Mounting air compressor

[Robert 2006]

When permanently mounting a portable air compressor did you provide some kind of shock mount, to keep vibration down? If so I am looking for ideas/photos.
Thanks Robert

 

[Motofixxer]

Best way is to do a search. I have heard of people using hockey pucks, or sections of rubber mats like for horse stables etc.

 

[jk1219]

I just installed an Ingersol Rand 60 gal in my garage and put down a rubber mat, then some rubber furniture feet that I found at Home Depot (they were about 3/4") and then used concrete anchors to bolt it down. Seems to work well but I think I'm going to use hockey pucks to replace what I have - looked for these when I installed it but they're hard to find in Austin! Hope this helps.

 

[Zrexxer]

Why are you permanently mounting a portable compressor? Just set it where it needs to be and call it good.

In mounting a stationary compressor, there are a ton of options for vibration isolators. I'm not a fan of the hockey puck idea but as jk1219 said above they're about impossible to find in central Texas anyway.

I used some very nice, dense vibration isolators I found at Home Depot designed for front-load washers. They're heavy and well capable of supporting the weight of my 80 gallon Champion vertical.

 

[Jazz]

Try these from Grainger. Only $5.77 each.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/Cylindrical-Vibration-Isolator-2NPG6?Pid=search

 

[1931S/X]

i put my 20 hgallon in the garage attic. the sound was transfering through the plywood and joist it was kind of annoying not much better than having it down on the floor. a few weeks ago i put some 1" foam i found on the job under the foot and wheels, it worked great but it compressed the foam pretty good so i put some scrap 2x4s in between the compressor and foam and it is so much better. i was looking as modifying the intake to pipe it up to a normal filter isntead of the sponge but im not sur eif its worth it.

 

[Marty256]

Have an 80 gallon 7.5 horse US General. It just sits on the concrete floor. It's been there for several years now and hasn't moved an inch.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I have learned on this forum to never ask "why" when someone asks a question like "mounting air compressor". What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business. However, if you tie it down real well before you try mounting it, it will have a hard time running away.

Just make sure you keep your "little buddy" away from the sharp edges or the moving parts that can cause rather permanent damage. Another thing to note, most municipalities have laws against mounting your compressor and you may be charged as a ****** deviant if caught.

Because of those laws, make sure you lock the garage door before you start sticking your hose into the coupler......You never know who could walk in......Remember, what goes on in the garage, stays in the garage....

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

All joking aside, mine is just sitting on 4 casters and has not walked away in two years. I do have an 80 gallon horizontal tank instead of a vertical though.

 

[yzair]

I have mine on rubber isolators with redheads into concrete.the isolators have steel plates molded to them sorta like motor mounts. My compressor is a 80 gal eaton. I think I got em @ Grainger. .I think it keeps the stress off the welds @ start up and shutdown helps with noise as well

 

[E.Marquez]

Directly mounted IR 80 Gal compressor to concrete floor. Noise is not an issue in my shop.. The grinders, lathe, Mil or welder drown out the noise.

 

[e-tek]

In the last thread on this subject, it seemed most guys left their 60 gal machines on the pallets they where delivered on. But you said it's a portable machine - is it on wheels and you want to remove them? If that's the case, then I'd use those rubber blocks shown above on the front legs and leave the wheels on the back.

 

[james_98188]

I've decided to bolt my 60 gal IR compressor to the ground - loosely, on vibration isolators. Clearance would be a little tight if left on the pallet, and the one mine came on was pretty beat up anyway, and besides...it's so top heavy I'd feel better with it bolted down.

Anyway, looking at 1/2 wedge anchor specs, the least amount of penetration they recommend is 2 1/2 inches. The vibration isolators are about 1/4 in. thick, and my IR's feet are about 1 1/8 high. The overpriced IR installation kit comes with 4 in foundation bolts. 4" - 1 1/8" - 2 1/2" - 1/4" = 1/8" for a nut and a washer.

Not that I was going to buy the overpriced IR kit anyway, but WTF? Oh well, I guess I''ll just order the insulators elsewhere, measure the stackup, and figure out the length of hardware I'll need.

In the last thread on this subject, it seemed most guys left their 60 gal machines on the pallets they where delivered on. But you said it's a portable machine - is it on wheels and you want to remove them? If that's the case, then I'd use those rubber blocks shown above on the front legs and leave the wheels on the back.

 

[JakeKohl]

I used four rubber isolation mounts from Mcmaster.com the part I used is 9376K26 and I mounted several threaded couplings in my concrete floor, threaded these in, and then walked the compressor up on them. A couple of nuts and it was all good - works terrifically. I had the compressor on it's wood pallet for several years and I could hear/feel the compressor kick on in my bedroom (vibration through the slab) ... the isolation mounts really made it much more quite in that regard.

If I were ordering them again, I may choose a slightly stiffer mount as the compressor is allowed to wiggle around a bit if you push it. It doesn't move much while running, however...so it's good.

 

[KCarGuy]

I have the same McMaster Mounts at JakeKohl wrote about.
They are threaded, so the Compressor Mounts to them.
Then, I have a Room in the corner of my Garage that the compressor sits inside...with a Wooden Raised Floor.
Once my Compressor (with Pads) was placed inside...I screwed some wood trim around each pad, into the wood floor.
The wood floor adds as an Isolator, as the pads do, and it does Not move at all, until I want it to. (plus, I close the door...and its Ultra Quite)

 

[Herb67SS]

Sure would like to see a picture of that room config. Thinking about doing a similar thing.

