Buying Expensive Air Compressor - Any other rec's?

[tikka308]

I need a relatively compact, QUIET air compressor for use in a residential apartment building. After doing a fair amount of research, the best (and, so far, only) option are compressors made by Silent Aire. I'm about to purchase their Sil-Air 50-15 which is a 1/2 HP, 4-gallon model. It uses a piston-motor similar to your refrigerator and produces ~40db (far lower than normal conversation level). I will be using the compressor to blow chips out of my cutting path as well as to run either a Fogbuster or a Trico MD-1200 (uncertain of which one yet).

This compressor is going to cost me ~$900, so before purchasing, I just wanted to ask if anyone else had any recommendations!

Link: http://tinyurl.com/6hfq2o
Link 2: http://tinyurl.com/6dytmj

Thanks.

[bilinghm]

This might be a good deal for you:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SIL-AIR-Silent-A...6.c0.m14.l1318

[bilinghm]

Or this: 69 Db

http://www.amazon.com/Senco-PC1010-C.../dp/B0000AQK78

[SpeedsCustom]

The on from Ebay looks badass!

-Jason

[jpgdesigns]

Check your CFM rating... most times small compressors can't keep up with your demand...

[tikka308]

bilinghm - many thanks! Great spot on that eBay one.. I wish it were the 4 gallon instead of the 1.5 - but it's still tempting.

That Senco unit also looks quite interesting; 69db is only slightly louder than talking-levels, if i'm not mistaken... and a heck of a lot cheaper!

[pzzamakr1980]

get a small enclosure and run flood. It will cost you far less money and be extremely quiet

[SpeedsCustom]

He has a really nice enclosure...

-Jason

[SpeedsCustom]

Tikka, in a way, I kinda agree. I use this coolant that has no freaking odor and I run it daily, but sometimes it has not run for weeks. And it doesn't smell or get bacteria filled.

-Jason

[pzzamakr1980]

Nevermind, I didnt notice who was writing this. But still, why dont you just run flood. Isnt the enclosure set up for it.

[tikka308]

The enclosure would definitely allow for flood. my concern stems from friends who have salt water reef fish tanks. over time, SOMETHING leaks. Yes, you can have an overflow "sump" that could capture everything, but I live in a highrise apartment building. Leaking "industrial machining coolant" would almost certainly get me evicted! I've also heard really good things about the fogbuster, so even though it costs more money, I don't think I'm compromising too much on the end result.

Do you guys still disagree?

[SpeedsCustom]

It's not that I disagree. If you just take the time too clean all the areas up and seal them up. You should be fine. Or especially if you ran the coolant on a relay/timer, or even full but small flow.

I just feel like a 400.00+ compressor is a nice tool too have, but you properly sealing up your enclosure and taking the pre-cautions. You could have a very nice leak proof system.


But I do understand your concern. But at the same time, you don't even need that large of a bin too hold it anyway. Most of the coolant is composed of water.


-Jason