Quiet Compressor? Oxymoron?

[Dentaltec]

I have read every compressor thread here tons of great info but I am specifically wondering about quiet style industrial compressors for home shop use. I do not want one of the the toy california air tool style lower DB compressors I am looking for a single phase, two stage 80gal with 20 cfm or more with the lowest DB. I prefer US made and the budget is around 2 k.

I read reviews left and right and I am having the hardest time believing most of them so I come here to real world reviews. I know lower RPM means quieter but some of these quiet models like EMAX are running at 1750 at 60db so I am confused and call BS

What do you recommend

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

My Hydrovane was surprisingly quiet, but made in England, so probably no good to you.

 

[redmondjp]

Quincy 350 or 370, running at 400rpm (minimum speed). You'll feel it thumping more than you will hear it. And you'll need a hoist just to lift the pump by itself!

 

[Samh]

My compressor is a Devilbiss 80gal 2 stage upright. Loud as can be. I ordered a Solberg Silencer and Solberg Silencer filter and it reduced the noise about 20db.

 

[LXCam]

My speed air is quite as a mouse..



But it could be that's because it's mounted 100ft from my shop in another structure

youre really going to need to bump your budget up another grand+ and get a screw type compressor if you really want something quite.

 

[larry_g]

I read reviews left and right and I am having the hardest time believing most of them so I come here to real world reviews. I know lower RPM means quieter but some of these quiet models like EMAX are running at 1750 at 60db so I am confused and call BS

What do you recommend

Why are you quoting motor speed instead of pump speed?

https://emaxcompressor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/AMNU000001_0810-loRes.pdf

lg
no neat sig line

 

[LXCam]

I'd suggest you talk to these guys. They are a vendor here and have pretty good deals from time to time.

https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/tools/single-phase-rotary-screw-compressors.html

 

[Kaizen]

Thought scroll compressors were not good for home use? Forget why.


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[Dentaltec]

Why are you quoting motor speed instead of pump speed?

https://emaxcompressor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/AMNU000001_0810-loRes.pdf

lg
no neat sig line

Absolutely right my mistake think my eyes are crossing and Im getting stuck in the details, thanks for pointing this out

 

[Dentaltec]

My speed air is quite as a mouse..



But it could be that's because it's mounted 100ft from my shop in another structure

youre really going to need to bump your budget up another grand+ and get a screw type compressor if you really want something quite.

yeah thats not an option for me

 

[rpcraft]

60 db on a high volume compressor isn't bad at all. Many of them run way higher and if they run like that and its quantifiable I doubt you could go wrong with something advertised in that manner.

 

[mikegt4]

I can't hear my 2 stage Emglo compressor at all.
I sure can hear the Honda that powers it.
Fortunately I don't use air tools very often.

 

[like2wheel]

About 1 1/2 times your budget, but a lot of compressor & quiet

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/AACQP581VAT

 

[barrysuperhawk]

I have a red craftsman that scares children and old people 3 counties away. I had the idea that if it ever goes out, I am going to "recycle" as many fridge compressors as I can find and run them in parallel...

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Noise figure ratings on compressors are ****. There is no standard so one manufacturer could measure at 3 feet while another could measure at 10. I have a small compressor with the same air pump as the California Air models and they are still too damn loud for my taste. Eastwood has some scroll compressor that is supposed to be similar in noise level but a whole lot more air.

You would be much better off designing a room for your compressor where you could put sound isolation and keep the noise down that way.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have an eaton compressor, 80 gallon true 5hp whithin the pump turn somewhere around 550-600 rpm if I recall.

