Vibration Isolation Feet for Air Compressor?

[TimberMan]

I just scored a decent deal on an IR SS5L5 air compressor from a Northern Tool store that is closing. It is a 5-HP, Single Stage, 60gal compressor that weighs a little over 300 lbs. When I bolt it to my concrete slab, I would like to isolate it with some kind of rubber to separate the metal from the concrete and to isolate the vibration / noise.

What kind of material do I need for good dampening that will hold up to this application?

Thanks,

 

[logical]

People are going to suggest hockey pucks. In my opinion they are way too hard to actually dampen any floor vibration. I went with some that I stumbled on through Ebay that are much softer. My compressor is vorizontal so a little wiggle isn't an issue.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Hockey pucks or horse stall mat.

 

[PCustoms]

People are going to suggest hockey pucks. In my opinion they are way too hard to actually dampen any floor vibration. I went with some that I stumbled on through Ebay that are much softer. My compressor is vorizontal so a little wiggle isn't an issue.

To properly size a real vibration isolator you need to account for the weight per isolator, not just use something generic of eBay

But why is his compressor vibrating so much?

bolt it down (which is probably the mfg instructions)

 

[jblnut]

I left mine on the pallet it came on and put a scrap of an inner tube under the four corners of the pallet.

 

[gmcgeo]

Mine came with vibration damper rubber feet. i did not bolt mine down

 

[TRWham]

I used Diversitech rubber/EVA foam pads from Amazon. Similar to the cork isolators we used under refrigeration units but updated with foam rather than cork.

 

[CraigStu]

Could you look for other compressors that have isolators and then order them? My smaller compressor has 2 wheels w/ rubber tires and two rubber caps on legs. Maybe more trouble than it is worth but some solid rubber tires on a couple of axles would do the job. HF has a lot of generic tires.

 

[CV428]

McMaster Carr and Grainger sell vibration isolating feet for small equipment - they're about $24-$30 a piece.
Vibrasystems sells them for $12-14 a piece

If you ever need something more extreme, I have used seismic loading feet before too. IsoTech, Vibrex, and Resistoflex sell good ones but they're more expensive (spring load or rubber compression discs)

 

[racecougar]

I put these under my compressor 6 years ago, and they're still doing the job well today.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IU6WT5O?tag=atomicindus08-20

Best pic I have available at the moment:

 

[DGersic]

I just scored a decent deal on an IR SS5L5 air compressor from a Northern Tool store that is closing. It is a 5-HP, Single Stage, 60gal compressor that weighs a little over 300 lbs. When I bolt it to my concrete slab, I would like to isolate it with some kind of rubber to separate the metal from the concrete and to isolate the vibration / noise.

What kind of material do I need for good dampening that will hold up to this application?

Thanks,

As soon as you bolt it to the slab, any rubber isolator is useless. The vibration travels through the bolt and anchor.

 

[racecougar]

Most compressors will specifically state not to bolt them down tight; use Nyloc nuts and leave them loose.

 

[Stick-man]

I am going to put a stall pad (thick rubber mat) under mine. I am not going to bolt it at all because I need to move it from the wall to change the belt. 5hp, 80 gal Champion vertical.

 

[cannuck]

You can buy rubber feet to sound isolate from slab. They are like an isolator of 2 studs but missing one stud

Google Search

I have some under my rotary phase converter skid and they serve that purpose quite well (sound isolation)

 

[niget2002]

I have these. I don't have mine bolted to the ground. I drilled holes through the pads and then counter sunk bolts up from the bottom with nyloc nuts on top with a 'slight squeeze'

https://a.co/d/iejZ2Nl

 

[gtae07]

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

I used these with some anchor inserts in the slab.

 

[Danno1]

.


Gotta go all in!

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

.

 

[logical]

To properly size a real vibration isolator you need to account for the weight per isolator, not just use something generic of eBay

But why is his compressor vibrating so much?

bolt it down (which is probably the mfg instructions)

I found mine on Ebay but only after determining the loads and durometer that would support but also isolate the unit from the floor. Not "generic", they were some dead stock industrial isolators.

again, mine is horizontal tank and probably able to move more than I'd want to see in a top heavy vertical tank.

