Blu_Rock
26th August 2012, 10:52 PM
I picked up a used ABAC 3hp, 340 ltr/min compressor a few weeks ago for $450. Not a bad price as it had only seen a bit of use and they go for about $1100 new. I rushed down to Masters and picked up a die grinder for $30 and hooked it up and let it rip. To my surprise, it was loud, and I mean very loud. I've got a sound level meter and it was pushing out 115db, way too loud for use in the burbs... if you want to keep the neighbors at bay.
A bit of a Google revealed that silencers are available to quieten air tools to acceptable levels. However, I'm cheap and also enjoy making stuff so I thought I'd give it a go making my own.
The materials I used were a compressor hose fitting, a bit of brass rod, some round stock, a bit of round of tube that came off an old tread mill and a couple of green scourers for the stuffing. I cut the tube to about 60mm long, made two end caps from the round stock, cut the fitting in half and joined the two halves together with brass rod. I drilled six vent holes in one of the end caps to allow the spent air to escape. I cut the scourer down so that it would fit inside the tube when rolled up and then assembled the silencer.
Now running the die grinder only produces about 90db, a massive 25db reduction in noise. It was getting a bit late so I did not try it out but will later in the week. I'm not sure whether the quietening has come at cost of reduced power, that I suppose is related to RMP? I will remove the silencer and clock the speed of the tool without the silencer fitted and then check it again with the silencer fitted. If there is too much difference and the grinder lacks adequate power, I will add some more vent holes and/or remove some of the stuffing.
A bit of a Google revealed that silencers are available to quieten air tools to acceptable levels. However, I'm cheap and also enjoy making stuff so I thought I'd give it a go making my own.
The materials I used were a compressor hose fitting, a bit of brass rod, some round stock, a bit of round of tube that came off an old tread mill and a couple of green scourers for the stuffing. I cut the tube to about 60mm long, made two end caps from the round stock, cut the fitting in half and joined the two halves together with brass rod. I drilled six vent holes in one of the end caps to allow the spent air to escape. I cut the scourer down so that it would fit inside the tube when rolled up and then assembled the silencer.
Now running the die grinder only produces about 90db, a massive 25db reduction in noise. It was getting a bit late so I did not try it out but will later in the week. I'm not sure whether the quietening has come at cost of reduced power, that I suppose is related to RMP? I will remove the silencer and clock the speed of the tool without the silencer fitted and then check it again with the silencer fitted. If there is too much difference and the grinder lacks adequate power, I will add some more vent holes and/or remove some of the stuffing.