 

[Falcon67]

Pads under the feet and under the skid are cut from a TSC stall blanket. When the compressor runs, there is almost zero vibration transmitted to the floor.

Sits in a little closet

 

[Vettman]

I used hockey pucks (sporting goods stores stock them)

 

[james_98188]

The floor's beautiful!

 

[samert111]

Hockey pucks here

 

[Falcon67]

I used hockey pucks (sporting goods stores stock them)

LOL - not in the south. No hockey rinks within 100's of miles.

 

[darkk]

LOL - not in the south. No hockey rinks within 100's of miles.

Got internet?

 

[lateracer]

LOL - not in the south. No hockey rinks within 100's of miles.

Dallas has 2 hockey teams.

 

[Steevo]

Dallas has 2 hockey teams.

And that's just 199 miles from Merkel . . . .

 

[gatchel]

I also used a stall blanket from Tractor Supply. Cut down and doubled up. Works well.

 

[Grease Punk]

I got rubber mallets from sears that are a little softer than pucks. Cut the ends off and sanded them flat. Made large fender washers for the tops and counter sunk mounting bolts with washers on bottom. Mounted them to comp legs, did not mount to floor. I put marks around the feet and it has not moved in four years. This is on a vertical 80 gallon Eaton compressor.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I took the wheels off mine, cut a 2x4 to go under the wheel bracket to make it sit level & sat it under my bench on 4 of these:



Hasn't moved a millimeter...


https://www.grainger.com/product/MASON-Pad-5C027?s_pp=false

Tommy

 

[C96]

I just used these, quick simple and available at Home Depot.
The pads measure 3¼” square x 1¼” thick. My compressor is an 80 gal SB that weighs 648 pounds. It’s not bolted down just resting on the pads. The pads carry the weight just fine; the compressor is stable and has not moved at all.

 

[Art From De Leon]

My Snap-on 80 gallon vertical, has rubber isolation bushings between the motor/compressor mountings and the tank. It just set on the concrete and never moved.

 

[rburke65]

Google is your friend!

 

[zcar751]

I cut out some pads from an old mine conveyor belt. It provides just enough to keep the vibrations at a minimum. If your permanently mounting a "portable" compressor you will probably want to remove the wheels and replace with some sort of feet. I know my portable will wonder all over the shop, well at least as far as the power cord will go.

 

[1190R]

I just used these, quick simple and available at Home Depot.
The pads measure 3¼” square x 1¼” thick. My compressor is an 80 gal SB that weighs 648 pounds. It’s not bolted down just resting on the pads. The pads carry the weight just fine; the compressor is stable and has not moved at all.

Hi c96. How exactly did you bolt them to your compressor and have you noticed any wear/breakdown?

 

[CompressorPros.com]

Lowe's and Home Depot tend to sell vibration pads for compressors, typically with a hole in the middle for a bolt. Most of them are nothing more than a square of rubber 1/2" thick or a little thicker.

 

[Trey T]

Can you explain how you made the connection b/t the pad and the compressor?

I just used these, quick simple and available at Home Depot.
The pads measure 3¼” square x 1¼” thick. My compressor is an 80 gal SB that weighs 648 pounds. It’s not bolted down just resting on the pads. The pads carry the weight just fine; the compressor is stable and has not moved at all.

...

 

[fnieto]

Mason Isolation pads (4"x4") from ZoroTools.com 8 bucks each.
shoved the bolt from the bottom side of pad (1/2" below flush) snugged nut from top. I did have to open up the rubber pad side with a 1" hole saw for the bolt head to rest against the steel plate from the bottom side.
Works very well.

 

[C96]

Hi c96. How exactly did you bolt them to your compressor and have you noticed any wear/breakdown?

Can you explain how you made the connection b/t the pad and the compressor?

Hi 1190R and Trey T

Well, since you asked, here goes:

I just used Red Head ½” wedge anchors because I had them on hand and welded on a thick flat washer to the bottom of it. The flat washers I used matched up perfectly with the depression in the top of the vibration pads and they just rest inside the depressed pocket area. At the compressor leg, a double nut attachment was used so each leg can be adjusted independently keeping the compressor level and plumb. There is no physical attachment between the welded on washer and the vibration pad, nor is there an attachment between the vibration pad and concrete floor. The compressor with the attached adjustable legs just rests on top of the pads.

Let me tell you that this made a significant change in the overall sound of the compressor since it is completely isolated from the concrete. It is now a much softer sounding unit as opposed to when it was resting on the concrete floor. I am very happy with the results from using these pads.

I can also tell you that the compressor has not moved at all whatsoever and the pads are holding up just fine, no sign of fatigue, or breakdown at all.

Here is a thread I posted regarding the pads back in March titled (A little something for the air compressor guys….) if you’re interested.

 

[vonhef]

I bought these at:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-vibration-control-levelers/=t5u2zr

 

[1Garageman]

I bought these at:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-vibration-control-levelers/=t5u2zr

Now that you have had these mounts for a while, how well do you like them? I desperately need to get something for my air compressor!

 

[sberry]

I just got a dowel in the floor to keep them from moving, or the main does but mine are on skids that move with a pallet jack.