Relocating and enclosing air compressor

Ok, I have a cheaper Porter Cable 29 gallon Single stage air compressor that's almost painful to be in the same room with when it's filling.

Has anyone build an insulated surround for their air compressor? If so, what did you do to extend the lines? Copper? 80 sched PVC?

This would be a semi-permanent setup as I do still roll unit around to the neighbors and pool shed. Any downsides off boxing it in with ventilation?

I'll be the first to say PVC pipe is not rated for use with compressed air and is potentially dangerous...use copper or threaded black iron pipe.

The air compressor enclosure will need ventilation; there are plans out there on the web for building baffled air intakes that will allow enough air to flow while still damping the sound. If your compressor is an oilless unit like the one in the photo, unfortunately they are inherently noisy.

PVC is banned by OSHA for use in compressed air systems. It is brittle and if struck while pressurize it can explode and turn into little pieces of high velocity shrapnel. There are some types of ABS pipe that are rated for compressed air.

If you use copper, use the heavy wall stuff.

Jensenman has a great outside enclosure for his compressor. It is like a mini shed on the back of his garage. All the noise is outside and therefore makes the garage nice to work in..

Ok...No PVC...gotcha.. Thought I had heard the sched 80 was OK before.

What is the best thing to use? 20' max run.

Standard pipe is fine if your pressure won't exceed 150 psi. I've been using it for years, my compressor only goes up to 130 psi. I prefer galvanized as it will have less rust in the lines. Any metal pipe will rust inside from the condensation. I have a filter/water trap plus two inlive drops to catch condensation I still sometimes have some water in the lines that comes out when I use a tool.

Honestly, if you are doing a 20' run with no junctions in it I would use an air hose for the run. Just get a cheap non-coiled one for the run, and a better quality for the hose to tool part. Cheap, and easy

Yes.. Hose is so cheap..

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27734 <-- discussion on why not to use PVC. Some scary stuff can happen.

Best option, not cheapest

http://www.garage-pak.com/compressed-air-piping-packages/garage-pak-deluxe-compressed-air-piping-package.html

Grtechguy wrote: Ok...No PVC...gotcha.. Thought I had heard the sched 80 was OK before. What is the best thing to use? 20' max run.

I have buddy who lost several teeth, when he tried pressurizing some pcv pipe at fairly low pressures and it blew up in his face.

I got my big old POS compressor relocated to the basement. A week or two with a jackhammer and I don't have to look at or hear it even though it is a "quiet" model.

My noisy little POS one that I am using until I set up the copper manifold system is pretty loud, can't wait to replace it with the Junn-air I have that needs repair. Anyways I had a shelf I had to put somewhere so I put it on top of the little noisy compressor. The weight of the shelf dampened the vibration from the compressor motor through the reservoir, really quited it down quite a bit. I'd try rubber mounts and weight and see what happens.

I always thought adding a lenth of pipe to the intake of the compressor can help with noise; even having the intake piped outside. If you're building an enclosure with ductwork; for a duct not to transfer much noise have a turn at each end and have it so while looking into one end you can't see out the other, then use some sound absorbing material and line the duct. If you're in a cold climate and using compressed air, its like a free air dryer during the winter.

Put a muffler on the intake. A regular muffler but reverse the flow.