My Noisy Sears Craftsman Air Compressor

[TwoInch]

i just cant imagine the rule is that strict. i have seen some strict rules, but even then it was more like " any loud noise, like lawn mowers, machinery, tools, etc.. can only be used between 9am and 6pm, and blah blah blah on saturday/sunday"

how do you people mow your lawns or whack weeds? they require electric mowers? can you trim your trees with anything other than a hand saw?

 

[Danglerb]

My condo isn't so much strict about noise as it is strict about doing anything that might make noise. You are not supposed to work on cars even in your own garage, so if you make noise doing it, they go after you for doing repairs.

Other thing is that lots of people work nights and sleep during the day.

I've ended up buying lots of cordless tools to avoid using the air compressor.

 

[bull_duck]

..., what happens when you mow the lawn? ...?

Thank you all for these comments.

Regarding mowing the lawn ... Most subdivisions created in the last ten years are covenant controlled and restricted. One gives up some property rights, and in return receive higher property value increments, and a guarantee of less intrusion by others in a moderate to high density urban environment. But that trade off is not for everyone.

One can always choose to live somewhere else, and not buy in. Mowing the lawn is necessary to be in compliance. Maintaining the lawn and house is a requirement. Running an impact wrench or 94db air compressor for hours a day, week after week, month after month, is neither necessary nor a requirement.

If I intended to perform mechanical work of the type that requires a 90 gal air compressor, then I would rent appropriate space and set up shop, or move to a ten acre site. Instead, my intentions are merely to do some minor occasional mechanical work like remove the rotors from the wheels of my household's three Harley motorcycles. I don't want to annoy or encroach on my neighbors space, and I expect them to behave similarly, and they do. Those that don't move or don't buy in. Other neighborhoods are different.

 

[DirtRoad]

If your a DIY type guy why would you buy a condo or HOA?
Did you guys discover you enjoyed these things after you bought the place?

 

[bull_duck]

I find amazing that no standards exist to measure air compressor loudness. And yet, reading about air compressors on the Internet manufactures use words like "QUIET" and "ULTRA QUIET." Clearly there is demand, and deceit. When asked to disclose the db, manuf or resellers hide behind the skirts of "no sound standard measurements exist so we are not going to report the db."

This is nonsense. In my OP I revealed the db of my compressor at five feet, measured with a FREE APP on my iPhone. When you buy an air compressor you don't sign a non disclosure agreement not to reveal the db. If another reasonable distance is thought to be better, if another APP is better, or other acoustical information is necessary for comparability, then the smartness shown on this forum can certainly adopt some standards.

 

[bull_duck]

If your a DIY type guy why would you buy a condo or HOA?
Did you guys discover you enjoyed these things after you bought the place?

Absolutely love the neighborhood. Will not move. If I want to expand my DIY hobby, then I can rent space where it is appropriate.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I haven't read all of the responses but it sounds like this is what you are looking for:

http://www.jun-air.com/product_detail.aspx?ProductID=638&ProductTypeID=50

They make several models of various cfm ratings and tank sizes. I have used them in the lab before and they are very quite.

Be prepared to spend ridiculous amounts of money however.

The other option is a dental compressor. I would look at industrial auctions for a used one.

 

[TwoInch]

One can always choose to live somewhere else, and not buy in. Mowing the lawn is necessary to be in compliance. Maintaining the lawn and house is a requirement. Running an impact wrench or 94db air compressor for hours a day, week after week, month after month, is neither necessary nor a requirement.

If I intended to perform mechanical work of the type that requires a 90 gal air compressor, then I would rent appropriate space and set up shop, or move to a ten acre site. Instead, my intentions are merely to do some minor occasional mechanical work like remove the rotors from the wheels of my household's three Harley motorcycles.

see that makes sense. if you planned on using these tools day in and day out, it would make sense to spends tons of time and money to find the quietest tools and equipment available.... in any neighborhood.

but doing an hour or two of work every once in a while..? to each there own i guess.

 

[bull_duck]

see that makes sense. if you planned on using these tools day in and day out, it would make sense to spends tons of time and money to find the quietest tools and equipment available.... in any neighborhood.
but doing an hour or two of work every once in a while..? to each there own i guess.

What I wanted was recommendations on air compressors that are quiet, and information on their db rating. My taste preferences are for a quiet air compressor. Given price, quality, capability, I would choose the more quiet tool. That companies promote "Quiet" reveals I am not the only one with this preference. Yes, to each their own. Birds of a feather, ...

I believe it is reasonable for vendors and manufacturers to post their db. "Truth in product claims."

It would be an appreciated service of forum members to post the db of their air compressors which can in turn be used by folks like me, and to corroborate manufacturers and vendors claims. I began a thread on that topic.

The reaction here reveals that even having asked the question "what is the db" to be shocking, disrespectful of what it is to be a DIYer.

I want to know what I am buying. Neighborhood came up because some questioned why I would want a quiet air compressor. I want a quiet air compressor; I sold the Sears Craftsman because 94db of noise is painful to me.