I can talk on the cell phone next to it and the other person can't hear it. Had it for 10 years and it's been pretty good to me. Same company that makes the Emax compressors

 

[alberto]

Check these out:
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-qst-30-60-quiet-scroll-air-compressor.html
https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/BelAire-QP318VE-Air-Compressor/p4789.html
https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/BelAire-QP318VLE-Air-Compressor/p4800.html

 

[Milton Shaw]

I bought Quincy at Northern. The motor is 1725 rpm and compressor is very quiet. Not distracting at all running. I had a CH for 25 years with a 3600 rpm motor and it was so loud you could not talk in the shop with it running, you had to shout. All the oil in crankcase pump models will be quieter than any no piston direct drive. I have one that's portable and you can hear it running a block away. Lower the speed the quieter the unit is going to be.

 

[shoot summ]

I have an eaton compressor, 80 gallon true 5hp whithin the pump turn somewhere around 550-600 rpm if I recall.

I can talk on the cell phone next to it and the other person can't hear it. Had it for 10 years and it's been pretty good to me. Same company that makes the Emax compressors

I replaced my compressor head with an Eaton, running it around 650 RPM, it is quiet, I can talk on the phone next to it as well. It is a lower resonance sound, I can hear it in the garage when I accidentally leave it on from my office next to the garage.

 

[maxpat82]

put it in a enclosed shed outside the garage/shop.

 

[KGB Pilot125]

Thought scroll compressors were not good for home use? Forget why.


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duty cycle. something about the oil and not thinning out enough and causing premature failure. We have 13 screw/scroll compressors in our company and we have had a few issues with guys shutting them down at night mid cycle and it causing issues.

I will say though I love them and how quiet they are.

on another note I have had 2 california air compressors for my home shop and love how quiet they have been.

 

[strutaeng]

Are you using the compressor for dental work? LOL

Seriously, nothing is going to be whisper quiet. I'd say build a little lean-to and insulate it. But a vent to the outside to keep it cool.

I've got a Curtis ES-100 pump powered by a 10 HP single phase Baldor. I've got it set up such that the pump spins around 550 RPM. It's outside, but still loud, but has a low-frequency "chug, chug" noise. I only use it when spray painting.

If you don't need too much air get a compressor that has those diaphragm pumps (Calif. Air) I've got a Husky version for brad nailers and such and it's not too loud.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have a red craftsman that scares children and old people 3 counties away. I had the idea that if it ever goes out, I am going to "recycle" as many fridge compressors as I can find and run them in parallel...

Good luck with that...

Tommy

 

[Krang]

I’ve got a sound insulated enclosure around mine. Admittedly I did not build it, it came with the compressor, but it works great! Even has a small ventilation fan for the enclosure.





The extra tank will eventually be plumbed for reserve capacity.

 

[GRB]

You are in SoCal so I would call Ciasons at 714-259-0838 and talk to them directly. They will get you what you want according to your needs. They will even make something special if you want something unusual. If you want to see one closer than Ciasons in Santa Ana, McFadden-Dale by Ontario Airport or Tools-R-Us in Montclair keep common models on hand. Tools-R-Us will keep several different ones on hand and know more about them.

Quincy and IR are also fine.

Vane type are quiet but lower pressure and you said two-stage so thinking you might want higher pressure.
If you want a serious compressor that is just about silent look at Kaeser but just like a new vane unit, you will need to spend serious money.

 

[LXCam]

In the SEMA went to hell thread (whatever) a few guys were commenting on how quite some new compressors from Flexzilla are. I checked out the propaganda on their site and it looks like maybe an option for you. Looking at the intake muffler they use, I might just pay around with that design myself. Mine isn't too loud as is, but you sure aren't going to have a tea party in the same room either.

 

[lakelandcat]

Try running synthetic oil, good filters and rubber pads for the feet, if that fails use ear protection.

 

[jkeyser14]

Scroll compressors are very quiet. You can have a conversation at a whisper next to one. Piston based compressors are loud as ****, but they are 1/20th the price.

 

[rburke65]

I have a Champion, 5hp, 2 stage, 60 gal. tank, from TPTool, that runs at 805 rpm. You can stand next to it while it is running and have a conversation without yelling. Very quite. Love it.

