Quiet Air Compressor

[Dwight in Toronto]

Wondering why you guys use such a small tanks? My compressor is loud, but has a 13 gallon tank so it barely runs.

Same here - loud compressor with big tank that stays out in the garage.  I ran a separate air hose through the garage wall and down to the work bench in the basement, where a water separator and adjustable pressure regulator support the air brush.   Out in the garage, I just pop out the quick-connect on the air brush hose, and revert to using the main compressor hose for conventional air tools.  All the noise stays outside the house.

[Chris333]

Same here - loud compressor with big tank that stays out in the garage.  I ran a separate air hose through the garage wall and down to the work bench in the basement, where a water separator and adjustable pressure regulator support the air brush.   Out in the garage, I just pop out the quick-connect on the air brush hose, and revert to using the main compressor hose for conventional air tools.  All the noise stays outside the house.

I thought of doing that too. I have a 60 gallon in the garage and a PVC pipe underground to the garage.

[Scottl]

I have a 21-year old little Home Depot special that you can probably hear from where you live when I run it.  I am looking at these quiet models with some envy.

[mmagliaro]

It depends on what you mean by "low cost".   I bought a Makita MAC100Q about 1 year ago and I absolutely love it.
It is VERY quiet, has a 1 gallon tank, a built in regulator, is easy to carry around, and has enough oomph to do other handy tasks like
pump up car tires (without taking an hour to do it, ha ha ).  But it does cost $240.

[Burlington Bob]

The Fortress air compressor from Harbor Freight is quite and has very good reviews.  One word of caution though, as there was a mention of PVC pipe for an air line.  Don't do it.  Plain and simple. 

Here's why.
https://fluidairedynamics.com/blogs/articles/can-pvc-pipe-be-used-for-compressed-air

[robert3985]

It seems like this topic just came up really recently.
This is what I have from Harbor Freight.
Very happy with it.  Runs all my air tools, airs tires and great for airbrushing.  It’s light, quiet and portable.

Here's mine:

Photo (1) - Harbor Freight Tools 2 Gallon 135 PSI Ultra Quiet Aluminum Tank 60db Compressor $189.99:


I got the 2 gallon, dual hookup version for the extra oomph.

Photo (2) - However, the 1 gallon version, with 1 hookup is even quieter at 57db and is on sale right now (2025 01Jan 26) for $139.99:


I can't say enough good things about my 60db compressor.  Normal conversations when it's on, fills up fast, no-rust aluminum tank. doesn't leak down when it's off, lightweight and I got mine on sale for $20 off about 3 years ago...an excellent deal and excellent reviews.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Olivani]

Thanks Bob. Aluminum tank, I need one of these 

[peteski]

Going by recommendations I saw here and on another modeling forum, I bought one of those Fortress 2 gal. compressors. It is amazing how lightweight and quiet it is compared to my old single cast iron cylinder with oil 4 gal. compressor.  The price is also really good and it looks very similar in construction to Max's Makita compressor.  They both likely use the same type of air pump units. It is a 2-stage setup. Probably using a diaphragm with reed valves instead of a conventional piston (the parts diagram is not very clear).

[Steveruger45]

Going by recommendations I saw here and on another modeling forum, I bought one of those Fortress 2 gal. compressors. It is amazing how lightweight and quiet it is compared to my old single cast iron cylinder with oil 4 gal. compressor.  The price is also really good and it looks very similar in construction to Max's Makita compressor.  They both likely use the same type of air pump units. It is a 2-stage setup. Probably using a diaphragm with reed valves instead of a conventional piston (the parts diagram is not very clear).

I have the 2 gallon Makita.  It looks pretty much identical to the 2 gallon Fortress.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they were both made in the same factory in China.