My purchase of a Sears Craftsman was an unsatisfactory consumption; many on this forum report the same experience. Though others likely view the same tool as highly desirable; to each his own, ... may they flock together ... elsewhere.

 

[DirtRoad]

Man, its just noise, no ones gonna die.

The compressor i posted, that i bought and use every chance i get was 68db at 6 feet away. It is now 63db at 6 feet away after adding two mufflers to it. Checked with two different apps on my phone. The compressor is also in a corner, i bet it would be closer to 60db if i didnt have it in the corner.

 

[bull_duck]

...
The compressor i posted, that i bought and use every chance i get was 68db at 6 feet away. It is now 63db at 6 feet away after adding two mufflers to it. Checked with two different apps on my phone. The compressor is also in a corner, i bet it would be closer to 60db if i didnt have it in the corner.

THAT is good information. Your "Husky 60 gallon single stage, 11.5cfms at 90psi ..."

I was looking at the same air compressor today at Home Depot today.

db is logarithmic, so the difference between 60s and 90s in a small garage space is the difference between keeping your ability to hear or not. 'course some don't care about that; to each his own.

 

[Gregg33]

I remember when I had my oil-less Cambell Hausfeld in my Mom's garage and how happy she was when I forgot to shut it off and it would kick in at 3am! I still got it though, over 15 years old and still going strong, and I've used it a fair bit. Definitely doesn't owe me at this point. Oil-less' are always noisey.

 

[TwoInch]

i got ya.

like i said earlier though, dont make a choice on SCFM at 90psi rating of the compressor and try to use that to compare it to air tool ratings of CFM at 90psi. they dont compute, and are not comparable. your new IR impact uses nearly 30 CFM at the tool at 90psi. you either need a compressor pulling really big SCFM, or a decent size tank(over 8 or 10 gallons at least) with those 5 SCFM at 90psi compressors, you will be waiting for it to fill up every two or three lug nuts.

 

[bull_duck]

i got ya.

like i said earlier though, dont make a choice on SCFM at 90psi rating of the compressor and try to use that to compare it to air tool ratings of CFM at 90psi. they dont compute, and are not comparable. your new IR impact uses nearly 30 CFM at the tool at 90psi. you either need a compressor pulling really big SCFM, or a decent size tank(over 8 or 10 gallons at least) with those 5 SCFM at 90psi compressors, you will be waiting for it to fill up every two or three lug nuts.

I appreciate your good advice. I did not know the pushing and pulling measurements were not comparable. Another obfuscation of data by the industry. I make no claims to be as knowledgeable as others on this forum in topics like this thread. Learning from others is the reason I am here. But it should not require a course in "air compressor 201" to select an air compressor that delivers what I want & need, most closely conforming to what I can budget for the purchase.

 

[mrborohachi]

check this post i made. I have a Devilbiss 20gal oiless and I rebuilt the piston/cylinder with the kit listed in my post. Your compressor is about the same age as mine and the rebuild kit did wonders cutting noise down by at least 1/3.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197844

 

[gte718p]

If you have money to burn, and are not planning on running it a ton Nitrogen is a good option. We had two nitrogen bottles on the pit cart for FSAE in college. They would actually run an impact for a good long time. Any continuous use tool, cut off wheel, sander, painting, would blow a tank in no time. Two bottles generally lasted a year, but they were only used when we were away from the shop practicing.

Initial outlay is similar or cheaper then a compressor. Its generally a couple of hundred dollars to buy a bottle and regulator. Around here its $40 bucks or so to fill a bottle. That varies wildly around the country.

Just a slightly an outside the box thought.

 

[CNGsaves]

Dental compressors will be best chance for you to get "Ultra Quiet" that appears you are wanting.

California Air 10 gal / 2 HP at Home Depot is around $450 and it's 70 db - - - I've seen just one of these on CL and it sold quickly for $275 (ie it was a dental office demo).

Curious if any GJer's out there have Jun-Air compressors that claim to be 58 db on their website? These have enough CFM to be useful? Cost?

OP post up YouTube video with sound on what your Sears does now . . . and then post up pictures and video with sound of your replacement compressor.

 

[bull_duck]

Dental compressors will be best chance for you to get "Ultra Quiet" that appears you are wanting.

California Air 10 gal / 2 HP at Home Depot is around $450 and it's 70 db - - - I've seen just one of these on CL and it sold quickly for $275 (ie it was a dental office demo).

Curious if any GJer's out there have Jun-Air compressors that claim to be 58 db on their website? These have enough CFM to be useful? Cost?

OP post up YouTube video with sound on what your Sears does now . . . and then post up pictures and video with sound of your replacement compressor.

Thanks for comments. I put my Sears Craftsman for sale on CL, sold in 24 hrs. If quiet were neither necessary nor desired, it would have been satisfactory. Not ready to put $2k toward a used dental compressor on eBay.