Need a quiet compressor!

[healey]

My old Cman 25 gal compressor cycled on last night around 2am, shaking the whole neighborhood and I was asked to find a replacement . Excellent. We're moving to a much smaller townhouse downtown in a few months and noise won't be as tolerated there.

I have the same old model most people seem to on Craigslist. 3.5 HP, 25 gallon, 8.5 cfm @ 40 psi, 6.8cfm @ 90 psi - oil-less / single stage - basically the loudest/cheapest model built by Craftsman for 25 years. I assume these numbers are all grossly inflated, but I'd like to keep as close as possible. My compressor is horizontal, but I'd prefer a vertical model (to save floor space).

Can anyone recommend a good vertical compressor with the key factor being noise? I assume I'll have to upgrade to a oiled 2 stage model. 20-25 gallons seems to be the ideal size for my uses (woodworking, rare mechanic air tools).

 

[930dreamer]

A dental compressor will be the quietest one, not sure of your use?

 

[Roberts210]

You might consider building a cabinet around whatever kind you get, but the problem with that is it has to have air circulation to cool the compressor as well as a draw for the intake. Yes, Craftsman always inflates the h.p. numbers on it's tools. It's much more accurate if you take a look at how many amps it draws and compare amperage draw instead of H.P.

 

[General Geoff]

A quality two stage compressor should run a lot quieter than your oilless, single stage unit. They tend to be bigger than 25 gal though, usually closer to 60 gal. If you can swing a grand, you can get a pretty nice unit.

And yeah, try building a sound-insulated enclosure with good ventilation/air intake for whatever you go with. Should reduce noise levels significantly.

 

[On-Wheel]

I read here about one called California something ? Rumor has it there quiet.But someone thought they didn't produce air very fast.Might be worth doing some research on it.I have an old Quincy that's very quiet.A one stage QR-106 duplex.It might even be quieter than office chatter? Lol

 

[Blazinzuk]

It's not so much single stage vs two stage, it's oiless vs oiled.

Look for low rpm. I have put air intakes on to help quite a compressor down.

Enclosure is best though. A friend did one for his 3 HP 25 gallon oiled compressor. It's hard to even know its on

 

[theoldwizard1]

California Air Tools !

Search this forum and Google. They really are quiet and more durable than your average oil-less compressor.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Put it on a timer so it doesn't have the opportunity to cycle at night.

 

[gdocktor3]

Yea I have a small tankless compressor I got from a friend that is soooo loud its unreal. Anyways I built a box for it out of MDF board and then filled the corners with expandable foam. There are two small holes drilled in for power cord and the hose that provide enough air flow. It may be cheaper to try something like that before buying a whole new unit.

As mentioned you can put it on a timer, but really that compressor should be off and the tank drained to prevent it from rusting out.

 

[fatfillup]

Oiless compressors always seem loud. A belt driven compressor is the way to go, and the slower the rpm the better but that normally raises cost. Definitely unplug it when not in use though I wouldn't drain it, just drain the water off the bottom now and then depending on usage and humidity level.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Is there any reason you can't turn the breaker off at night?

The oiless CM ones are very loud. I had one where I used to work and it sucked. Oil is the way to go for sure. I have a smaller Speedaire too which is pretty quiet. It is more of a back up since I got my 60 gallon.

 

[franzdom]

I have a ball **** before the hose and it never cycles when the valve is shut.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Oiled is not the only part of the equation. Direct drive and high Rpms contribute to noise. As stated above- belt driven and low RPM are the keys -as well as a good intake silencer to helping reduce noise. You are going to have a hard time getting that compressor to an acceptable level. I you tubed a few California Air compressor videos and they seemed pretty damn quiet. I have never seen one personally though. I have an 80 gallon champion and that is slow and quiet. It doesn't sound like you have the need for something that large. I would really look at the California stuff b/c it does look pretty dang quiet. I too have had the compressor cycle on. I am adamant about having the pressure switch to OFF until I need my compressor. I do have to wait for it to fill back up( has a leak I can't find) but it's not going off at night. Good luck!

 

[Voi]

I bought one of the California Air Tools 5.5 gallon horizontal compressors when Menards had them for $139 around the holidays.

At $139 I'm glad to have it but at full price I think the money would have been better put into a sound proof cabinet and/or some sort of muffle system.

