Thread: Quiet air compressor - Chicago Hush

My small concern is the larger number of parts - more to go wrong - otherwise it looks like a nice unit

FWIW, when my compressor (in an enclosure outside the shed) starts up the noise it registers inside my shed is 64dB.
Outside on the neighbors fence its 67db.
Right next to the enclosure its 70 dB.

Originally Posted by Sebastiaan76

I know that this is an old thread, but in the interests of anyone that finds their way here via google, or that might be otherwise interested, I just took delivery of the Chicago Hush 150 / 3Hp 19cfm compressor as pictured from Sydney tools.

Attachment 379042

I think the Chicago brand carried by Sydney tools might be different to the Chicago Pneumatics brand mentioned above. At any rate, the damn thing is the quietest compressor I've ever heard.........even in a small 3m x 3m room i could probably talk on the phone standing right next to it. 4 motors, all mounted on rubber mounts with 4 individual mufflers and inlet tubes = very pleasingly quiet. I got it on special for $1600, so if you are looking at around that budget...or less but then spending money on building enclosures etc, I'd definitely give this one a look.

My only grumble is the manual is utterly woeful, the worst 'Chinglish' manual I've ever read....basically you have to figure it out for yourself, but it's not terribly complicated.

Now who wants to buy my 90db Aldi 50L 5cfm screamingly loud compressor?

yes the oiless is very quiet... but they probably wont last as long as the Aldi!

Originally Posted by Sebastiaan76

I know that this is an old thread, but in the interests of anyone that finds their way here via google, or that might be otherwise interested, I just took delivery of the Chicago Hush 150 / 3Hp 19cfm compressor as pictured from Sydney tools.

Attachment 379042

I think the Chicago brand carried by Sydney tools might be different to the Chicago Pneumatics brand mentioned above. At any rate, the damn thing is the quietest compressor I've ever heard.........even in a small 3m x 3m room i could probably talk on the phone standing right next to it. 4 motors, all mounted on rubber mounts with 4 individual mufflers and inlet tubes = very pleasingly quiet. I got it on special for $1600, so if you are looking at around that budget...or less but then spending money on building enclosures etc, I'd definitely give this one a look.

My only grumble is the manual is utterly woeful, the worst 'Chinglish' manual I've ever read....basically you have to figure it out for yourself, but it's not terribly complicated.

Now who wants to buy my 90db Aldi 50L 5cfm screamingly loud compressor?

Hi Sebastiaan, was wondering how this compressor is holding up after a few years? Was looking at this exact model.

Thank you.

Ive the Chicago Hush 50. It replaced my trusty warhorse as I moved into a unit. It lives on the balcony.

It is used a few times a week, 6 months.... neighbours have said they've never heard it! Its a champion. It is quiet enough that one does not need hearing protection at all. Can't say as much about the air tools, however, so I still wear it.

The upper pressure adjuster and kick-in adjustment takes some fiddling to get goldilocks, but this is a function of the module, not the whole system.

I'm impressed with the unit and recommend it (as it was indeed recommended to me on this forum by.... fenceFurniture???).

Originally Posted by ftkalcevic

Does anyone know anything about these...

Sydney Tools

I haven't been able to google any other information.

Hello, I bought one today, fully assembled by the store. I am worried.

Wheeling it up the front step the handle fell off, causing it to flip backwards narrowly missing my wife's bare foot as she was following behind it. The screws that secure the handle were not even finger tight. It seems to have been assembled in haste.

Plugged it in and started it up but only one of the motors would work. There's a switch for each motor, so you can run one or the other motor, or both. I jiggled wires wherever I could see them, noting there are numerous plugs joining wires together from the motors, capacitors, relays? whatever else...
While jiggling, the second motor started up but ran intermittently before tripping the inbuilt circuit breaker. Reproduced these symptoms consistently by jiggling the same wire. Perhaps there's a poor connection somewhere. Noted also, when it was running, the intermittent motor was not as powerful as the other (assessed by comparing the vacuum experienced when transiently touching the air inlet for each motor). The whole unit seems cheap quality, in addition to being poorly assembled. Perhaps it is just an assembly QA matter for the local store. I'm struggling to find independent online reviews despite it being around for 8 + years (inferred from the date of the OP) and that has me wondering if it's because no-one buys these? I will be returning mine tomorrow and wondering whether to take another or to buy another brand altogether.

Originally Posted by scala

I will be returning mine tomorrow and wondering whether to take another or to buy another brand altogether.

Update: I returned it to the store, convinced after watching some youtube vids of seemingly-satisfied long-term users, that it was ok to swap rather than request a refund. But on trying to pick a substitute unit I was so underwhelmed by the quality control for these that I ended up getting a refund.

Of the four other Chicago Hush units in stock when I went to return mine, three had gouge marks into the front of the tank, seemingly from how they had been shipped or stored packed against other units. I worry that the gouges as deep as .5mm, might create a weak point in the aluminium wall of the tank that could fail eventually under pressure. I was still inclined to take one that only had scratched paint without the gouges, however the weld on one of its legs was broken and out of position so that the rubber foot on that side was about an inch higher off the ground compared to the other side. Another unit also had a short leg, though seemingly because the leg itself was welded to the tank in the wrong position. If they pay so little attention to the presentation of these compressors, I felt it was hard to be confident they paid due attention for the rest of the build.

I have instead bought the AEG AC3060S silenced 3hp/60L unit for similar money. An engineer friend highly recommended this. Unfortunately it's twice the weight of the Chicago, so not as portable as I would like, but it is put together like a tank; it feels of far superior quality compared to the Chicago Hush and has higher FAD and higher tank volume. Time will tell how it performs.

If you a serious about buying a silent or (very quite) Compressor you need to be looking at Rotary Vane Compressors.

Originally Posted by China

If you a serious about buying a silent or (very quite) Compressor you need to be looking at Rotary Vane Compressors.

Thanks China,
The AEG was a dud too and has been returned due to having faulty pressure release valve (would not release) and a big label hanging off the manifold declares that warranty will be void if you fiddle with any component attached to the manifold (e.g. such as the pressure relief valve!). So I could not even trouble shoot it. It not much louder than the Chicago, so both would have satisfied in that respect, if only their build quality was better. Will keep researching for now.

Originally Posted by China

If you a serious about buying a silent or (very quite) Compressor you need to be looking at Rotary Vane Compressors.

If you know of a rotary vane suitable for domestic use I'd be very interested. When I was investigating something quiet for the shop, finding a RV with enough flow that didn't need many kilowatts of 3 phase power and a truck to move it didn't seem to be a thing. And the one in the fridge isn't big enough

I ended up with a Peerless oilless, which was a fair bit more expensive than the Sydney tools offerings, but appears to be very well-built and works well. It's not silent, but easily quiet enough to have sitting in the corner of the shop.