Replacing pulleys on piston compressor for less noise?

[flanajb]

I need a compressor to power a spray gun rated at 12CFM @ 8 bar. But the sticking point here is that I need the compressor to be as quiet as possible so that I keep the neighbors happy. To date, I have searched every possible type of compressor; hydrovane, screw, piston ..

All of them are rather limited when it comes to single phase and most do not do an offering that gives me the CFM I require.

I then read a brief post about buying a large piston compressor and replacing the pulleys on the motors for slightly smaller ones so that it reduces the compressor piston speed and noise.

Clarke do a large 18CFM single phase unit and if I could apply the above theory I wonder if that has potential to work.

Anyone on here have any experience of whether I can do this or other options?

Thanks

 

[woodpig]

Interesting idea. Compressor and low noise don't belong in the same sentence unless you have deep pockets.
Keep us posted on your progress with this, I need to start sandblasting again soon.

 

[woodpig]

Forgot. I read somewhere that quite a bit of noise comes from the air inlet so a better filter on this can reduce noise as well.

 

[flh801978]

As woodpig says noise and money are not good bedfellows

I have a hydravane compressor that may keep up with what you need you could have a conversation close to it whilst its running but thats >£2000

slowing down a piston compressor isnt going to do anything good for its output
pistons are always noisy unless they are in a insulated enclosure with lots of ventilation

bambi types are good and virtually silent but you need a triple or quadruple header at least to keep up with what you require then thats >£1300 ish

Ian

 

[flanajb]

Can you send me a link to a single phase hydrovane compressor that will output 12cfm at 8 bar. To date, I have not been able to find one.

Thanks

 

[flh801978]

this is the same as mine and will happily run a 15cfm blast cabinet and when spraying i've never run out of air

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hydrovane-15- ... 19ff5f3e91

remember that it will supply more air at a lower pressure than maximum (150psi)

 

[flanajb]

this is the same as mine and will happily run a 15cfm blast cabinet and when spraying i've never run out of air

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hydrovane-15- ... 19ff5f3e91

remember that it will supply more air at a lower pressure than maximum (150psi)

Arghh, I see. Common sense did make me think whether if you only require 100psi then a machine running at 150psi producing 9cfm is able to produce 12cfm at 100psi.

Is air compression / output per minute a linear relationship for a given machine?

 

[woodpig]

We had a Hydrovane where I used to work, great tool if you can afford it.

 

[SammyQ]

"bambi types are good and virtually silent but you need a triple or quadruple header "


Do you mean several fridge-like compressors sitting on top please?

Sam

 

[flh801978]

Sammy
yes those are the ones
they run in a synthetic oil bath so clearances and tolerances are tighter and sealed in its box the whole thing is silent
I have a double header one for workshop use such as pinners or airbrush use

Ian

 

[SammyQ]

Thanks Ian, that's helpful.

I have a conventional, noisey, 50L, with a bandjaxed pressure switch; it won't shut off at working pressure. I was going to swop out the offending item, but also replace the compressor with three de-gassed fridge compressors I liberated from a plumbing colleague. I plan to link their output together in parallel (and possibly with one-way valves to prevent 'inflating' them) but am considering wiring their on/off switches separately so that I can select only one or two to run once at full working pressure. My needs are light, nailers and pinners mostly, with an occasional session with a cheapie grit blaster for cleaning plane bodies, lathe parts, small castings. My sprayer is a self-powered HVLP one that is adequate for what I do, so no need for a huge air supply there.

Sam