I think the CAT 20 gallon is really up there in price but based on my experience with the 5.5 I suspect it would be the quietest 20 gallon oil-less you can buy.

Years ago I had one of the Craftsman Professional horizontal compressors. Think it was around 33 gallons. It was made by Devilbiss at the time and was fairly quiet but more importantly the noise it made wasn't all that annoying.

Same or similar model is still around but I'm not sure who makes it. It was and is an oiled model, however. But there is a vertical model. If I had bought that instead of my horizontal I probably wouldn't have gone though some many compressors in the last decade.

 

[Hammell]

screw type compressors are very quiet

 

[redmondjp]

A Quincy 340, 350, 370 or 390 pump, running at the minimum pump speed of 400RPM, with intake muffler and/or remote intake. This will make for the quietest reciprocating two-stage compressor setup that you can find which also produces sufficient airflow for just about anything you might need in a home shop, while at a 100% duty cycle.

 

[firworks]

California Air Tools !

Search this forum and Google. They really are quiet and more durable than your average oil-less compressor.

I second that. They are really really quiet and I feel pretty well built.

I did a full review and some run tests on one of their smallest compressors:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1zkkLSiBv4E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you skip to ~5:56 you can see the comparison of the sound vs a regular crappy little air compressor. I can run it in my one car under house garage and not hear it on the other side of the door or in the den / bedrooms above.

Granted, you'd be looking at one of their larger compressor and so they will be louder but on a whole the CAT stuff is really quiet.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

We have a couple portable units that are relatively quiet. I have heard them run, and compared to most compressors this size, especially oil-less, these are quiet.

The BelAire 5026VP and the Chicago Pneumatic RCP-226VP are the same thing, just different branding.

We also have silent air compressors, but you pay more and get less air.

 

[TigerDude]

there are a couple of small Makitas ~$300 that are very quiet.

 

[healey]

Thanks for some of the suggestions guys. Looks like I should try to find a:

* belt driven
* 2 stage
* low RPM

Once I get a new compressor I'll try to add mufflers and a box around it (my current one vibrates so much it'll shake the house). I'd love to 'not know it's on'.

I'm looking at those Quincy models listed - the 340 is a 10hp unit?? There's no way I can power that in my garage!

I'll checkout the CAT units as well, the video review is good. I've only found them as horizontal units so far.

 

[Voi]

Thanks for some of the suggestions guys. Looks like I should try to find a:

* belt driven
* 2 stage
* low RPM

Once I get a new compressor I'll try to add mufflers and a box around it (my current one vibrates so much it'll shake the house). I'd love to 'not know it's on'.

I'll checkout the CAT units as well, the video review is good. I've only found them as horizontal units so far.

CAT makes a 10 gallon vertical, the 10020. Usually around $400 if you shop around. Might not be enough air for you.

I think you're on the right track with what you're looking for above and your plans to put it in a box and muffle it.

 

[oilslick]

A Quincy 340, 350, 370 or 390 pump, running at the minimum pump speed of 400RPM, with intake muffler and/or remote intake. This will make for the quietest reciprocating two-stage compressor setup that you can find which also produces sufficient airflow for just about anything you might need in a home shop, while at a 100% duty cycle.

you forgot 325

 

[firworks]

CAT makes a 10 gallon vertical, the 10020. Usually around $400 if you shop around. Might not be enough air for you.

I think you're on the right track with what you're looking for above and your plans to put it in a box and muffle it.

That's the one I was eyeing until I decided to go the other way and try to go all electric except for airing up tires.

 

[redmondjp]

Thanks for some of the suggestions guys. Looks like I should try to find a:

* belt driven
* 2 stage
* low RPM

Once I get a new compressor I'll try to add mufflers and a box around it (my current one vibrates so much it'll shake the house). I'd love to 'not know it's on'.

I'm looking at those Quincy models listed - the 340 is a 10hp unit?? There's no way I can power that in my garage!

I'll checkout the CAT units as well, the video review is good. I've only found them as horizontal units so far.

That Quincy number is for the compressor pump itself - the 340 model, at minimum RPM, can use a 5HP motor, or a 10HP motor at its maximum speed. You're going to fall over dead if you see the new price on one of these! There are plenty of compressor threads on the site here that go into detail on all of the various Quincy units out there. Using one of the larger pumps and spinning it slow is one of the best ways to achieve a quiet compressor.

