Muffling Air Compressor

[DCarr]

I bought a new Husky Compressor, 60 gal. vertical tank standard oil type compressor. When I first turned it on I was floored by how loud it was. Just as noisy as an oilless type.

I have never looked for what made a compressor noisey or quiet. My old(er) 30 gal. portable is a Black " Craftsman Industrial " and is very ... very quiet. So I rolled it out and noticed the Muffler on the air intake, my new one had nothing there but the filter material.

So to try and lower the noise from the new one I bought 2 new filter/mufflers that fit my Craftsman. Machined a piece of 1/4" x 1 1/2" steel to fit in the place of the stock filter.

Drilled and tapped 2 holes for 1/2" NPT, put 2 - 90* fittings in it and screwed the new muffler / filters in and installed it.

It cut the noise down to about 1/3 of what it was .... I'll be able to keep this compressor afterall. The 2 mufflers cost approx. 38$ shipped.

 

[Fixnair]

Good thinking! Necessity is the mother of invention.

 

[Daddy454]

Hey man,got any info on where to get/what kind of filters those are? I have the same comp.,and that looks like something I would like to try.

 

[64 lane]

Same here. My was missing when I bought it. Haven't used it.

 

[DCarr]

Hey man,got any info on where to get/what kind of filters those are? I have the same comp.,and that looks like something I would like to try.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00153AIMQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20


http://www.mastertoolrepair.com/filter-inlet-solberg-p-22593.html

 

[DCarr]

I went through a few differant designs in my head before I came up with this one. First thought was using a solid chunk of metal I was going to Mill a " Plenum " into, then a piece of 2" x 1" rect. tube that I was going to mill the backside out of ..... then I ended up with this. I had the material already so it was pretty simple.

I'm very happy with the noise reduction I ended with. But of course ... am thinking of how to make it quieter, a larger muffler of course. I dont think there is to much more to be gained.

I had to using silicone to hold the plate in place, the head casting isnt straight or even on both sides. It fit real tight when I first installed it, but loosened up quickly and allowed the air to go around it.

 

[Daddy454]

Thanks brutha.

 

[welder4956]

I went through a few differant designs in my head before I came up with this one. First thought was using a solid chunk of metal I was going to Mill a " Plenum " into, then a piece of 2" x 1" rect. tube that I was going to mill the backside out of ..... then I ended up with this. I had the material already so it was pretty simple.

I'm very happy with the noise reduction I ended with. But of course ... am thinking of how to make it quieter, a larger muffler of course. I dont think there is to much more to be gained.

I had to using silicone to hold the plate in place, the head casting isnt straight or even on both sides. It fit real tight when I first installed it, but loosened up quickly and allowed the air to go around it.

I am so stealing this idea. I just ordered 2 filters and am working on the plate to mount them to. What thickness of plate did you use for the plate and did you groove the ends to match the compressor slot? The slot on mine appears to be just under 1/2". I could probably sand the ends on the belt sander to fit tight.

 

[DCarr]

I am so stealing this idea. I just ordered 2 filters and am working on the plate to mount them to. What thickness of plate did you use for the plate and did you groove the ends to match the compressor slot? The slot on mine appears to be just under 1/2". I could probably sand the ends on the belt sander to fit tight.

I used a piece of 1/4" cold rolled plate I had.

I milled it down on the ends to fit in the thinner outside slot.

 

[welder4956]

Thanks. I was thinking about doing something like that, but was worried about that thin slot.

I may chisel or burr it out to use a thicker plate.

 

[yhprum]

I had this model compressor too. It had the single filter with about a 5/8 diameter inlet hole. So as an expriment, I happened to have a three foot section of garden hose that fit exactly into the hole. It took almost all the compressor noise away and didnt seem to adversely affect the operation or restrict the air that was noticeable. I meant to do more with it but sold the compressor not long after when I moved. I will try it again, it worked that well.

 

[gapfast]

Nice fix! Thanks for sharing!
I learn something every time I log on!!

 

[88thunder]

OP: With the new Husky compressors, what does the head inlet/intake hole look like? Are there 2 holes or 1? Would there be enough meat in the head to NPT Tap it so you could screw the mufflers directly into the port? Do you happen to have a picture of the head without the filter element or mufflers on it?

I'm curious because I was going to get this compressor, but am very wary now that you can't just screw in the mufflers, like most other compressors.

Thanks

 

[DCarr]

OP: With the new Husky compressors, what does the head inlet/intake hole look like? Are there 2 holes or 1? Would there be enough meat in the head to NPT Tap it so you could screw the mufflers directly into the port? Do you happen to have a picture of the head without the filter element or mufflers on it?

I'm curious because I was going to get this compressor, but am very wary now that you can't just screw in the mufflers, like most other compressors.

Thanks

There is a big rectangle opening w/ the filter in it ... probably 4" x 1 1/2"

Thats why I made the plate.

Heres a pic of the head from above. The inlet is at the bottom.