 

[dvblanch]

Have sliced the tread from used racing tires put it between compressor feet and 2x4 boards with loose lags. Then put 6 inch square pieces of same rubber under the wood. Takes out a lot of vibration and stops compressor from walking around.

 

[walta]

Maybe I am thinking about it wrong but how much effect can the 400 pounds of vibrating iron have on the 40,000-pound slab.

The only advantage to bolting it down is that the compressor is less likely to fall over in the next earthquake and I will not hold my breath waiting for that.



Walta

 

[KwikFab]

Home Depot sells vibration pads specifically for air compressors - been using them for a few years without issue

 

[ScaldedDog]

I am going to put a stall pad (thick rubber mat) under mine. I am not going to bolt it at all because I need to move it from the wall to change the belt. 5hp, 80 gal Champion vertical.

I've done exactly this, twice over the last 15+ years. Works fine, and is both cheap and easy.

Mark

 

[GreyOwl]

If you bolt it down, a rubber pad underneath along with another rubber pad between the leg and the nut. Think like a shock absorber stem mount with isolation on top as well as the bottom.

 

[TRWham]

Maybe I am thinking about it wrong but how much effect can the 400 pounds of vibrating iron have on the 40,000-pound slab.

The only advantage to bolting it down is that the compressor is less likely to fall over in the next earthquake and I will not hold my breath waiting for that.



Walta

This is Garage Journal, where too much engineering is almost enough.

 

[TimberMan]

This is Garage Journal, where too much engineering is almost enough.

Can’t be too much since the owners manual shows vibration isolation washers in their install diagram; it just doesn’t specify which ones.

 

[sz0k30]

I just scored a decent deal on an IR SS5L5 air compressor from a Northern Tool store that is closing. It is a 5-HP, Single Stage, 60gal compressor that weighs a little over 300 lbs. When I bolt it to my concrete slab, I would like to isolate it with some kind of rubber to separate the metal from the concrete and to isolate the vibration / noise.

What kind of material do I need for good dampening that will hold up to this application?

Thanks,

Just google "vibration mats or pucks". And why bolt it down to the cement? I have mine on vibration pucks on the pallet it came on. If you look more on this site you will find a lot of guys have theirs the same way.

 

[rlitman]

...And why bolt it down to the cement?...

If you're in a seismic zone, you absolutely want to secure it. But still, never bolt it hard to the cement. I have an eyebolt in my wall, and have my tank pulled into it with a ratchet strap, but I'm not in a seismic zone.

If I were in a seismic zone, and if I had my compressor sitting on cement (neither apply to me in real life), I would mark the foot drill holes on the cement, and drill and epoxy in THREE threaded rods. I'd drill out three anti-vibration pads, drop them on the rods, glue down a pad under the remaining foot location(s), and put the compressor on that. Then drop springs over the rods, a washer on that, and a nyloc nut on top, at least half an inch away from the foot (to allow for free movement). Finish that off with water heater seismic straps to the wall.

 

[CamMark]

It would be much easier I think to isolate the compressor from the tank rather than the tank from the floor. Tanks can act like a bell too so this would in theory be quieter overall.

This is how most of the "ultra quiet" compressors are done these days

 

[Shadowdog500]

I’ve had that exact same IR SS5L5 compressor sitting in the corner of my shop for 13 years. I never bolted it down or insulated the feet and it’s been sitting there fine the whole time without moving at all. I have had to service it a couple times with a new belt and a starter capacitor and liked being able to walk it out from the corner without messing with the feet.

I also cobbled together this pull string drain so I don’t have to get down on the floor when I drain it at the end of the day. I just shoot the water into a sheet pan and it evaporates.

I also attached the video I made 13 years ago for the “How loud is yourcompressor” thread on this forum.

 

[whitesco]

I’ve thought about something like this before but full disclosure: never done it. My thinking was to use an engine mount (302 Ford here):