HF Compressor noise

[pauls340]

So I went to HF to buy a stick and got sucked-in to a super deal on a verticle 2.5HP 21 Gl 125psi Central Pneumatic Compressor. I can not stand the noise level when running. What have you done to quiet it down either with the unit itself or build a sound wall? Thanks

 

[vettex2]

My compressor is in a foam lined enclosure.
I run a small fan to keep the air moving.

 

[MrGiggles]

I've read that some people swap in a PVC air intake and lawn mower filter which they claim quiets it down some.

IMO the best thing you can do is move it out of the work area, be it outside in an enclosure or in a back room of your shop.

Direct drive compressors, oil lubed or not, are just loud, there's not a whole lot that can be done about it.

 

[Forever Fixin]

Oiled or oil less? I found that switching to amsoil synthetic compressor lube quieted mine down considerably. Otherwise I agree with the others, move it out of the work space or create an enclosure for it.

 

[Ric in Richmond]

It will never be quiet but you can chase down all the rattles of the shrouds and safety cages with zip ties, add some iron pipe extensions and mufflers on to the intake to help a little.

Wish I could move mine outside.

 

[pauls340]

Thank you all...better muffler + a portable foam wall it is.

 

[Firebrick43]

Why not return it and get a proper compressor? In the end you will spend more time and money trying to make it what it's not. On top of it they already have a heat issue due to its high speed(which is why it's noisy), put it in an insulatated and I closed space will just make die quicker.

 

[Citation]

One thing that might help is to put a rubber hose between the air filter and the head. I haven't tried it with that compressor but it seems like it could make a difference. With my CAT 5510 compressor the little bit of rubber hose coming out of the air filter really does help. Take a look at these videos.

I've been thinking about trying something like this with my father's 80 gallon. I was thinking just a loop of rubber hose then a bracket to mount the air filter somewhere else on the compressor.

Firebrick,
You are correct in that nothing short of a sound proof box is really going to make that compressor quiet, it's not really helpful to say "get a proper compressor". What counts as proper? For many people a compressor like that one can last a lifetime of weekends and after hours use.

 

[Firebrick43]

A proper one is one that meats your needs and expectations. A hf compressor may meet many people's needs, and I understand that.

But it doesn't meet the OP need for a quiet work envelope. A low speed pump is the surest way for a quiet compressor. Seen too many people buy cheap compressors, generators, and shop vacs and try to quiet them down by putting them in boxes. They over heat and they end up spending the money on a premium model in the end costing far more money and time if they would just start out with the proper model in the first place.

 

[Citation]

You have a point but this is a sub $200 compressor (I'm guessing). It's quite possible nothing else in the price range would work better and a higher price point may not be an option. I think there are at least some muffling options that would help.

 

[David0858]

georgegj

You have a point but this is a sub $200 compressor (I'm guessing). It's quite possible nothing else in the price range would work better and a higher price point may not be an option. I think there are at least some muffling options that would help.

$150. I have one and it is a good compressor but it is LOUD.

 

[Todd.Brock]

A Solberg style filter will help take some of the sharpness out of the sound. It will be loud, but at a lower pitch. Never thought of a garden hose

 

[RECox286]

You were warned ! Read all the posts you can beforehand.

Try trading it in for a oil lubricated model. Use an excuse

like "it doesn't give me enough volume to run my _______."

Uncle Bob

 

[rpcraft]

I have the same HF compressor. I'm praying for the day that it finally dies and forces me to look at a new compressor. Most of these I see are basically a large version of a pancake compressor, which are usually made for use it impromptu constructions sites and pretty noisy. I think they are often referred to as oil-less? I notice they still take oil so I am unsure what they really mean by that but what I have noticed is that traditionally the older style that have an electric motor and a belt driven pump are far quieter than even the best version of those oil-less self contained jobs. They take up a little more space but I know the next one I get will be one of those and my ears will be so much happier. My workspace is my apartment with an attached single garage. I'm fortunate enough to where I was able to snag an additional single garage next to it, so over the past couple of weeks I have spent time banishing it to the other garage and when I am in need of shop air I just sneak a hose out of that garage into my "working" garage, and then close the doors. I'm sure sooner or later it will bust my hose but I can deal with that headache when and if it arises, lol.

