Quiet air compressor,  8010SPCAD from California Air Tools for shop air - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wanderer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2025, 10:47:53 pm
content: I am trying to set up shop air in my small workspace. I'm trying to run the desoldering function on the Metcal mx-5200, and a dx-250 fluid dispenser. I am looking at the California Air Tools 8010SPCAD 1.0 HP Ultra Quiet and Oil-Free Air Compressor in Sound Proof Cabinet. It shows 40db. It may occasionally also run some small pneumatic tools.I'm trying to keep the noise level as low as possible as I am deaf in one ear and would love not to have to wear hearing protection when I'm soldering.Has anyone used a set-up like this? Did you find it sufficient? Do you have a different solution that could be quieter?https://www.zoro.com/california-air-tools-ultra-quiet-oil-free-8-gal-1-hp-in-sound-proof-cabinet-8010spc/i/G4125180/

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2025, 11:07:00 pm
content: 40dB is very low. California air tools is basically the original, there are some clones now from Vevor and Stealth and others, but they are a fair bit louder.If you have a closet you can shove it in with a bunch of insulation, then you can just buy one of their quiet compressors and its probably going to be as good. Or if you have the money to spend get that premade unit.You can look at airbrush compressors, but, that won't be enough CFM for pneumatic tools. DX-250 barely will use any air, MX-DS1 not sure what it uses.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/what-makes-a-quiet-air-compressor-quiet/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/small-quiet-compressor-to-exclusively-run-a-syringe-dispenser/

author: wanderer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 02:07:22 am
content: I was considering getting the cabinet and storing it in a closet.I watched a video on youtube from Project Farm, where he tested quite a few compressors and had a decibel meter test. So many of the ones marked at 60, started out at 70db and under operating conditions some even hit 90. Unfortunately, he didn't have one from California Air Tools.

author: wanderer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 03:17:42 am
content: it is way cheaper than the Jun Air compressors mentioned in one of the other threads. The shipping on those was sometimes almost $1000 dollars by itself.the desoldering station wouldn't be able to run the pneumatic tools. It will have multiple uses, not just running the desoldering station and the fluid dispenser.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 05:09:52 am
content: Harbor Freight has quiet air compressors. They all seem to be variations on the California Air Tools design.AFAIK, the decibel readings are all made at a distance of 25 feet in an open area. That makes no sense for these small units, but that's the standard. I'm not sure how to calculate the increase for closer distances. I think it's a 3 dB increase every time you cut the distance in half. So from 25 to 12 to 6 would mean a 6dB increase at 6 feet. Can anyone confirm that? Also, if you're using it inside a house, the sound will bounce off the walls and increase the measured noise level.Keep in mind that nothing comes for free. The quiet air compressors typically deliver less CFM and cost more than their noisier competitors.

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 04:54:18 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on June 27, 2025, 05:09:52 amMFR # 8010SPCZoro # G4125180UPC # 743369780106Country of Origin China(half distance = +6db)

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 05:16:00 pm
content: Quote from: Simmed on June 27, 2025, 04:54:18 pmYes, Harbor Freight might as well add a tagline under their name 'Made in China'.QuoteI couldn't remember if it was +3 or +6. So then 25 to 12 to 6 feet would be a 12 dB increase in sound level.

author: wanderer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 05:24:08 pm
content: I just zoro for the details, that is not where I will be ordering from, and my price will be less than that listed on zoro.the distance is likely going to be less than 10 feet from the work space, while I have a few options, some of them come with challenges due to the configuration of the space.One option is to actually have it in a closet, and possibly adding some acoustical tile or foam to decrease the sound further. What I want to prevent is create enough noise that I end up having to increase volume of conversations or any audio stuff I may have playing.I go through a lot of precautions to preserve the hearing I do have left.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 06:39:57 pm
content: None of the quiet compressors are a threat to your hearing, unlike their loud and raucous competitors. I have a 2 gallon quiet model similar to the Harbor Freight ones. It's rated at 62 dB which works out to about 74 dB close up. When you're standing beside it the sound level is similar to a normal conversation.Note that if you put it in a box or closet, you still have to provide lots of fan-forced airflow to remove heat created by the motor and compressor head. Check Youtube for lots of videos on testing quiet compressors and sound control for loud compressors.You might want to buy from a local store rather than online so that you can try it in the store to get an idea of what it sounds like.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 09:59:39 pm
content: Quote from: wanderer on June 26, 2025, 10:47:53 pmI'd check the air displacement rating. Also consider that creating a vacuum from compressed air is noisy. Firstly I don't think the 8010SPCAD has enough capacity to run pneumatic tools at all. Secondly, you might be better off getting some kind of vacuumpump. For my desoldering iron, I have a rotary vane displacement pump which produces plenty of suction while producting very little noise.

author: wanderer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 11:05:48 pm
content: It looks like it should be fine for the things I need to run.Airflow 3.10 CFM @ 40 PSI and 2.20 CFM @ 90 PSIthe dx-250 and the mx-5200 create the vacuum from the shop air.

author: wanderer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 11:23:53 pm
content: Here is a screenshot of comparable compressors without the cabinet from the video I mentioned. These are peak levels at 2 ft. the safe range seems to vary a little but 70 db and below is considered safe.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2025, 12:48:54 am
content: Quote from: wanderer on June 27, 2025, 11:23:53 pmAccording to that rule, you can't drive most cars at highway speeds or use a hair dryer or a vacuum without hearing protection. That doesn't make any sense.You can't just use a single number like that. You also have to include the length of time that you're exposed to the sound. 70 dB is a safe level if you're exposed to it continuously all day long. Air compressors turn on and off. That increases the safe level. There's also*NO*consensus on what an actual safe level is. Everybody has their own guess. Some sources say that 55 dB is the limit. Excuse me, my anechoic chamber is calling!I found the video from Project Farms. I don't know how they got their numbers. Having the microphone and the compressor on the same hard table didn't help. I didn't see any info on what the room was like. All I can tell you is that I just put my 2 gallon, 62 dB rated compressor in the middle of my carpeted living room floor and measured ~65 dBA with my old Radio Shack Sound Level Meter at a distance of ~3 ft. A sound level app on my phone gives similar readings, but it's not calibrated. YMMV.I can't show you a listing for my compressor because it's discontinued, but it's very similar to Harbor Freight's 2 gallon unit (FT2135UQ).The bottom line is go listen to one of these quiet compressors. They're *quiet*. You can talk over them. Using a phone might be pushing your luck. They're not going to affect your hearing.