Noise Insulation for shop compressor?

[orezok]

It seems that your car/truck engine sucks very cold air into a very hot engine without issue.

 

[Doofy]

It seems that your car/truck engine sucks very cold air into a very hot engine without issue.

You could have a point. A car engine is tempered by hot coolant though. That compressor gets unbelievably hot and that cold air from 1 foot away would make me nervous. May not even be a problem though.

 

[ruffdog]

Cold winter air is more dense than hot/humid air of summer. Your air compressor will love it.

Air compressor intake plumbed outside - The Garage Journal Board

outside air commpressor intake - Google Search

 

[MossRoad]

I realize that but to be honest if I pull it out towards the center of the room it isn't noticeably better. But maybe sound absorption and maybe hanging a heavy blanket of some kind in front?

You could experiment with a Harbor Freight moving quilt hung in front of it just to see. With a 20% off coupon, they are about $7.50. We keep about half a dozen of these around in case we have to move furniture, cover something in storage, protect wood projects, etc.... so it won't go to waste if you try it.
72" x 8" Mover'''s Blanket

 

[Doofy]

Cold winter air is more dense than hot/humid air of summer. Your air compressor will love it.

Air compressor intake plumbed outside - The Garage Journal Board

outside air commpressor intake - Google Search

I'm thinking Super Cold air would really multiply the amount of condensation in the tank. Think I'd rather try to lower the noise by other means first.

 

[YLee Kioti]

I have a 5hp 60gal upright compressor in my shop. Wondering about trying to knock down some of the noise.

One thought is to build a little outhouse attached to the back of the shop but I am concerned it will be louder for the neighbors. Also it would be in unheated space but I suppose I could vent some shop heat if necessary but this build could get a bit. expensive for what it is. If I new it would be just as quiet as now for the neighbors, I might do that as it would be definitely quieter for me and gain some valuable shop real estate!

My other option is to try to build a sound deadening enclosure and keep it inside. But this will take even more real estate and I wonder how effective it would actually be in reducing noise.

Looking for opinions, what others have done, etc.

I would go with the outhouse........AND install rockwool insulation for a sound deadner....
and the vents for cooling and look at installing a modified intake with a long neck, running it outside with a foam filter........:drink:

 

[ovrszd]

It seems that your car/truck engine sucks very cold air into a very hot engine without issue.

And what drips out of the exhaust pipe?

 

[ruffdog]

I'm thinking Super Cold air would really multiply the amount of condensation in the tank. Think I'd rather try to lower the noise by other means first.

Cold winter air can not hold water like warm air can. That is why humidity is higher in the summer than the winter. My compressor is 30 years old and has always been in a unheated environment and has never had a issue. "super cold winter air" is normally super dry air.

 

[ruffdog]

And what drips out of the exhaust pipe?

Warm combustion gasses that contain water vapor will condense when it hits the cold exhaust. The more contrast the difference of temperatures between gases and pipe causes more condensation. This is the same reason intercoolers need a condensation drain.

 

[Doofy]

Cold winter air can not hold water like warm air can. That is why humidity is higher in the summer than the winter. My compressor is 30 years old and has always been in a unheated environment and has never had a issue. "super cold winter air" is normally super dry air.

True. Our relative humidity is 20% or so during the super cold months. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If the mufflers don't help much then running the intake outside will be a consideration.

 

[PILOON]

An enclosure lined with old carpeting will do wonders.
Easy to wire a computer type (muffin fan) to aid cooling. (wire thru the pressure switch)
Dense rubber under the compressor feet will also help kill vibration type noises.
Lead sheeting is good for high pitched noise.
If in an enclosure, thicker denser wood will help.

The felt type under carpeting used in cars will kill lots of sound.

Never tried it, but I wonder if wrapping the tank with a felt blanket would help some.

A thought: wrapping the tank with self adhesive roofing membrane! (should kill the 'tinny' sounds.)

LOL, mine is oil based and under a counter near garage door and happens to be about 10 feet from my bedroom.
It does occasionally disturb my sleep if it kicks in during the night but I cured that by removing the one hose that occasionally leaks air slowly.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay I am now on the hunt for reclaimed insulating materials. May be a bit red neck but worth the experiment. My shop has been evolving for years (like many others I am sure). I do like the idea of locating it outside the interior walls. The walls and floor space is a premium in my 2+ car sized shop. Please keep the ideas coming!

 

[Doofy]

I am also going to try anti-vibration pads under the compressor feet. Sitting on concrete just amplifies the noise and vibration.

 

[ruffdog]

I am also going to try anti-vibration pads under the compressor feet. Sitting on concrete just amplifies the noise and vibration.

I bought mine through mcmaster carr:

McMaster-Carr

 

[dragoneggs]

I am also going to try anti-vibration pads under the compressor feet. Sitting on concrete just amplifies the noise and vibration.

Sorry to be a pessimist but my guess is that it will not help much. My compressor is just dang noisy and any deadening of the feet I can't see helping. I did mount it on a homemade dolly with hard rubber castors to move it around. Can't say that did anything for sound.

 

[dstig1]

OK, several people keep saying intake silencer/muffler, but nobody has pointed a link to anything that I noticed. I could use a bit of noise reduction on mine too. It isn't the worst, but mainly because it is in the front half of the shop and most of my work is in the back half where the wood shop is (with a wall in between). When I am working in the front half, I have to use muffs when it is running or it drives me bonkers. I measured it one time with my phone but forget the decibel level. I picked up a California Tools portable compressor that was said to be very quiet for finish nailers and it is great. Very easy to live with that right next to your ear even. But that is a whole different world from the big one in the shop...

So if anyone can point to a source for these mufflers (ones that actually work!), I'd appreciate it, as I'm sure would others.

 

[Doofy]

Mine is a 60 gallon, 6hp and is stationary. Loud and obnoxious but not for long. 26 years of racket. Loud noises are beginning to startle me and I don't like it.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Google air compressor muffler about a gabillion choices.

 

[downsizingnow48]

If it was me though I would sell that monster and buy a quiet new one. California air tools has them in all sizes. I have a one hp version that is barely audible standing next to it.

 

[dragoneggs]

If it was me though I would sell that monster and buy a quiet new one. California air tools has them in all sizes. I have a one hp version that is barely audible standing next to it.

Would like to upgrade but for a 60gal comparable unit the California Air Tool compressor is 3 times the money! Maybe I need to make that jump if I could unload my Husky brand. The advertised decibel levels are 'quiet' impressive!