Need some help to make a compressor a bit quieter

Digitalflyer

Young Tutorling
My little 3ltr tanked oil less KMS compressor has started showing signs of coming to its end. So on Sunday I was given a compressor with a 6ltr tank and it's brilliant now I've got it fine tuned down to 18psi (even though it goes upto 118psi), holds air with no leaks, and of course I'm getting longer before the tank tops itself up :)
A win all round, you'd think, yep, so did I, only the problem is, is that it states 95db which isn't to bad, but I have it with all my gear in my shed and by eck is it noisy... I took a walk down the garden and it still sounds loud, I think the shed is vibrating and because it's like an empty wooden box as such, I think it's amplifing the noise.
Has anyone got any ideas how can quieten this thing down, it's an oil less one, like my last one, but the noise, is concerning, I'm going to be waiting for the neighbours bagging on the door, as it is I don't go past 9pm but I think I'm going to have to pack up earlier still with this one.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance :)
 
For vibration use rubber feet or hang it from a piece of rubber like a old serpentine belt. For the noise just build a box out of cheap plywood and use foam or sound deadening material, it really depends how much you want spend and what your skill/tool level is.

There was a thread on here where somewhere took a pancake compressor and built a extremely nice box with fans and sound deadening and did a wonderful write up on it. The outcome was a really quite compressor on the cheap. I use my diy refrigerator compressor at night which is whisper quiet and my giant screw compressor during the day.
 
Well the easiest way I've found to quiet them down is to unplug it...

I agree, having it in the shed is probably amplifying the noise. Is it portable? Im guessing its about a 3 gallon which is like mine. Could you put it outside while painting then store it back in the shed when done?

Another tip: I'm not sure why you are running it at 18psi? If you have (or get) an external regulator, you can let the tank fill up to 118 and it will go a lot longer before having to fill back up. (My apologies if I'm misunderstanding something- my brain is currently overcooked :) ) You can adjust the pressure back down to whatever you'd like at the external regulator. Maybe I'm being dense here Idk lol
 
I have a fridge compressor under the bench but have no tank on it as I'm intending to use it as a vacuum pump for fibreglass moulding. But might be an idea for evening use now and then as a direct outlet. :)
 
No no I'm not running at 118psi I'm running at 20psi :-D my mistake I was saying it goes up to 118psi :-D
Unplugging it is one way, putting it outside is a no go, as I'm disabled and unable.to move it out, and of I could.i think it would annoy the locals even more too :-D
But it is loud compared to.my KMS :)
 
No no I'm not running at 118psi I'm running at 20psi :-D my mistake I was saying it goes up to 118psi :-D
Unplugging it is one way, putting it outside is a no go, as I'm disabled and unable.to move it out, and of I could.i think it would annoy the locals even more too :-D
But it is loud compared to.my KMS :)
So the compressor is cutting off when the tank is at 20psi, correct? If you allow it to fill to maximum, you will get more painting time before it has to kick on again. A 3 gallon tank should run an airbrush for hours.
 
Actually come to think of it I've just noticed it's cutting out at 80psi.
I've got a feeling this one's gonna need a service soon :)
 
Let's forget the psi and just think about making it quieter :-D

95Db is quite a lot, even using it outside would be a problem and putting it in a box would only bring it down about 10 to 15 Db's, my advice would be to find an old mini fridge and salvage the motor off of it, exchange that for the motor that is on your compressor now, everything else on your compressor you can keep and use.

Search the forum for a thread called "Fez air" that thread goes into enough detail for you to be able to build your own silent compressor that you could actually use in the house even through the night, if you can't find the thread, well find it for you;)
 
the tank is at 80 psi but the air coming out is at 18psi, using the regulator is choking down the psi to 18psi.
I added a tank to my fridge compressor, and if you build it with quick connects you can still use it as a vacuum pump, either way you need a few parts to allow the compressor to shut off and not build enough psi until it explodes. I have a list of parts required if you want them shoot me a PM.

You can do what malky said and use your tank you have now and reuse all the parts but put your fridge compressor onto it.
 
the tank is at 80 psi but the air coming out is at 18psi, using the regulator is choking down the psi to 18psi.
I added a tank to my fridge compressor, and if you build it with quick connects you can still use it as a vacuum pump, either way you need a few parts to allow the compressor to shut off and not build enough psi until it explodes. I have a list of parts required if you want them shoot me a PM.

You can do what malky said and use your tank you have now and reuse all the parts but put your fridge compressor onto it.

Great that might be the way to go... Thanks :)
 
Thanks Malky night come to that yet :)
My old one was running at 45-50db but this is a bit much :)

It's well worth doing, especially if you might want to work indoors in the cold winter months.

I suggested a mini fridge motor because that would be sufficient for the size of tank you have, all the parts you need are already on your current compressor, all will need to do is mock up something to sit your fridge motor on and redirect or replace some of your pipes/hoses, but as I said, the Fez air thread is very concise and there are plenty of other sources describing the process including some videos on YouTube, these are worth watching to familiarise yourself with the process.
 
I have a really quiet compressor, the problem isim getting water past 2 water traps again. But my quiet compressor is tankless
 
I'm not sure on that one, hopefully someone on here will be able to help, you may have to start a fresh thread for that :) , all mine are tanked, bar one, which is an old oil filled one, but I don't use that one for airbrushing, as I don't have any traps on it, therefore oil gets through, so my wife uses it for creosoting my workshop/den and her storage shed. :)
 
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