how do i build a proper compressor silencer?

looper

Member since
October 2005
From: texas

how do i build a proper compressor silencer?

Posted by looper on Saturday, November 12, 2005 11:05 PM

i have a craftsman 3 gallon compressor, i live in an apartment so i have to make sure my neighboors aren't home when i paint, lol. today i covered the compressor, while it was running, with the cardboard box it came in and to my surprise it made a little difference. it wasn't as loud, which got me excited about building a silencer made out of wood. my questions are, how much of a difference could one make? and what are the best materials to make one out of...what absorbs sound best? i'm thinking of using 2 small fans for air circulation. thanks in advance

Andy

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Bgrigg

Member since
May 2005
From: Left forever

Posted by Bgrigg on Saturday, November 12, 2005 11:34 PM

I would think rigid foam insulation would work. Even the cheap white stuff that looks like styrofoam (and probably is!). Be careful not to run it too long as heat buildup would be a very bad thing.

So long folks!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 13, 2005 5:20 AM

If you want to make your compressor silent you will have to make a box similar to the old Impact-Printer boxes.

Basically a box with vents on 2 ends(shouldn't need a fan), a lid and foam glued to the inside.

Best stuff I think is foam that looks like the old cardboard egg-trays, but this would mean that the box needs to be considerably bigger than your compressor to allow for about 1" of airflow allround.

All in all should be easy to construct.

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looper

Member since
October 2005
From: texas

Posted by looper on Sunday, November 13, 2005 9:07 AM

thanks for the replies, i'll be picking up some wood at home depot today and i think i saw some of that egg tray looking foam at wal-mart. heat shouldn't be a problem, the compressor takes a minute to fill up and about 10 seconds between recharge. i'll let you know how my venture goes Big Smile [:D]

.

Andy

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smoffo

Member since
May 2004
From: Finland

Posted by smoffo on Monday, November 14, 2005 9:22 AM

You should also remember that the sound is trasfered trough the floor. By putting thick rubber 'shoes' on the compressor you'll isolate it. This is important specially if your floor is concrete and there is no cut in the concrete between apartments.

For the box around it, any soft material will dampen the sound. When putting vetnilating holes in it, put one low and the other higher up on the opposite side, this way you will get a natural airflow through the box.

Michael

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looper

Member since
October 2005
From: texas

Posted by looper on Monday, November 14, 2005 5:36 PM

thanks for the replies. i went to home depot yesterday but didn't have enough cash to buy the materials, i spent a lot of money at hobby lobby saturday, lol. i'm going to buy a sheet of 3/4" thick birch board and make the enclosure out of that. the compressor i have has rubber isolators on it, i'll just have to do something to keep the compressor tight against the bottom of the box. i need to buy the wife a hairdryer first, i took the fan out of hers for my cardboard spraybooth Big Smile [:D]

.

Andy