Which air compressor

[Paul Lajoie]

Looking to upgrade my shop air compressor, not sure what brand to get. Most important option is it’s got to be guiter than most are now. No pancake style. Probably 10 gallon, 120 volt. I’ve been looking at California air, but just read some reviews split between good and bad. Bad being a lot of damaged packing, connections broken and not good overall quality. Who else makes a guide compressor? Thanks for your input.

Paul

 

[robo hippy]

Our club demonstrator at last meeting was doing hollow forms and used one of the California air compressors. We meet in a school lunch room, and they have a stop light on the wall for noise levels. It didn't even go to yellow, with red meaning shut up! Only negative thing I have heard about them is that they don't have huge volume. His was more than adequate for putting the nozzle inside the forms and blow the dust out through a 5/8 inch opening.

robo hippy

 

[John Ames]

California air really are junk and no support after the fact. I had one that blew up internally after about 20 uses in a year. Called them, talked to some guy who was less than useless. No restitution, no help, no nothing.

I got a little Makita and it works like a treat. Rolair also makes high quality, very quiet compressors

 

[Richard Coers]

I love my small California Air, but brand and quiet are not the best evaluation tools for buying a new compressor. You need to look at what tools you want to use with it, check air usage for all the tools, and then start shopping. You don't mention if this will be the only compressor you have. 10 gallon is really small for a shop air compressor and won't power a sander, and just short usage of a spray finishing gun and air gun. You need to study CFM requirements and capacities.

 

[John K Jordan]

...is it’s got to be guiter than most are now.

Just curious, do you have room in your shop for a small sound-insulated closet or box, perhaps mounted on a wall? If so, that could be a nice long-term solution to the noise.

When I built my shop I included a 4x8' closet to house both my compressor (5hp 60gal Ingersoll Rand) and the dust collector (5hp ClearVue cyclone). The cyclone, for example, is a real screamer but when it's running I can hear a spoken whisper outside the closet. The compressor is also very quiet.

Note there are ways to build a sound-reduction enclosure that work much better than others, for one example, using staggered stud walls with insulation woven between the studs. This prevents direct sound transmission through the walls.

For my permanent sound-insulated closet, I powered the compressor with a switch outside the closet and piped the compressed air through the wall into the main shop for filtering, moisture removal, pressure regulation, and distribution to multiple outlets in and outside the shop.



Of course, all this may not apply to your situation, but sound from a smaller compressor could be easily reduced by building a simple insulated box around it.

JKJ

 

[hockenbery]

It’s a little bigger than you might want but I’ve had a 60gal Quincey from Northern tool for about 10 years.
Surprisingly quiet.
I can sandblast as long as I want. The tank refills while delivering air to the blast gun.

The loudest is emptying the tank at the end of the day’s use.

 

[Paul Lajoie]

Our club demonstrator at last meeting was doing hollow forms and used one of the California air compressors. We meet in a school lunch room, and they have a stop light on the wall for noise levels. It didn't even go to yellow, with red meaning shut up! Only negative thing I have heard about them is that they don't have huge volume. His was more than adequate for putting the nozzle inside the forms and blow the dust out through a 5/8 inch opening.

robo hippy

I’m not gonna need a lot of volume, use will be the occasional pin nailer or air stapler and hopefully eventually piercing turnings.

Paul

 

[Paul Lajoie]

California air really are junk and no support after the fact. I had one that blew up internally after about 20 uses in a year. Called them, talked to some guy who was less than useless. No restitution, no help, no nothing.

I got a little Makita and it works like a treat. Rolair also makes high quality, very quiet compressors

Thanks John, the reviews I read were pretty much split good, bad. Bad being received damaged or broke regulators with very little use

Paul

 

[Paul Lajoie]

I love my small California Air, but brand and quiet are not the best evaluation tools for buying a new compressor. You need to look at what tools you want to use with it, check air usage for all the tools, and then start shopping. You don't mention if this will be the only compressor you have. 10 gallon is really small for a shop air compressor and won't power a sander, and just short usage of a spray finishing gun and air gun. You need to study CFM requirements and capacities.

