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Quieter Compressor options

Fenderbean

Fenderbean

Well Known Member
Can someone recommend something that will not break the bank? I have a craftsman that is super loud and in my shop with finished walls its sooooo loud.
thanks
 
Any direct drive will be super loud.
Look for a belt driven one. Most(?) will list a sound level. Be wary/look at any asterisk, as many will sneak in a (farther) distance where the rating is taken. The noise decreases inversely proportional to the distance if “@ xx feet” differs between comparisons.
 
Fenderbean said:
Can someone recommend something that will not break the bank? I have a craftsman that is super loud and in my shop with finished walls its sooooo loud.
thanks
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I've run a 2hp Quincy for all four builds. It is enough air for all our air tools and for all priming jobs. I did get a 5hp stand up for final paint.

The Quincy is a belt driven, oil lubricated compressor. It is about as quiet as they come.

I just checked the price and the $360 Quincy I bought 28 years ago is now $950.

Carl
 
Fenderbean said:
Can someone recommend something that will not break the bank? I have a craftsman that is super loud and in my shop with finished walls its sooooo loud.
thanks
Click to expand...
I have an Eastwood QST 30/60 scrolll compressor in my garage. Not cheap at all, but it is unbelievably quiet. It soumds more like an air conditioner tham a compressor. I’m really happy with it!

Skylor
 
Fenderbean said:
Can someone recommend something that will not break the bank? I have a craftsman that is super loud and in my shop with finished walls its sooooo loud.
thanks
Click to expand...
This is super quiet and works great. I only sometimes have to pause while the pressure recovers. I use it for a lot of air tools, especially air drills, pneumatic squeezer, pull riveter, cleco clamp. Only my air nibbler and die grinder draw significant air, requiring frequent long recharge waits, but still no regrets.
 

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I’ve got one of the Fortress “Super Quiet” compressors from harbor freight. It’s a 10 gallon “hotdog” style one, which replaced a Bostitch 6 gallon pancake compressor. Easily 1/3 the noise of the Bostitch. You definitely know it’s on but you can easily hold a conversation right next to it.
 
Fenderbean said:
Can someone recommend something that will not break the bank? I have a craftsman that is super loud and in my shop with finished walls its sooooo loud.
thanks
Click to expand...
I have an old Sears Craftsman also. If possible locate it on the other side of the wall. I also use a Peltor passive headset when riveting or using the air drill.
 
I have a Kobalt from Lowes. Could you stand right next to it and have a normal conversation? Not really, but it's amazingly quiet for a direct drive.
 
You can also explore a muffler for your existing compressor. They're relatively cheap and while they may not make your setup as quiet as some of the compressors mentioned above, they might bring it to an acceptable level for a tiny fraction of the cost.
 
Encapsule it. Built a cabinet around it out of e.g. multiplex panels and put (styro-) foam on the inside……

Worked for me before i bought a used 2 cylinder „slowrunner“ for a bargain on a major internet auction platform.
 
The super quiet harbor freight Fortress series is quiet indeed. Not sure if the longevity but my small one works great for tires and such.
 
Oil lubricanted ones are generally quieter (and more expensive) than oil-less compressors.

Chances are the task I'm using an air tool for is also loud, so I generally wear ear protection any time I'm using air.
 
I'm pretty happy with my HF Fortress 26 Gallon, 175 PSI Ultra Quiet Oil-Free Vertical Shop/Auto Air Compressor that I purchased with a 25% off coupon and put in my hangar. I haven't used it much yet, but it's significantly quieter than my DeWalt 2-stage oil-guzzling compressor in my garage at home. Hmmm... well, the DeWalt is OK if I go in the house and say "Alexa, turn on the air compressor for 6 minutes." And if I put filters on what comes out of it. They don't sell that model anymore.
 
Ben Ellis said:
I have a Home Depot Husky brand 20 gallon quiet compressor. It’s pretty quiet and I’ve been happy with it. I just use it for riveting, drilling and a die grinder. But if you are going to be using air hungry tools like a paint sprayer then you will need something bigger and more powerful.

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My die grinders eat air much faster than my HVLP sprayers. Maybe it's because of the higher pressure the die grinders use compared to the sprayers. I'd like to find an efficient air-powered die grinder. Open to recommendations.
 
I have a Lowes Kobalt quiet tech 26 gal that replaced an old craftsman. It's pretty quiet, and was cheaper than the calif air tools ultra quiet line at the time (don't know current pricing). I recently bought on sale at Lowes a Cal. air tools 2 gal aux air tank, that I hooked up directly on my splitter for my light hoses from cleaveland . That works great, keeps air pressure up at my tools.
 
Everyone thinks they are a gangster until they are quietly working in the shop, and the compressor starts.
 
CZ79 said:
Everyone thinks they are a gangster until they are quietly working in the shop, and the compressor starts.
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LOL yeah I have a sound system in my shop and this one constantly ruins my vibe!!! Thanks everyone I think I can find something from the above here locally.
 
David Z said:
Oil lubricanted ones are generally quieter (and more expensive) than oil-less compressors.

Chances are the task I'm using an air tool for is also loud, so I generally wear ear protection any time I'm using air.
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Yeah my cleco gun and numatx/reg squeezer are not load so when that cuts on it the annoying part, the rivet gun usage is different
 
I bought a Hulk on Craigslist or FB Marketplace. Quietest compressor I've ever been around. 30ish gallon. I think I paid $200 for it.
 
My upright belt drive 5hp compressor is in a storage closet. I can barely hear it run.

Don Broussard
RV9 Rebuild in Progress
57 Pacer
 
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