Worried about noise

[stef1]

Hi guys,

I'm just about ready to purchase a new compressor, http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_8,cos_8.1,cos_8.1.2/153416?referer=carousel
(as already referred to by another member)

Its to replace an SIP hurricane 2hp 50 litre vertical compressor, which is very loud and does kinda warrant the name!

I have no preference for the SIP brand but the 4hp and 150 litre tank suits my needs well, as 200 litre found on most 4hp units is too big for my workshop.

I'm aware that belt driven oil lubricated compressors are quieter than the old nasty direct drive units but as I have never seen this compressor or heard it running, am I taking a gamble on how noisey it will be?
I appreciate that the 4hp unit will be drawing in more air so will have a slightly louder intake but that I can deal with.
I need to be able to work in the same room as the compressor but at present I can barely hear myself think never mind hold a conversation.

I have been reading many posts on the forum about compressors but I'm unsure.
I had looked at a screw driven compressor from an Irish company but without a VAT registration its ridiculously expensive for what I need.

Thanks in advance

 

[Mr shiney]

They are horribly noisy. My friend just bought one. I just went through the same dilemma as I need to be quiet as well as its in my garage. I ended up buying a Hydrovane unit in the end. It's only 64db which is quieter than a washing machine. As its a vane and not piston it's just a low hum rather than a rattle. I am very impressed with it.

 

[stef1]

Thanks for the reply mr shiney, did you buy brand new or second hand? I'm quite interested in the screw or hydrovane type
I had a funny feeling the compressor I mentioned might be very noisey, I can do without that lol.
Cheers

 

[Mr shiney]

I bought a reconditioned unit with a years warranty that was only 3 years old and had been run less that 150hrs. Apparently it was used to demonstrate packing machinery at conventions and lived in a shipping crate the rest of the time. I even got the shipping crate. By the look of the shipping labels its been all over the world!!

Anyway, I got a right result with it as its mint. I run a load of the usual air tools and a HVLP spray gun as well as a small Clarke blast cabinet. It keeps up with all of them no problem and is very very quiet. I can hear the radio in the garage over it.

I fitted one of these http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Pro...be0f-51bd-43f3-bc43-41654637b74a#.UkkvKRbc23s which has been amazing. Totally clean air with not a single drop of water or contamination.

I also fitted an automatic water dump to the receivers which vents for 4 seconds every 20 minutes.

All in all very pleased with the setup.

 

[stef1]

Thanks for that.
What you have sounds ideal, I will be using mine for the usual air tools, spraying and possibly a small blast cabinet.

I'm looking at second hand units just now, not much out there that I can find. I don't mind travelling for a good unit though.

 

[pedrobedro]

A friend of mine just bought a SIP 150ltr. The tank is black and it has a separate motor and pump. I have a direct drive 3hp which is noisy and his compressor is very quiet in comparison. Check the unit out before you look at a Hydrovane as they need specialist servicing and lubrication. How much did your compressor cost Mr shiney and do you maintain it regularly ?

 

[stef1]

A friend of mine just bought a SIP 150ltr. The tank is black and it has a separate motor and pump. I have a direct drive 3hp which is noisy and his compressor is very quiet in comparison. Check the unit out before you look at a Hydrovane as they need specialist servicing and lubrication. How much did your compressor cost Mr shiney and do you maintain it regularly ?

I have no way of looking at the sip 4hp compressor so I would have to order it to find out.
Servicing the hydrovane isn't a problem, it's not much more than servicing a piston type compressor fro what I can make out.
I have been pricing oil and things for the hydrovanes, it's not as bad as I first thought to be honest.

Why is getting a good compressor so difficult..

 

[danelectro]

I have an old SIP compressor (belt drive like that one), and I have to say although it does make a noise, generally with the doors closed it doesn't casue a nuisance to people around. Most of the noise where mine was concerned was from blocked intake filter....then it sounded like it was a bag of nails!! The direct drive units as pedro said are dreafully noisy

Got to say I just had a look at that one you were on about, looks quite a good spec for the money....tempted to get one!! Don't think you'd get a Hydrovane of the same spec at reasonable money........and sometimes they can squeal, which can be more of a nuisance...IMO, but they are good!

