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Air Compressor sound proofing

23firefly

Full Member
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
340
Going to build a cabinet for my garage air compressor in order to quite it down. I'm looking for a ideas on what material to use on the interior cabinet walls to create the sound proofing.

I have read about sound proofing foam, but have also heard that asphalte roofing tiles work well too.

Anyone have more information which might help?
 

wildbill

Old Bronco Guy
Joined
Jun 29, 2001
Messages
6,888
%) %) %) If you do make sure it can get fresh air to cool it or it will burn up good luck.;D ;D ;D Bill %) :cool: ;D
 

croft75

Sr. Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
781
I had a 5hp standup from Home Depot , I built a small addition off the back of my shop that was approx, 4'x4' I ended up with heat issues that caused me to leave the door open even in the winter. Ended up burning the pump out. Just my 2 cents but they need to be in bigger areas with air flow.
 

Pedestrian

Bronco Missionary
Joined
Sep 10, 2008
Messages
2,299
I isolated the compressor from the floor with a section of conveyor belt from a rock quarry. It made a big difference in the amount of vibration/ harmonics felt throughout the rest of the house. I would not enclose it either, due to heat.
 

broncorick

Sr. Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
967
huh...what did you say....why would you want to do that....speak up I CAN"T HEAR YOU!!:)
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
35,710
Friend did a sound proof cabinet for his compressor. Half inch plywood and fiberglass insulation. Really quiet. also really hot. One day the pressure switch didn't cycle right and the blow off valve went. compressor just ran and vented out the blow off. Next morning tried to figure the source of the smoke smell. Could not hear the compressor running away as it was insulated. Cost him a new compressor. Took the cabinet out. I got a free 60 gallon tank out fo the deal!
 

Jeepster

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 13, 2001
Messages
1,507
If you look at the first link you will see that, that fellow, installed a little fresh air intake box fan. Its also a good practice to kill the power to the unit when not needed.
 

4lofun

Sr. Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
950
yeah put it outside, can make little roof for it. if needs to be inside, isolate from floor with rubber mat at least . with enclosure you could mount fan to circulate air better. wire fan into compresser, when you turn on compressor fan is always on even when not cycling on
 

deltarat

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
3,371
Loc.
Drew,Ms
Put it BEHIND the garage. Save your money. Just drill a hole through the wall.

That's what I did when I built my new shop. I poured a 4x4 slab on the back and put a top on it. I have the metal to enclose it on 2 sides and the 3rd wall is the shop. I am going to leave the 4th wall open to breathe. You can hardly here it run. It's a 5 hp.
 

justinoshea

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
479
Loc.
Gilbert, AZ
That's what I did when I built my new shop. I poured a 4x4 slab on the back and put a top on it. I have the metal to enclose it on 2 sides and the 3rd wall is the shop. I am going to leave the 4th wall open to breathe. You can hardly here it run. It's a 5 hp.

Same here, enclosed 2 sides but i put it at an inside corner, about 6" from one wall and 18" from the other so it is accessable from one side.

I used to have it in the garage and it kicked on while my 90 yr. old grandma was standing next to it. she almost died from a heart attack!

from a high level some materails absord sound, some reflect it. most foams are worthless at low frequencies.
 

Dan's73

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
1,117
I've got a 10HP Champion in my shop that's had a "box" around it for its whole life & never had any heat issues, even the last 9 years in a poorly swamp-cooled shop. We built a frame with 2x4's, sheathed the outside with cheap 1/2" plywood and the inside with a sound deadening board that's a lot like low density particle board. The sides clear by about 18" all the way around & the top is about 1/2 way open to allow airflow. You can still hear the compressor come on, but you can carry on a normal conversation right next to it while it runs.

If you're concerned about heat build up, and we were for a while, you can rig up a temp-controlled ventilation fan & vents on the enclosure to move air through there. We also have our compressors mounted to skids with rubber isolators to minimize vibration and keep them from walking, I'm sure it helps with vibration related noise as well.
 

Fishbone

Full Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2007
Messages
534
Loc.
Northern, Illinois
I put mine in the basement and plumbed lines and a switch to the garage, I can barely hear it. It's actually louder in the kitchen (it's under it), but still not too bad, plus if it's running I'm not in the kitchen. The wife is used to it now.

If you have a basement and attached garage, it works great, saves space, quieter, temperature controlled, etc..
 
Last edited:

hose101

Full Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
272
I isolated the compressor using larger rubber stoppers(3" dia.) from local hardware store. Havent built my enclosure yet but did for a friend. Compressor sits on an outside wall. Cut one hole for a bathroom vent fan and another for an exhaust vent. No heat issues. We just used good old pink panther held down by chicken wire to the back of the 1/2 inch ply walls. could only hear the low base hum of the compressor.
 
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