Are hydrovanes really much quieter?

[julianf]

I'm having to do more and more spray, and am bothered by the amount of noise that's generated to simply run the air fed mask (the gun is off a different compressor)

So I'm looking at hydrovanes, as they have a rep for being quieter.

I've no doubt there's data sheets, but, real world, are they really much better?

Also, are they ok to buy second hand (as in as much as anything else ever is)?

Thank you.

 

[GraemeVW]

Yes, very quiet.
My friend has a huge 5 ramp workshop, all air tools run off a huge hydrovane. It sounds like a fridge when it kicks in.

That one, and my tiny 1950s one are the only ones I've any experience of though.

 

[cheb]

Yes, but not as quiet as they'd have you believe. I'd compare it to a washing machine at full spin but slower.

 

[GraemeVW]

Yes, but not as quiet as they'd have you believe. I'd compare it to a washing machine at full spin but slower.

My friends is in an enclosure, which may help. It's a big square box.
But standing next to it, when it fires up, you can only really here the motor. I'm never convinced it's actually doing anything!

It's quieter than my old little one, that's kind of dishwasher volume.

 

[Smallfry]

They are quietER, but not what I would call quiet. An enclosure helps a lot though.

 

[hotponyshoes]

The only hydrovanes I have ever heard making a noticeable amount of noise have been mounted incorrectly.
I've only got a small one but you can't hear it running over the noose of any of the tools you attach to it.
Possibly it's louder than the noise from a spray gun but it's not as loud as the air drill

 

[minimutly]

I'm having to do more and more spray, and am bothered by the amount of noise that's generated to simply run the air fed mask (the gun is off a different compressor)

So I'm looking at hydrovanes, as they have a rep for being quieter.

I've no doubt there's data sheets, but, real world, are they really much better?

Also, are they ok to buy second hand (as in as much as anything else ever is)?

Thank you.

Even the smallest hydrovane feels like overkill for an airfed mask - unless they do a tiny one? In a way. Though it’s a better solution than a piston, since yo need high volumes but low pressure for a mask.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Even the smallest hydrovane feels like overkill for an airfed mask - unless they do a tiny one? In a way. Though it’s a better solution than a piston, since yo need high volumes but low pressure for a mask.

They do them right down to 4cfm I think.
Not sure what cfm my little one is but it's not much bigger than a regular 50l.
Probably 3x heavier but I can just about lift it myself.

 

[bricol]

Plenty of info on the net on what to not buy in terms of second hand hydrovanes. I struck lucky and bought a low hours one from a lady closing a craft shop down - she had used it with a very expensive blast cabinet for glass etching. It was mounted in her kitchen!

I have it under the bungalow, under a bedroom. You an hear it in the bedroom as a background hum. Outside, with the door to under the house closed, you cannot hear it. My piston compressor of slightly lower capacity . . . probably hear it several houses away.

 

[GraemeVW]

This is my tiny hydrovane, I'd assume it's the smallest?
Don't think it would run a mask though, designed for constant running at about 50psi for spray guns.

Great in the workshop for running a little gravity gun, inflating tyres, blow gun etc.

I have a larger compressor too but this does most if what I need

 

[m_c]

Current smallest is the HV01 which has a FAD of 0.12m³or 4.2cfm, and has a 1.1kw motor.

I've got an older 1.1kw tripod version buried in the shed, that I keep meaning to get plumbed in, rather than having the other compressor screaming away, which I think is about to die anyway :/
I also have an engine driven one, which I think uses the same airhead but just spun faster to give more FAD.
The 1.1kw is underpowered for my needs, so I do keep looking at thinking I could swap a bigger/faster motor on to it.

 

[minimutly]

I’m no hydrovane expert, but they don’t come in oil- less do they? If this is correct maybe not ideal for a mask?

 

[GraemeVW]

I’m no hydrovane expert, but they don’t come in oil- less do they? If this is correct maybe not ideal for a mask?

Would all the filters needed to run a mask not deal with any oil?

 

[m_c]

I’m no hydrovane expert, but they don’t come in oil- less do they? If this is correct maybe not ideal for a mask?

They don't, but you won't find any oil free compressors in a body shop.
Mask feed is all about ensuring you have good filtration.

 

[mtt.tr]

I’m no hydrovane expert, but they don’t come in oil- less do they? If this is correct maybe not ideal for a mask?

Standard is a 3 stage filter, though I would certainly have an air quality test undertaken
O2
Co
Co2
Oil
Due point and humidity
Local compressor firm will be able to do this.

The oil separator in the hydrovane is actually very good at recapturing the oil.

I really like the new HV models really easy to service aswell.


My only other bit of advice if you are not using it flat out day in day out is when you use it let it run flat out for 30mins. They are pretty bad for contaminating the oil with condensation

 

[Guzrik]

Maybe a stupid question, but can you not feed a mask with a vacuum cleaner that has a connection on the outlet? I seem to remember seeing my father do this a long time ago?

 

[cheb]

Yes, but not as quiet as they'd have you believe. I'd compare it to a washing machine at full spin but slower.

Ah, I didn't know they did small ones, the only one's I've seen have been workshop output size.

 

[mtt.tr]

Maybe a stupid question, but can you not feed a mask with a vacuum cleaner that has a connection on the outlet? I seem to remember seeing my father do this a long time ago?

This is possible but, the reason it's not good is if the air stops running you will have not surplus air.
So you will become exposed to the paint

 

[Blobber]

Ive a small Hydrovane and its reasonably quiet but they run continuously which can be a down side

 

[julianf]

Ive a small Hydrovane and its reasonably quiet but they run continuously which can be a down side

My direct drive seems to run constantly to feed the air fed, so that wont be any worse!