 

[sophijo]

....mount the unit on hockey pucks; 1/2 lag bold through foot into puck. Drill pilot first. It'll cut another 10-15% off noise level and dampen vibration in unit (fatigue).

 

[Gary S]

Has anybody seen any tests on how much quieter mufflers affect CFM of the compressor? I'd consider doing something to my compressor if I knew I wasn't hurting the compressor CFM.
I have an Eagle compressor that isn't very noisy until the pressure increases and the belt guard starts to vibrate and make noise. I'm going to make some noise dampening struts to stiffen the guard to keep it quiet. After that, I'd also consider intake mufflers, but only if they don't kill the compressor performance.

 

[noboD]

....mount the unit on hockey pucks; 1/2 lag bold through foot into puck. Drill pilot first. It'll cut another 10-15% off noise level and dampen vibration in unit (fatigue).

That works too. And use some PVC pipe and a few fittings to run it up above your suspended ceiling and put your filters/mufflers up there. Most noise is from the intake, put it above the ceiling. I jumped up to 1 1/2 or 2 inch, I forget, so there's less restriction then used a car aircleaner as a filter. Another noisey thing is teh check valve. If it's a metal, take the cap off where the spring is and put a wheel cylinder cup in there as a cushion.

 

[DirtRoad]

I have the same compressor.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191751&highlight=husky

I wanted to do this really bad but i have no way to make the plate. Pretty disappointed about it.

This compressor is way more quite than my 33 gallon oiless i had. I dont know why everyone thinks these compressors are loud.

 

[DCarr]

Has anybody seen any tests on how much quieter mufflers affect CFM of the compressor? I'd consider doing something to my compressor if I knew I wasn't hurting the compressor CFM.
I have an Eagle compressor that isn't very noisy until the pressure increases and the belt guard starts to vibrate and make noise. I'm going to make some noise dampening struts to stiffen the guard to keep it quiet. After that, I'd also consider intake mufflers, but only if they don't kill the compressor performance.

Thats why I put 2 filters / mufflers on mine. The compressor the muffler came from puts out approx. 7.5 CFM @ 90 PSI, The unit pictured puts out 11.5 CFM @ 90 PSI. My thinking is if 1 filter will support 7.5, 2 should be good for 11.5. The filters I used say they are rated at 10 SCFM.

The first project I used the compressor on after the mufflers were installed was to do some sand blasting and I didnt notice any difference at all.

 

[padronanniversary]

The other option is to use a silencer and a air filter. This works really good

 

[BJ42LX]

Figure it out yourself. Get a stop watch. Start the tank at zero and run it up until shut-off. Compare that to the run-up time when using the muffler system. How much extra run-up time is acceptable to you?

About 50% of the noise of my compressor is the sheet metal belt guard. After mucking around with it a few times I gave up and just took it off.

Has anybody seen any tests on how much quieter mufflers affect CFM of the compressor? I'd consider doing something to my compressor if I knew I wasn't hurting the compressor CFM.
I have an Eagle compressor that isn't very noisy until the pressure increases and the belt guard starts to vibrate and make noise. I'm going to make some noise dampening struts to stiffen the guard to keep it quiet. After that, I'd also consider intake mufflers, but only if they don't kill the compressor performance.

 

[E.rodz]

here is another idea for you this is the intake system for my 5 hp compressor moved the intake into another room from were the compressor is mounted.it is a couple of new glass pack mufflers with a air filter mounted on it.the compressor is mounted in a sound box as well with a couple fans and a thermostat to trigger the fans on.

 

[Big-Foot]

Erik you have some of the coolest ideas! I gotta make it by your shop sometime when I'm up in the Twin Cities,,,

 

[DCarr]

here is another idea for you this is the intake system for my 5 hp compressor moved the intake into another room from were the compressor is mounted.it is a couple of new glass pack mufflers with a air filter mounted on it.the compressor is mounted in a sound box as well with a couple fans and a thermostat to trigger the fans on.

How much noise do you hear at the air filter ?

 

[Fixnair]

You guys need to be aware of the overhanging weight. Support the outboard end else you will wear out the pipe threads or the aluminum casting that supports one end of the device.

 

[E.rodz]

Erik you have some of the coolest ideas! I gotta make it by your shop sometime when I'm up in the Twin Cities,,,

Thanks Randy if your going to come up give me a heads up ahead of time because I have a fulltime job also so I am not allways there.

How much noise do you hear at the air filter ?

I temp. put the intake in that room the aircompressor was on the other side of the wall and it just had a car air cleaner on it .the other side the compressor was on was now quite and the side with the intake on it was way loud! now with the glass pack mufflers on it it is super quite both sides you can have a conversation with someone next to either and not raise your voice! I wish I would have done this years ago.!

 

[Diverbill45]

When I got my Eagle compressor, the first thing I did was remove the belt guard and use some thin weather stripping that is sticky on one side. Placed the guard back on and when you tighten the screws down and the weather stripping compresses, you'll solve part of the noise problem.

To quiet down the intake noise problem, I'm going to add some hose to the intake filters and run them outside to another, much larger, filter mounted on a bracket attached to the outside wall, of the shop.