 

[yamaha0343]

got sucked-in to a super deal

I can not stand the noise level when running.

apparently not that great a deal.

 

[Citation]

You were warned ! Read all the posts you can beforehand.

Try trading it in for a oil lubricated model. Use an excuse

like "it doesn't give me enough volume to run my _______."

Uncle Bob

The OP's compressor is oil lubricated.
Anyway, for about the same money Menards is selling a 10 gallon California Air Tools compressor that is rated at 5.3 CFM @ 90 psi.

The CAT is oil free and very quiet.
https://slickdeals.net/f/9895000-ca...s-b-m-down-from-299-expires-3-25-17?t=9895000

 

[Citation]

I have the same HF compressor. I'm praying for the day that it finally dies and forces me to look at a new compressor. Most of these I see are basically a large version of a pancake compressor, which are usually made for use it impromptu constructions sites and pretty noisy. I think they are often referred to as oil-less? I notice they still take oil so I am unsure what they really mean by that but what I have noticed is that traditionally the older style that have an electric motor and a belt driven pump are far quieter than even the best version of those oil-less self contained jobs. They take up a little more space but I know the next one I get will be one of those and my ears will be so much happier. My workspace is my apartment with an attached single garage. I'm fortunate enough to where I was able to snag an additional single garage next to it, so over the past couple of weeks I have spent time banishing it to the other garage and when I am in need of shop air I just sneak a hose out of that garage into my "working" garage, and then close the doors. I'm sure sooner or later it will bust my hose but I can deal with that headache when and if it arises, lol.

Oil-less compressors have a reputation for being very noisy. I don't think the fault is really that the compressors were oil free so much as that when they were first introduced you had a choice between the traditional belt driven pump + motor setup (the same setup you typically see on 60+ gallon compressors. Those have relatively slow speed pumps and make less noise vs the newly introduced oil-less models which were often high RPM pumps.

Then things like the direct drive oil lubed compressors we see in hand carry compressors as well as many of the HF compressors hit the market. They run just as fast as the oil-less and are almost as loud. But the reputation that oil-less means loud had already taken hold.

Compressors like the California Air Tools models (I don't think they actually do the design work) are oil free yet very quiet. It's all in how they (or the Chinese) design the pump and intake muffler.

 

[rpcraft]

I saw a review on a Home Depot Oil-less that does up to 175 PSI on a 30 gallon tank and the fellow was running it to recharge and power some tools. it sounded loads quieter than the HF junk and I think it was only around 299 USD. Not too shabby. He ran some of the 2 inch angle grinders on it and they ran very fast and didn't seem to draw down the tank fast. I figure combining something like that with my current extra tank, and also recycling the HF tank for additional volume will give me the ability to run a little longer withouot it kicking in too much as well. I'll just have to probably figure out a manifold to keep the pressure behind the new compressor's regulator, lol.

 

[yamaha0343]

I saw a review on a Home Depot Oil-less that does up to 175 PSI on a 30 gallon tank and the fellow was running it to recharge and power some tools. it sounded loads quieter than the HF junk and I think it was only around 299 USD. Not too shabby. He ran some of the 2 inch angle grinders on it and they ran very fast and didn't seem to draw down the tank fast. I figure combining something like that with my current extra tank, and also recycling the HF tank for additional volume will give me the ability to run a little longer withouot it kicking in too much as well. I'll just have to probably figure out a manifold to keep the pressure behind the new compressor's regulator, lol.

I have this one at home, and it works great for my uses. Noise level isn't bad at all.

It's a good bit quieter than my 1gal compressor.