Need Advice - Compressor Cabinet for Noise Control

[sunshineFC3s]

Hello All,
My name is Alex, and I'm new here. Just bought my first home. Its a townhouse in CT. Two car garage with about 500+ sq/ft of space. Im about to begin setting up my little work area and tools...and I am not too sure what to do about my air compressor. I have an upright 33gal, 150psi Craftsman "oil-less" compressor, and the thing is LOUD! Esp if used in an enclosed area. I'm sure running the comp as is would be a sure way to get on my new neighbors' bad side. The area under the stairs leading up to the living floor is open, and I was thinking of builing the cabinet there for efficient use of space.

So, the question is...does anyone have experience/advice on building a small cabinet for the compressor to control the noise. My specific concerns are what materials to use for noise control (i.e. egg crate - like the radio stations use? or somethng else), internal volume and ventilation so that the comp can breathe properly, and shape for acoustical control.

Any suggestons would be greatly appreciated.
-Alex

 

[trovato]

Check out this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7005&

 

[engnerdan]

I don't know if it would work as they are kinda big and thread on but this company makes silencers for air compressors. Unfortunately they don't have any information on there webpage, you will have to call them and talk to them.

www.castair.net

I am considering getting one when I order my compressor from them.

-Dan

 

[Vicegrip]

If you can trade or sell it and get a small 2 cyl oil bath type compressor. The oil bath compressors make far less sound and at a lower frequency. Small 2 cyl oil units tend to run at lower rpm than same cap singles. They are easer to quiet down as more sound comes from the intake than with oil less and intake sound is easy to squelch. Oil less compressors run at higher rpm and are harder to silence.

Grangers sells silencers too and often times have them in stock for you to look at. Even if they do not make one for your compressor they are not hard to modify to fit.

The problem with boxing the compressor is heat build up. The more you enclose the motor and compressor the hotter it will run. The more air flow you run over it the louder it will be. You could make a baffle box with a labyrinth entrance and exit with a good blower pushing air through but after all that you might have spent less $ and time using a oil bath 2 cyl.

 

[sunshineFC3s]

Thank you all for your responses.
I think that selling this loud oil-less comp is a great idea. The problem is that I have no idea how to sell something like this. These begginer Craftsman cpmressors are not too expensive, and Sears stores are abondent...so that eliminates selling it and shipping it, as that would immediately raise the price too much. So, how would I sell this thing locally? Pft, this is annoying.

I'll post a pic of the space I have in mind for the comp cabinet.
Let me know if anyone has ideas.
Thanks again,
-a

 

[Uncle Buck]

Alex,
I have had to deal with this issue in industry. In my situation we had an air compressor that was way over the acceptable DB limit for employees in close proximity. Our solution was to enclose the compressor in a small room, (you could do the same thing under those stairs) simply enclose the compressor in a generously sized plywood box. Make sure to allow for enough air supply. Line all the surfaces of the plywood with sheet foam, the type you get at Lowes or HD in 4 x 8 ft sheets. Ideally you would use the 2" thick sheets. Make a hinged access door and keep everything closed up as much as possible when the compressor is running. Try it, it does work, and you should see a marked difference in your noise level with very little expense.