As soon as I build the WELL INSULATED compressor room, on the side of the shop, I'll mount the compressor on some rubber vibration dampers and with this and the above mentioned improvments, this should fix most all of the noise problems.

 

[Trey T]

Did you make any note of the before and after the extension of the intake? I'm curious if there's any impact against the performance of the pump.

...
I temp. put the intake in that room the aircompressor was on the other side of the wall and it just had a car air cleaner on it .the other side the compressor was on was now quite and the side with the intake on it was way loud! now with the glass pack mufflers on it it is super quite both sides you can have a conversation with someone next to either and not raise your voice! I wish I would have done this years ago.!

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

The other option is to use a silencer and a air filter. This works really good

Is that a standard exhaust inline silencer? I have been contemplating a simple automotive muffler with the inlet through the outside garage wall.

 

[Steevo]

I have been watching for a deal on an automotive air intake assembly to use as both filter and silencer. They have all kinds of baffles and bends and twists to silence the intake flow, plus readily available and cheap air filters at any auto parts store. I figure I'll couple the air box to the intake post on my pump using a section of heavy duty vacuum cleaner hose, which further breaks up sound with all the ribs in it.
I am just too cheap to pay $40 for an air box/intake and am waiting for a steal of a deal to come along.

 

[DirtRoad]

Man im jealous, i dont have any way to make a plate in order to put on a new filter system.

 

[nickleone]

The larger SOLBERG filters/silencers will silence it even more.
I assembled compressor packages in a past life and the much larger SOLBERG filter/silencers made a big difference. Look at about a 6 inch diameter filter for a 5 horse compressor. On the bottom of the SOLBERG units some have 4 hole some 6 holes for inlet. Same size unit with more holes makes a quiter compressor. More silence costs
more money.

Nick

 

[DCarr]

The larger SOLBERG filters/silencers will silence it even more.
I assembled compressor packages in a past life and the much larger SOLBERG filter/silencers made a big difference. Look at about a 6 inch diameter filter for a 5 horse compressor. On the bottom of the SOLBERG units some have 4 hole some 6 holes for inlet. Same size unit with more holes makes a quiter compressor. More silence costs
more money.

Nick

I looked for a larger one and couldnt find one. They have all been called " miniture ".

Do you have any part numbers ??

 

[DCarr]

I found some larger filter / mufflers on Solbergs website ...... some are listed as " 3/4 " MPT " ... wth is MPT ... Metric Pipe Thread ? .. If so, .. in 3/4" ????

http://www.solbergmfg.com/ViewSeriesDetail.aspx?SeriesId=1&src=hscroll

 

[88thunder]

Look up "solberg silencer" on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=solberg+silencer&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asolberg+silencer). Lot's of choices, and most tell you the product dimensions. I'm in the same boat as DirtRoad, as I was finally going to purchase a 60 gallon Husky, and they go and change the head design so that I can't make it as quiet as possible...argh!

 

[88thunder]

I have been watching for a deal on an automotive air intake assembly to use as both filter and silencer. They have all kinds of baffles and bends and twists to silence the intake flow, plus readily available and cheap air filters at any auto parts store. I figure I'll couple the air box to the intake post on my pump using a section of heavy duty vacuum cleaner hose, which further breaks up sound with all the ribs in it.
I am just too cheap to pay $40 for an air box/intake and am waiting for a steal of a deal to come along.

How about 36.00 for a complete "cold air intake." http://www.ebay.com/itm/DODGE-PLYMOUTH-NEON-RT-ACR-SOHC-DOHC-2-0-2-0L-COLD-AIR-INTAKE-1995-1996-1997-99-/370666761879?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ANeon&hash=item564d75ee97&vxp=mtr
Your post reminded me of these cheap kits for neons as they are a popular mod for 2.9L rangers(I had an '89).

 

[kams1973]

I made the same modification to my compressor a while back. In my opinion, one filter is more that enough. I also used high temp silicone to seal up the top plate.

 

[padronanniversary]

Is that a standard exhaust inline silencer? I have been contemplating a simple automotive muffler with the inlet through the outside garage wall.

Both the air filter assembly and silencer are soldberg. Made a hell of a difference.

 

[timewarp]

I found some larger filter / mufflers on Solbergs website ...... some are listed as " 3/4 " MPT " ... wth is MPT ... Metric Pipe Thread ? .. If so, .. in 3/4" ????

http://www.solbergmfg.com/ViewSeriesDetail.aspx?SeriesId=1&src=hscroll

Male pipe thread

 

[Steevo]

How about 36.00 for a complete "cold air intake." http://www.ebay.com/itm/DODGE-PLYMO...s&fits=Model:Neon&hash=item564d75ee97&vxp=mtr
Your post reminded me of these cheap kits for neons as they are a popular mod for 2.9L rangers(I had an '89).

I'd rather have the stock intake and air filter box that these guys take off to put their "performance" intakes on. Nobody spends more time and money on silencing intake noise than car manufacturers.