 

[Mgraves235]

I have a red craftsman that scares children and old people 3 counties away. I had the idea that if it ever goes out, I am going to "recycle" as many fridge compressors as I can find and run them in parallel...

you kid, but my first air compressor was a home-built job with a salvaged automotive ac compressor, run by an old industrial electric motor, plumbed to 3 recycled propane bottles.i wasn't pretty, quiet, or particularly powerful, but it aired up tractor tires and ran an impact wrench, so i was happy....

 

[Dentaltec]

Thank you for all the great feedback on this thread, so many choices and it always seems to have the budget smashed when I come to the pros

 

[GRB]

It sounds like you were headed the right direction in the OP looking for a low RPM Oiled Piston compressor since you said 20cfm.
Toys like the California Air Tools units mentioned don't produce anything close to that and don't have the duty cycle that is typically required when people want 20cfm. I was reasonably impressed with the first CAT unit I bought which was their 2hp 10 gal vertical, the largest one that will run on 120v. I bought two of the 1hp units a couple years later when HD had a blowout sale. It is a good thing they were really cheap because they didn't last at all even though the use was moderate. I went back to Makita MAC700 to replace both of those and that is a big improvement. Might be a bit louder but the sound is far more pleasant to be near and you can run it hard and not worry about it. The Makita is also capable of putting air in a truck/motorhome tire and the CAT units just struggle to hold 100psi.

In the last 20 years I've purchased IR 15hp Piston, IR 15 & 25hp Screw, IR Garagemate, CAT 10020, CAT 5510, 5 Makita MAC700, 2 Makita MAC2400, 2 Ciasons 5hp Verticals. The CAT units were the only ones that really didn't work well for their intended use. They replaced the ancient Thomas quiet oilless units that couldn't be maintained after Thomas failed. I see they are back selling them again after 5+ years but they are supposedly not the same and their 2hp compressor is $1000. Theoretically that should be a better unit than the CAT unit at double the price.

 

[Kaizen]

Thank you for all the great feedback on this thread, so many choices and it always seems to have the budget smashed when I come to the pros

Consider getting an upright and enclosing it in the shop. As said in a post above it will cut down on a lot of the noise. Use hockey pucks under feet or anti vibration mounts. Also try and seal as much holes as you can if the concern is noise to outside the shop


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[LXCam]

Consider getting an upright and enclosing it in the shop. As said in a post above it will cut down on a lot of the noise. Use hockey pucks under feet or anti vibration mounts. Also try and seal as much holes as you can if the concern is noise to outside the shop


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My buddy Jay did a nice detail on his build a while back. The threads a little long so you might start backwards as the compressor closet build was more towards the end.

Edit, I just went back thru his build. Main construction is the first couple pages then finish is on page 9.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273690

 

[Randy in Maine]

I am really impressed with how quiet and well made the Bendpak I have is. Mine is just the 5 hp one but they come in a 7.5 hp motor as well.

www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/air-compressors/ts-580v-601/

 

[Squankum]

Thinking outside the box:

Get a whacking great tank, like an old NG/propane tank for home heating, and put it outside the house, or bury it underground, and have your compressor fill it when you're gone during the day.

 

[Dentaltec]

My buddy Jay did a nice detail on his build a while back. The threads a little long so you might start backwards as the compressor closet build was more towards the end.

Edit, I just went back thru his build. Main construction is the first couple pages then finish is on page 9.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273690

That's an amazing build with such detail, the I'm not worthy portion was when I saw he continued the paint scheme in the closet.

 

[LXCam]

That's an amazing build with such detail, the I'm not worthy portion was when I saw he continued the paint scheme in the closet.

Ya well as you can see, Jay has issues


It's been a couple years now but I can guarantee the shop still looks brand new

 

[Sticks McGee]

Built a closet in the corner for mine.

 

[Sticks McGee]

Another pic