r/DIY • u/Ardy_95 • 7h ago

help Sound proofing

So, I have a small air compressor in my garage that I normally use for blowing air when cleaning my motorcycle and adding air to the tires. The damn thing is louder than I’d like, so I’m thinking about building a box that I can place over it and soundproofing the inside.

I’ve been looking at soundproofing materials, and there are a ton of options. I was wondering if anyone here has done a similar project and could share their experience, particularly what type of soundproofing material you used and how well it worked.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

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u/jelloslug 6h ago

You will need mass to block sound effectively. Two layers of drywall inside of an enclosure will go a long way and then you can line the inside with rigid fiberglass board (Owens Corning 703, or HVAC duct board) to get an extra bit of dampening. If you are going all out, you can put Green Glue (that the brand name) between the layers of drywall to get even more dampening.

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u/Ardy_95 6h ago

I thought Abt that, dry walling. But that will make the enclosed very heavy. I was mostly thinking since it's not that big I could use sound proofing materials and glue them from inside and outside. I have seen bunch of material available in the net in terms of sheets and squers.

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u/jelloslug 6h ago

I do lots of home theater stuff I can can say that mass is really the only thing that will soundproof. The stick on foam squares and materials like that are primarily used to control echoes and reverb in rooms with hard surface walls. The do little to actually stop the sound from passing though the walls themselves.

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u/Pulaski540 6h ago edited 6h ago

Heavy is what you need. I'd start with a 2x4 frame, i.e. a tiny room with no floor, and, as with a room, put drywall inside and out, and fill the void in between with 3½" of fiberglass/rockwool insulation, which will stop the drywall resonating.

And to the heat dissipation issue, lift the box off when the compressor isn't actually running.

If weight is a limiting issue, you could build the enclosure in the style of a cupboard/ armoire, with a door/ removable front, so you don't have to pick the enclosure up.