rmmiller]

I just installed this on my new IR compressor, it went from 89db to 82db. It is still too loud but at least the intake does not make as much noise as it did from the factory. Maybe Solberg has something that will fit your application.

https://www.zoro.com/solberg-filter-silencer-1-in-mnpt-35-cfm-max-fs-10-100/i/G3664446/

That's what came on my Husky compressor, it is loud and can be improved. As an experiment, I drilled a hole in it, installed a nylon hose barb and some clear vinyl tubing that I stuck in a plastic coffee container. In the coffee container I have a couple rags and several holes for air flow and noise suppression. Made a huge difference, now I just need to create a permanent setup. I also found rubber bungees around the tank quieted some of the ringing from the tank.