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| Pancake Compressors-Quiet? http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=27836 |
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| Author: | Chris Paulick [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I was thinking about maybe getting a pancake compressor to run a micro die grinder. I was wondering if anyone knows of a quiet one or which ones are pretty quiet? The whole purpose to having one is my other compressor is oiless and pretty loud. |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Chris, I haven't met a quiet one yet, and I've owned quite a few of them. In fact I can't think of any that were noticeably quieter than the others. Those small tanks will empty quickly with that pencil grinder so you'll be listening to the compressor alot. Steve |
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| Author: | windsurfer [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
My Porter Cable pancake is oilless and very loud - much louder than my old Crapsman shop compressor. Also since the shop compressor is tucked away under a bench in a far corner, it sounds less noisy than it is. The die grinder I have uses a lot of air, I doubt the pancake could keep up with it. Grinder itself is pretty noisy. When I first got it I was amazed how much better it worked than a Dremel, then I figured out that the 3HP compressor was running most of the time. -jd |
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| Author: | Chris Paulick [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have ever bought an oilless compressor to start with. Mine is way to loud that's why I was hoping that maybe an oiled pancake would be somewhat quieter. My best bet might be to sale my 35 gal compressor and use the money towards a new oiled compressor. |
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I built a box and covered it in carpet and put it over the compressor... that helped a lot. It gets pretty hot in there, but it definitely cuts the noise down. |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I did a Google search and found Makita has two small compressors rated around 80 db. Of course the others don't have a sound level rating so what are we comparing to??? My shop compressor is 5hp 220v motor with a twin cylinder oil pump. Not really quiet but a whole lot less annoying than a pancake style. The 1750 rpm motor and the ability to run a decent intake muffler are what make the difference. |
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Some of the Makita compressors are quieter than the competition, but none of the small compressors are as quiet as a big slow-turning compressor, in my (limited) experience. (I've heard the Makita running in a store and it was pretty quiet.) Those little die grinders use quite a lot of air- perhaps putting a large compressor farther away and running some plumbing might make sense. That's 'on my list' for some time in the future. The little compressor I have in my basement shop is hardly more than a toy in usefulness, but would 'wake the dead' with its noise. The little oil-type compressor (4 cuft/min @90psi) in the garage is quite a bit better, but not 'quiet' by any standard. Cheers John |
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| Author: | Chris Paulick [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Mine sits on the other side of the door in my covered laundry room area that's open for about 18" around the top of 2 sides and it's under a tin roof. With it being 93 here now it's about 120 if not hotter out there in the day now. I sure don't think covering it is an option.  I read that 60-75 db is the quiet ones but never saw any db rating on them. I think 2 cfm @90psi is the requirement for the micro grinder or was that 1 cfm? |
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| Author: | Burton LeGeyt [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 11:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I just bought a Makita Mac2400 and it is certainly much quieter than any other small compressor I have heard but not really quiet compared to any other tool I have. I did a lot of research and pretty much no one had anything bad to say about it, it has performed great for me so far but really I just got it. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 5:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I have bought a Campbell oil less compressor a long time ago. It was 1/7 hp, .9cfm and its really not all that useful beyond airbrushing (and sometimes it had trouble with that too) but its noise could literally wake the dead. Now I just got a 2.5HP compressor with a 5 gallon tank. It's still loud (because it runs at around 3000 RPM) but not quite as loud as the 1/7 HP oil less compressor and it keeps up pretty well with a full sized spray gun. I am thinking of getting an inexpensive mini die grinder too instead of a dremel because it's cheaper and with it being air powered, its smaller therefore easier to control. I seen some that says it's .9cfm at 90psi, does it really suck up more air than that? My compressor does like 8 cfm anyways. |
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| Author: | Chris Paulick [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 6:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
It sure does and if you get a cheap one like the HF it will have runout and vibrate and eventually probably leak. When I tested mine it lasted about 20 minutes. Took it back and ordered a Sioux from Blues Creek. |
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| Author: | Foster [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 8:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I ran pipe on the intake side to the outside and put a muffler on it then an intake filter. I bent some aluminum flashing into a rain cover. Painted the cover white to match the siding. I went to a salvage yard to get the muffler so I don't know what the muffler came off of perhaps a lawnmower or some small engine. I was only looking for something that would mate to the pipe and intake filter relatively easy. It amazed me the difference in the noise level. I got the tip about putting an automotive muffler on a much larger compressor from an engineer who worked at a local branch of a major compressor supply firm. His company sells mufflers for compressors and he told me they were auto mufflers modified to have a NPT nipple welded on to screw right into the intake side at four times the price of the standard auto muffler. I recently sold my 5 hp Ingersoll Rand 2 cylinder two stage with an horizontal 80 gallon tank because I picked up a 10 hp two stage 3 cylinder 120 gallon vertical tank off of craigslist. I guess the technology has improved because I can stand next to the newer bigger compressor while it's running and talk on the phone. It just makes a chuffing sound. I realize that my compressor is overkill for guitar work but my other hobby is working on vehicles both mechanical and paint and body work. I do use some DA sanders on guitars and they consume a ton of air to operate efficently. The larger pumps can handle the air consumption with out cycling or running constantly. |
