Which “silent” air compressor shall I get?

[beeza650Participant @beeza650]

I’d like a compressor for blowing things down. I might use it for very small air brush sort of spraying of repairs too. It won’t be used for tools or grit blasting or anything like that.

I need super quiet because of the neighbours.

Was thinking of maybe this one or should I just go super small and get the 8 litre one. Advice appreciated please.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

No dB listed in the add, if you email the seller they will confirm, I did but can’t remember the figure.

If it’s very low volumes and pressure of air you want perhaps an old fridge compressor will suit your needs.

 

Emgee

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

I have one like that, albeit with a different brand name on it. I bought it for the same reason: noise. Whilst it is not silent, it much quieter than my previous “standard” compressor. You can hold a conversation when it is running and with a little sound-deadening material around it, it would be even quieter. For the money that I paid, I am very pleased with it. I use it in the evenings with a clear conscience.

James

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I have that exact one.

 

Had it for 3 years. It’s quiet enough to have a conversation without shouting.

 

You’d probably have to pay a fair bit more fir a truly silent compressor.

 

Jimb

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

The bigger the receiver the longer the engine will have to run to fill it – conversely, with a smaller receiver the engine will run for a shorter period, but with greater frequency if you keep emptying the tank..

..so you need to consider how much air you think you will be using in ‘a session’ to see which you need..

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

I have the Hyundai, bought online from Curry’s, lot more silent than others I have had.

Used in my small shed without a problem.

Can recommend.

Ian

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

A Bambi, with its fridge compressor style enclosure, is probably the quietest closely followed by the similar industrial rated compressor and reservoir units from other makers such as Jun-Air. to name one I have personal experience of.

But they are expensive.

The affordable twin exposed diaphragm compressor beasts, like that one, are rather noisier than the better versions of the small suitcase stye compressors. My FIAC Compact 106 claims 57 dB but FAD is low at 3.5 cfm. and the tank is small. Don’t really hear it start and stop when running my Bijur mist style lubricators on mill and lathes.

But the suitcase compressor market is total minefield with some remarkably noisy devices sold on the basis of small size only. Some are little more than uprated car tyre inflators and really should come with ear defenders. Brand being no protection. Looking at you Makita and the normally reliable LiDL Parkside offering proved far louder than friend could tolerate. Funnily enough the Parkside one made a one time only in the middle of LiDL. I suspect my friend wasn’t the only one to sling it back same day.

An oldie, but goodie, is the baby Hydrovane PR303E unit made for Binks Bullows continuous air feed compressors. Possibly the quietest of the lot due to the near continuous airflow and, apparently, built to exceed the 100 years and a day life of Wendell Holmes famous One Horse Shay. If you want one prices are all over the place from daydream £350 + on E-Bay to £20 at the bottom end of Facebook marketplace, back of a charity or used tool shop.  Need to DIY a tank though and only 40 psi or so.

Fitting a decent air filter box with reasonable volume inside damps out the induction pulses inevitable with a diaphragm or piston compressor which makes a useful reduction in noise. Steal the airbox off a small car or adapt a (tubular?) filter. OK it’s a much bigger unit but many years ago I put a SAAB 9000 air filter between the arms of an Atlas Copco KE series Vee twin compressor which seriously reduced the noise. Memory suggests down to little more than twice as loud as the Hydrovane that replaced it.

Clive

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

I’d recommend a Bambi too.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I have the 50 lts  twin pump Hyundai and use it to run models as well as chip blasting on the CNC and blowing down. Only time I know it is on when machining is when the cutoff cuts in. About the same sort of noise level as a washing machine makes so you can talk over it OK.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

The hydrovane/ Binks Bullows is the one if you can find one at a sensible price. It’s a vane pump so almost completely silent. only about 40psi, made for paint spraying. For a receiver a redundant gas bottle will work. Unscrew the valve and wash out with HOT water and detergent, then refit the valve or pipework. The gas bottle MUST BE EMPTY. Noel.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Well Hyundai claim 60 dB for the HY7524 which is rather quieter than most washing machines where anything below 70-75 db is considered quiet and 50-55 dB super quiet. My Miele W1 Classic washing machine claims 48 dB during wash cycle and 72 during spin. It is noticeable during spin but not during wash unless standing right next to it.

At 57 dB my FIAC suitcase is half as loud as the Hyundai. The little Hydrovane PR303 I also have is a bit quieter still, no specs but subjectively it feels like around 55 dB.

Bambi claim 40 dB. A Bambi is completely unnoticeable to me and, probably, everyone else who doesn’t have ears like a bat.

The environmental folk reckon 50 dB ± 5 is satisfactory background noise level for domestic and office situations. Preferably nearer 45 if doing a lot of talking and 40 dB where serious concentration is needed.

Subjective assessment is hard because not only is dB is a logarithmic scale where 3 dB equates to doubling of sound power levels but also the standard human ear signal exploitation kit has some pretty serious active sound processing capabilities built in. Which really really upsets the correlation between “measured sound power” and “sounds like”.

Clive

[peterhodParticipant @peterhod]

As others have said they are not silent.

I use 2″ sanders and grinders a lot because they make less mess than an angle grinder.

I had a nice 12cfm compressor I bought new but when I moved I did not have room. I bought this alleged 14.8cfm silent compressor.  Silent it isn’t but it is much quieter and amazingly it holds up an air orbital sander continuously no problems. https://tehtools.co.uk/products/teh-100-copper-air-compressor-50l-litres-oil-free-low-noise-4hp-2x2hp-1500-x2-watts-420l-min-8-bar-116-psi-tehtools-tac50l

This one is astonishingly well made, quality item and actually makes a lot of air fast.

Check the specs. They often look the same but have wildly different specs.

 

Peter

 

[Andy StopfordParticipant @andystopford50521]

I’ve got the smaller Hyundai one – it should be adequate for your needs I should think, and it’s very quiet – not silent, but if the neighbours complain, tell them not to stand next to it.

[Author]

Posts