 

[CSRPenFab]

I had a 25 gallon oil-less crapsman compressor that would wake the dead. I ditched it on Craigslist for $100 and bought the Aluminum CA Air Tools twin tank unit from Home Depot

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Californ...inum-Twin-Tank-Air-Compressor-4620A/202977405

It was about $100 cheaper in December and its $299 now. Worth every penny in my book. So quiet you can hold a conversation right next to it when running, and 20' away you won't even know it's running. Works perfect for my needs at my wood lathe bench and occasional air tool use.

 

[redmondjp]

you forgot 325

LOL! I actually have a 325, but at minimum pump RPM, it doesn't put out what I would consider enough air.

I'm talking low and slow here, with still enough CFM to continuously run high-flow air tools or a sandblasting cabinet.

My 325 has an intake silencer so it is the quietest compressor that I have, but it's spinning at 7xx RPM.

 

[On-Wheel]

he said 20-25 gallon .Once in blue moon for an impac and some small nail guns on occasion He doesn't need industrial 325 + for non stop sand blasting .Are those 340 and bigger really quieter than a 325 running 400 rpm?

Here's a funny one if you have a truck.Get a gas powered one and drive around the block.lol

 

[theoldwizard1]

Can anyone recommend a good vertical compressor with the key factor being noise? I assume I'll have to upgrade to a oiled 2 stage model. 20-25 gallons seems to be the ideal size for my uses (woodworking, rare mechanic air tools).

IMHO, this is OVERKILL for woodworking (?) and occasional pneumatic tools ! Get yourself a CAT and plumb in your old tank.

CAUTION !! CAT use a thread sealer that hardens like epoxy. It will easily snap brass fittings and possibly aluminum. A few seconds with a propane torch is all that is necessary to remove any fittings.

The stuff is similar to Loctite 567 thread sealer, which is the best I have found for hydraulic/pneumatic use.

 

[SMKS]

Make sure your air compressor doesn't turn on at 2 a.m. and the problem is solved. This can be easily accomplished by turning the compressor off or putting it on a timer.

I would say keep your current compressor and build a box or something around it.

If you want a new one, get belt drive. They aren't as loud.

 

[kylefitz]

I have a CAT air compressor and it is extremely quiet. Just a faint hum in the next room. Cheap and reliable from what I have read. I second the suggestion to plumb in the old compressor tank. My old loud as hell Craftsman compressor that rattled it's elf apart will be getting plumbed as a holding tank when I get around to it.

 

[Voi]

That's the one I was eyeing until I decided to go the other way and try to go all electric except for airing up tires.

I'm thinking the same thing, although I'd still like to pick up a smaller right angle die grinder. Still think air has the advantage there. I believe the CAT 10020 is borderline for some of those but I haven't checked in a while.

It would probably be better than my CAT 5.5 gallon for winterizing our cabin as well.

Enjoyed your review.

 

[BikerDad]

ANY noise in a new townhouse complex will not be tolerated.
'a faint hum in the next room' is someone elses home/bedroom.
Keep someones baby awake and see what you get....

Highly unlikely it's that bad. Unless the complex is old/very old converted apartments or motel, (sounds like it's a new complex from your wording), most/all of the adjoining walls between units will be double firerock. On both faces. Which means there isn't a huge amount of noise transmission. A quiet compressor is unlikely to present a problem of through wall noise transmission. Now, the garage door, and an open garage, they can and often WILL allow unseemly levels of noise to escape to the street.

If you're going to be purchasing, then you'll have a lot of leeway in how you finish your garage. I would recommend taking an approach of serious noise abatement with your walls, ceiling, and as far as practical, the floor. Remember, you have noise generators and noise reflectors/absorbers. Bare drywall and concrete floors are almost the loudest space you can build out, although metal sheathing on the walls and tile floors would top ya out.

 

[anndel]

I have a California Air Tools 10020 but it's only 10 gallons. Just enough to take off 6 lug nuts using a Snap On MG725 or Air Car 1150 impact but not for the IR 2235. It's really quieter than most.

 

[psychoclaw84]

We have a couple portable units that are relatively quiet. I have heard them run, and compared to most compressors this size, especially oil-less, these are quiet.

The BelAire 5026VP and the Chicago Pneumatic RCP-226VP are the same thing, just different branding.

We also have silent air compressors, but you pay more and get less air.

I have the NAPA version and they are quiet compared to other units.