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| Author: | Robert Renick [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I have a Campbell Hausfield 5 hp oiless, wow is it loud, the Makita hot dog I have is what I use, don't need the big one now. I can spray w/ an hvlp with the little one, not all day, but I get work done, still noisy, but nothing like the oiless. I have the same reaction, if I knew that it was that loud, never would have bought it, and it just won't die. Fortunately neither will the Makita, many years of good service from that little guy. Rob |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I don't see how Campbell sells compressors that are 5HP on a 110v line, most 5HP compressors I can find in Taiwan runs off of a 220v line, some on a 3 phase, and are HUGE (over 80 gal. tank). I think Campbell tends to exaggerate things. I am told that the best way to tell what the HP of your compressor (or any other power tool) motor is to look at its power draw. Generally it is about 700 watts for every HP so if your compressor eats 1.8kw then it's a 2.1HP. If your compressor eats that much but claims to be a 5 or 10 HP then its exaggerated, because a 5HP should eat around 3.5 kw, and most 110v line can't support that kind of draw. |
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| Author: | Andy Birko [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:22 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Don't know if this is an option for you but - My shop is in my basement and the compressor sits in the attached garage. Few minutes with a drill and bingo-bango-sugar-in-the-gastank: my shop is quiet. I didn't run a hard line, I just bought a couple flex lines to run it. I also put a water trap at the lowest point and haven't had any problems spraying. I'm guessing that the losses in the lines wouldn't be a big deal for a pencil grinder. |
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Tai Fu wrote: I am thinking of getting an inexpensive mini die grinder too instead of a dremel because it's cheaper and with it being air powered, its smaller therefore easier to control. I have a cheap mini-die grinder and a bunch of Dremel-type tools-a few 'real' Dremels and some cheap knockoffs. The mini grinder turns quite a bit higher RPM, so is good if you are using v. small cutters. For routing small inlay pockets or similar, the air tool looks pretty good. However, the power is not comparable to a Dremel tool in my experience. I probably need a bigger compressor. And, the air tool is quite a bit more expensive than a Dremel knockoff - even not counting the compressor and plumbing costs. Dremel-type tools go on sale hereabouts for $15 or so quite often- usually with the 'hundreds of accessories' included. Cheers John |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 1:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Is there such a thing as an oil-type pancake compressor? I though they were all oilless diaphragm type. Near as I can tell their purpose is to run nail guns on construction sites. |
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| Author: | woody b [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Howard Klepper wrote: Is there such a thing as an oil-type pancake compressor? I though they were all oilless diaphragm type. Near as I can tell their purpose is to run nail guns on construction sites. My Dad's got one. He's a retired building contractor, and used it for nail guns. He's been retired for 11+ years so the compressor is pretty old. It uses oil. I believe it's a Makita, it's that funky kinda off blue color that alot of Makita stuff is. It's (alot) louder than my 5 HP Ingersall Rand compressor. |
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Some of the new, cheaper ones are diaphragm compressors, but many of the older models are oiled piston versions. I have a Rol-Aire that has an oil sump and, talk about noisy. I also have a little inexpensive Senco 1 gal compressor, and you can talk in a normal tone of voice when it's running, and it weighs about 15 lbs. It's great for a finish nailer, working inside. No CFM to speak of, so it runs often. |
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| Author: | Robert Dunn [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 6:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
I am permitted by my wife to work in my basement shop, all hours of the night. She didn't even care that I was cutting and installing trim in my bedroom at 2:30am. The Bostitch compressor, that I have is not aloud to run after 7pm when my kids go to bed. They are designed for job site mobility, and the engineers probably never even thought of db. |
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| Author: | alan stassforth [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 11:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
earplugs are pretty cheap. |
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| Author: | Chris Paulick [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Yeah but it's also nice not to get the neighbors pissed off at you. 
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
Chris Paulick wrote: Yeah but it's also nice not to get the neighbors pissed off at you. Good thing in Taiwan noise is usually not a big issue... especially when you got fireworks going off at 3 in the morning! |
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| Author: | alan stassforth [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pancake Compressors-Quiet? |
chris, they don't make them aymore, but maybe somebody has one for sale somewhere, but i have an old ermaco tube tank compressor that was the quietest i've ever heard. i still have it, but it's noisy now. over 20 years and it still works. |
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