Thanks Richard, the reason I’m looking mostly at quiet compressors is my shop is in the basement right under our living room( plus I don’t like hearing that noise while I’m working) . As for usage it’ll be for occasional use of my finish nailer or air stapler and eventually piercing my turnings so don’t need a huge volume.

Paul

 

[Paul Lajoie]

Just curious, do you have room in your shop for a small sound-insulated closet or box, perhaps mounted on a wall? If so, that could be a nice long-term solution to the noise.

When I built my shop I included a 4x8' closet to house both my compressor (5hp 60gal Ingersoll Rand) and the dust collector (5hp ClearVue cyclone). The cyclone, for example, is a real screamer but when it's running I can hear a spoken whisper outside the closet. The compressor is also very quiet.

Note there are ways to build a sound-reduction enclosure that work much better than others, for one example, using staggered stud walls with insulation woven between the studs. This prevents direct sound transmission through the walls.

For my permanent sound-insulated closet, I powered the compressor with a switch outside the closet and piped the compressed air through the wall into the main shop for filtering, moisture removal, pressure regulation, and distribution to multiple outlets in and outside the shop.

View attachment 68276

Of course, all this may not apply to your situation, but sound from a smaller compressor could be easily reduced by building a simple insulated box around it.

JKJ

Just curious, do you have room in your shop for a small sound-insulated closet or box, perhaps mounted on a wall? If so, that could be a nice long-term solution to the noise.

Thanks John, definetly no room for a closet.


Paul

 

[Paul Lajoie]

It’s a little bigger than you might want but I’ve had a 60gal Quincey from Northern tool for about 10 years.
Surprisingly quiet.
I can sandblast as long as I want. The tank refills while delivering air to the blast gun.

The loudest is emptying the tank at the end of the day’s use.

Thank you hockenbery, 60 gallon definetly more than I need.

Paul

 

[Stan Pressner]

I have the 8 Gallon California air for hollow form blowout, pin nailing, stapling and it has been perfect for me

 

[john lucas]

I just bought this Dewalt. It is the quietest compressor I've ever heard. I have it in the next room where my old incredibly noisy one was. I wouldn't mind having thus right next to me. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dewalt-26-gal-ultra-quiet-compressor-dxcmsac426

 

[Alan Weinberg]

@john lucas Very quiet but some very bad reviews in the link you posted . . .

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

I have a small California Air compressor. I bought it over a year ago to replace one that rusted out and I'm been impressed with it. I use it at least 3 times a week and it's on for multiple hours at a time, there have been days that I forgot to turn it off and left it on all weekend without it running. It's much quieter, I haven't had any issues with it rusting (yet), it seems well made and it easy to use. I would buy another one again.

 

[Jon Moyer]

A few years ago at work I bought a small Makita compressor to replace a loud Dewalt. It has worked very well in a light industrial setting, about 20 hours a week. It is much quieter than the DeWalt. It was recommended by flooring installers working in people’s condos because it didn’t disturb neighbors. Last year i needed to expand production into a small room so a very quiet compressor was needed and I bought a California Air, wow is it quiet and has worked fine. I would buy either of these again.

 

[John K Jordan]

Very quiet but some very bad reviews in the link you posted . .

In general, when I read reviews, one thing I look for is if the review appears to have come from someone who actually bought and used the product. Some reviews for many products simply look a bit shady. Some of the reviewers with poor comments about this compressor are not even listed as “Verified product owners”. One is upset at Tractor Supply, apparently never even received the compressor but still does not recommend it!

I read some of the other reviews which were positive, some had issues. It was encouraging that Dewalt addressed some of the concerns and provided contact info for their parts and service “team.” I see 86% of reviewers recommended this compressor.