 

[stef1]

I have an old SIP compressor (belt drive like that one), and I have to say although it does make a noise, generally with the doors closed it doesn't casue a nuisance to people around. Most of the noise where mine was concerned was from blocked intake filter....then it sounded like it was a bag of nails!! The direct drive units as pedro said are dreafully noisy

Got to say I just had a look at that one you were on about, looks quite a good spec for the money....tempted to get one!! Don't think you'd get a Hydrovane of the same spec at reasonable money........and sometimes they can squeal, which can be more of a nuisance...IMO, but they are good!

I could do with the compressor being significantly quieter as I have to work next to it and also as it's a wooden shed basically I don't want to upset the neighbours anymore than I do currently.
Any hydrovane compressors I have come across at a low-ish price are all ancient things or not very powerful.
I wish the Irish company selling the screw type would cut me a deal, I don't understand why they can't. It's £1300 (well more than I want to spend but it's a good size, powerful enough and quiet) but it's plus vat unless vat registered!

 

[rtbcomp]

Can get hold of a manual/spec sheet for the SIP? It should give you a dB (decibel) figure.

Another option is to build a soundproof enclosure for it, there's a few described on here.

 

[stef1]

Can get hold of a manual/spec sheet for the SIP? It should give you a dB (decibel) figure.

Another option is to build a soundproof enclosure for it, there's a few described on here.

I haven't come across one yet but I will google it now.

I had thought about the enclosure but to be honest, it will take up done room that I can't really spare. Everything is kinda crammed in to every inch of space I have at the moment.

Cheers

 

[danelectro]

I could do with the compressor being significantly quieter as I have to work next to it and also as it's a wooden shed basically I don't want to upset the neighbours anymore than I do currently.
Any hydrovane compressors I have come across at a low-ish price are all ancient things or not very powerful.
I wish the Irish company selling the screw type would cut me a deal, I don't understand why they can't. It's £1300 (well more than I want to spend but it's a good size, powerful enough and quiet) but it's plus vat unless vat registered!

I see your point, but in real terms it surely will only ever be running when you're using a tool.......and to be honest, the tools will probably make a hell of a lot more noise than the compressor.

Have you got a link to the Irish company???? you have to remember, they're probably not making a huge amount of profit on the compressor, so therefore couldn't do a deal where they cover the cost of VAT.....the VAT goes to the government, not the seller!!

Whatwill you be using the compressor for???? Seems quite a large capacity for working in a shed?!

 

[RonMig]

I have a similar issue placing my slightly noisy compressor in a packed workshop/shed (even though it's 18ft x 12ft) -so I'm planning a 6ft x 4ft extension

 

[stef1]

I see your point, but in real terms it surely will only ever be running when you're using a tool.......and to be honest, the tools will probably make a hell of a lot more noise than the compressor.

Have you got a link to the Irish company???? you have to remember, they're probably not making a huge amount of profit on the compressor, so therefore couldn't do a deal where they cover the cost of VAT.....the VAT goes to the government, not the seller!!

Whatwill you be using the compressor for???? Seems quite a large capacity for working in a shed?!

I use the compressor for tools, spraying and my press and spring compressor etc so not all noisy things. Really though, the quieter it is the better.
I need the large tank for when I'm using tools like the impact gun where the compressor has no chance of keeping up. Ok the impact gun is loud but only when the trigger is pressed and not constantly running behind me, if you know what I'm getting at?

I will find a link for the company just in a sec.
I know the seller doesn't get the vat which is exactly why I wonder how they cat sell it to anyone not vat registered? Does it really make any odds?
Currently trying to find someone who is so I can atleast make it a possibility.

An extension to the shed is on the cards but not for a while yet.

 

[stef1]

http://www.irishaircompressors.com/Special_Offers.html

Link to the Irish one

 

[rtbcomp]

I know the seller doesn't get the vat which is exactly why I wonder how they cat sell it to anyone not vat registered? Does it really make any odds?

The seller is acting as a tax collector, and they have to account for VAT whoever they sell it to. A VAT registered company/person claims the VAT back or if it is exported to any other country in the EU to a VAT registered company/person the seller doesn't charge VAT and the buyer cannot claim it back.

