Thread: Quiet/"Silent" compressor recommendations?

oil less compressors are the way to go got mine off Ebay at a good price
very quiet

Total tools have the “Iron Air” one, same as Chicago it appears and quiet as …… well I’m out of ideas. They’re good I’ve got 2 and they go good.

I have a Chicago Pneumatics Silence piston compressor. CPRS10500, its made in Italy.



Its a 10 hp, 500 litres tank. its now 7 years old, it is slightly louder than it used to be. its a traditional compressor inside a silenced box with fans blowing in/out.

When I bought it I could have gone to a screw compressor for slightly more money but the servicing on those are $$$. to date my compressor only had filter changed, be careful with other type of silenced compressor, it either needs regular servicing or it will kill itself in less than 5 years.

My compressor is an overkill for most workshop with 43cfm, but if you use air a lot say the likes of wide belt sander or air sander then you want something large so its not overworked.

I used to have a Hydrovane, it is quiet too, but again, servicing is $$$$$

I had a Blackridge 50L direct drive that I brought from Supercheap many years ago but like you, I wanted something now that was a lot quieter. I gave the Blackridge to my son and brought one of these. It doesn't have the same recovery time as the old one so if you are looking for quick recovery I would be looking for the model with the twin compressors on top. I wouldn't try to run a spray gun on mine as it depletes the tank quite quickly and loads up again. An air brush would probably work okay.
There appears to be many brands around online that are the same design as Chicargo and lot cheaper, but I wanted something that I could take back to a store if problems arose. Hopefully that is not required.

Hi B. I recently purchased one of these

STEALTH AirMAX Quiet 2HP 30L Oil Free Air Compressor AIRMAX | Total Tools

And it is brilliant. Ridiculously quiet. There are a lot of brands now with these type of motors. A mate has an Emax that is just as quiet.

I did moonlight FX theatrical special effects/props/masks etc for 20 years.
I had to work silently back stage or below my babies' bedrooms at home.
Lots and lots of airbrush work, even fantasy make-up.

I had 4 choices, I used them all.
1. Run off a highly charged truck tire maybe 70 psi.
2. Disposable compressed gas bottles.
3. Stage craft silent compressors sold by the big art supply airbrush people.
4. Half bottles of nitrogen @ 3,000psi from any welding supply house.

#4 was the very best, you need a regulator and hose and that's it.
I had a dolly to use with the bottle and could trundle the set-up all over the place.

There is a silent 50litre Stanley compressor that is on sale for $500 regularly at Super Cheap that looks alright but have no experience with it

8/19 I bought this model for $849 --> Chicago Pneumatic Silent air compressor 70

Its now $1299

Inflation!!!

It is, however, an excellent machine. I bought it as I use the balcony on my unit as my workshop Keeping the neighbours blisfully unaware of my adventures is one part of Getting Away With It.

The machine is quiet to kick off and charge. I like the way that the motors can be individually turned on/off for a slower and quieter charge.... HOWEVER, the blow off valve is enough to spit your cereal EVERY TIME. ........ BBBBBOOOOOOSSSHHHHH......

download (1).png

Other than that, its excellent and I rate it very highly.

I've had 4 big compressors over the decades and two small (and on tiny!)... they were all used for a Real Purpose, so they weren't decoration

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Stanley were briefly tempting but I found a few reviews suggesting their build quality isn't great. Rust and pinholes in the welds etc.

Anyone have any experience of Peerless? They're pricey compared to the competition. Made in Straya apparently, but that might read 'assembled in straya'. Or 'we put a sticker on in straya'!

This little chap looks interesting: Peerless 13TT

Bit cheaper, similar capacity, 1.5kW motor - BE brushless. Made in China (can't remember who, but I found them through many internet searchings). No idea what advantage what 'brushless permanent magnet' might give. It uses a slightly different configuration motor to most of the oilless direct drives available. 2 x v-twins, so it chugs along at 1350rpm for the 156 lpm FAD.

This little guy has the best warranty of the machines I've looked at - X-LITE AIR COMPRESSOR SILENT 2HP ALUMINIUM TWIN TANK 16L FAD 125L/MIN - TM350-20016 - ITM Industrial Tool & Machinery Sales at 3 years.

This one is the configuration I'd prefer - BAR BE Direct Drive Oil Free Silent Air Compressor-Upright 38ltr -BTWD. A little noisier than the competition at 76dB (the others are around 65dB or less

If these California Air Tool uprights were available in Aus, it'd be the one I'd get. Under US$500 (700ish Aus), but i costs that much again to ship, making it a $1500 unit. Meh.

Or I just throw my hands in the air and go down to the locals and get an ironair/chicago air/stealth are-these-all-coming-out-the-same-factory-via-a-different-paint-shop machine.

Message sent.

another option would be to retrofit the one you have....

Buy a pump Bolt it on.


Sydney Tools

compressor air.JPG

Originally Posted by woodPixel

another option would be to retrofit the one you have....

Buy a pump Bolt it on.


Sydney Tools

compressor air.JPG

This is actually a pretty smart idea! Imma have a look at the current unit when I have a moment

Originally Posted by Bernmc

Anyone have any experience of Peerless? They're pricey compared to the competition. Made in Straya apparently, but that might read 'assembled in straya'. Or 'we put a sticker on in straya'!

My old work had an old Peerless single piston compressor that refused to die. It was just used as a backup or taken on-site, but I don't doubt its ability to run all day. It was decidedly not one of their silent models though...

The main shop compressor was a Broadbent

Originally Posted by Bernmc

I have a 97dB Aldi Taurus 50l compressor. Darn thing refuses to die - I think I've had it for 10+years!
However, it's noisy AF[...]

I'd like to get something a lot quieter, and wondered if anyone has personal experience of some of the "silent" badged models?

[...]might do some spraying - but more likely to use a HVLP for most of that. So light-ish use.

I'm at the buy-once-cry-once stage of life, so quality matters.

I am using a noisy Bunnings/SIP Eagle direct drive. Have boon looking for a quiet one.

Aldi had a portable Ferrrex Twin tank model for $300 guessing in the last 1-2 months - missed the catalog when it came out. Long enough ago that the Aldi special buy stock finder no longer has it listed. There is old stock of one at an Aldi near me. Claims 200L/min for 850W, which is probably a lie and maybe 200L/min piston displacement more likely to be 150L/min FAD guessing from reading around other brands.

Otherwise I'm tempted to get an AEG silent from Bunnings if they reduce the price - there are a few models.

Cheapest option is to put the noisy one in an acoustically treated box.

HVLP has been working fine with what I have. I have Anest Iwata LPH-300 and LPH-80 ex-Japan from ebay and wouldn't look past them. 3M disposable paint cup system is also great.