If you have friend who is VAT registered and he sells it to you he still has to account for the VAT, if he hides the transaction and he gets found out he, and possibly you, will be in deep do-dos.

 

[stef1]

I know the seller doesn't get the vat which is exactly why I wonder how they cat sell it to anyone not vat registered? Does it really make any odds?

The seller is acting as a tax collector, and they have to account for VAT whoever they sell it to. A VAT registered company/person claims the VAT back or if it is exported to any other country in the EU to a VAT registered company/person the seller doesn't charge VAT and the buyer cannot claim it back.

If you have friend who is VAT registered and he sells it to you he still has to account for the VAT, if he hides the transaction and he gets found out he, and possibly you, will be in deep do-dos.

Thanks for that! That does clear that up for me.

Hmm, so even getting someone to purchase it doesn't help either..

 

[danelectro]

I agree the spring compressor won't make much noise.....but do you honestly think an impact wrench is not going to drown out the noise of the compressor?? Even if the compressor is noisy when you use the wrench, it'll soon shut off when there's no call for air. I get worried more about spraying whne other people are around, it's far more offensive than the sound of a compressor. But if you really are worried, I'd say an shed extension with some insulation for noise will be your best bet......the money you're saving on buying a cheaper compressor will give you a nice compressor house!!!

Being VAT registered doesn't restrict you on purchasing, I think shipping will be a bigger issue for you from the irish company than VAT

 

[stef1]

I agree the spring compressor won't make much noise.....but do you honestly think an impact wrench is not going to drown out the noise of the compressor?? Even if the compressor is noisy when you use the wrench, it'll soon shut off when there's no call for air. I get worried more about spraying whne other people are around, it's far more offensive than the sound of a compressor. But if you really are worried, I'd say an shed extension with some insulation for noise will be your best bet......the money you're saving on buying a cheaper compressor will give you a nice compressor house!!!

Being VAT registered doesn't restrict you on purchasing, I think shipping will be a bigger issue for you from the irish company than VAT

It's the time I have to wait on the compressor switching off that annoys me when it's running.
The only spraying I do is with a cheapo air hungry gun for wooden furniture and things, I also paint the shed every so often so I don't want to have to listen to it running for that. The gun is have isn't very noisy for it being air hungry so I would settle for only hearing that.
There are times as well when I will run a long airline to my bike shed for working on that, again I don't want a noisy compressor running constantly as it's pretty close to my neighbours house. I can hear the current compressor in my house with the shed door and house door closed.
What makes you say the shopping will be a bigger problem that the vat? (Just curious, not having a go)

 

[danelectro]

It's the time I have to wait on the compressor switching off that annoys me when it's running.
The only spraying I do is with a cheapo air hungry gun for wooden furniture and things, I also paint the shed every so often so I don't want to have to listen to it running for that. The gun is have isn't very noisy for it being air hungry so I would settle for only hearing that.
There are times as well when I will run a long airline to my bike shed for working on that, again I don't want a noisy compressor running constantly as it's pretty close to my neighbours house. I can hear the current compressor in my house with the shed door and house door closed.
What makes you say the shopping will be a bigger problem that the vat? (Just curious, not having a go)

All the points you raise are perfectly valid, I was just saying that air tools are noisy too....sprayguns aren't but by design they chuck out annoying fumes!! so from personal experience, I find paint clouds more of a nuisance that noise.

I think from what you say, it's gotta be a shed extension or spend out big bucks on a quiet compressor.

As for my comment about SHIPPING, well through my work I have shipped items to ireland and Northern ireland, and the cost can be nothing short of shocking!! Hence why I said that. Have you got a quote from them for shipping?? Can't imagine it'd be cheap. Vat we all have to pay, often it's better to see the gross price only, stops the brain questioning if you're being robbed by vat!!!!

I'd still go with a shed extension and soundproofing, even if you splashed out on a very nice expensive compressor, you'd want to house it in something, otherwise all it'll be doing when you're spraying is ingesting crap to block the filters up. you've also got to think about servicing, etc....just my take on it.