Tool Box Buzz

Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon Quiet Compressor

Manufacturer: Campbell Hausfeld
Model number: DC060500
Price: DC060500
Power source: Electric
Motor size: 1 hp
Weight: 55 lbs

Campbell Hausfeld 1 H.P. Compressor, Model DC060500 Review

Air compressors are found in a wide range of environments and an even wider range of uses. My first experience with an air compressor was at the gas station helping my dad add air to our family vehicle’s tires. Then there was the excitement as a kid watching construction workers using air powered jackhammers.

Air compressors have come a long way since then, and date as far back as 1500 BC when people used bellows. Bellows were a common a hand held compressor-like device used to deliver a concentrated blast of air achieve higher fire temperatures in cooking and heating fires.

Air Compressor Uses

Air compressors have a multitude of uses for maintenance, at home or in businesses to get work done efficiently and safely. Whether you’re a DIY-er or a Pro contractor, incorporating an air compressor you’re your tool arsenal makes many maintenance tasks safer, faster easier to do.

• Powering pneumatic tools, air gun and HVLP spayers.
• Adding air to tires on bikes and on vehicles
• Cleaning crevices and tight spaces on equipment
• Painting with an airbrush
• Inflating recreational products

Most Common Air Compressor

The reciprocating piston air compressor is the most common type of compressor in any small shop setting or DIY use. Piston-type air compressors pump air into an air chamber through the use of a piston. They use one-way valves to guide air into a cylinder chamber, where the air is compressed and stored in an on board tank.

Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon Quiet Compressor

Campbell Hausfeld released a new line of piston style compressors that offers a lower  sound output that is up to 50 percent less than conventional designs.

According to the CDC: 1 in 8 American workers has some hearing loss.  The construction industry comes in a second in terms of most hearing-impaired workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) has determined safe noise levels and has made recommendations that hearing protection should be worn within sound levels of 85dB.

The new Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon Quiet Compressor operates at 68 dBA, well below OSHA’s hearing protection level. This compressor’s motor is super quiet, it has a noise suppressing muffler, beefy rubber motor-frame decouplers and sturdy rubber feet all to help reduce engine vibration.

Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon “pancake” model

Cambell Hausfeld offers two models, a 6-gallon “pancake” model or a larger 8-gallon horizontal wheeled model. The 8-gallon model can also be used for bolting and tightening.

We took a look at the Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon “pancake” model and my first impression was that the compressor was heavy. It weighs 55 pounds. It has a top handle, incorporated into a roll cage design but I found that the compressor was easier and more comfortably carried by hugging the air tank close to my body core.

The  6-gallon compressor has an induction motor and an oil-free pump that is designed to provide maintenance-free use.

Setting Up the Compressor

Using the compressor is simple and the only assembly required was screwing in the supplied noise muffler. We turned the compressor on and were amazed at how much quieter it is compared to my Senco, Bostitch and Porter Cable pancake compressors.

Controls

This compressor has a user-friendly design which allows for easy monitoring and adjustment of air pressure, and with key components designed to last up to four times longer, the Quiet Compressors are always ready for the next job.

Two gauges monitor the air in the tank and the tool air setting. The control for the air out-take to the tools is done by adjusting a large, easily operated knob.

Capacity

The 6-gallon model is a 1 H.P unit with a dual-piston pump that delivers 125 max. psi. It is rated at CFM @90/40 and PSI: 2.4/3.5.

CFM at a specified delivery pressure is the most important parameter in selecting an air compressor with respect to whether or not it will meet the demand of the tool your using.

Having a larger air tank means the you have a larger reserve of air at the specified pressure and that can reduce the “duty cycle” of your compressor. Duty cycle refers to the amount of time a compressor can operate at 100 PSI, and a standard ambient temperature of 72° F before turning on to recharge the tank.

Choosing CFM

When choosing if this compressor is for you, make sure the compressor produces the correct CFM at the correct pressure for what you need it to do.  Pay attention to the delivered, not displaced CFM rating.  This 6-gallon model compressor delivers 90 CFM at 40 psi.

Every tool that uses compressed air should have a rating of flow and pressure that it requires.  Some tools, like pneumatic nailers, give you the amount of cubic feet used per cycle, instead of a CFM.  With pneumatic nailers you’ll need to figure out how many cycles you can do in one minute.  For example: installing a fastener every 2 seconds, and the nailer is .3 cubic feet per cycle at 40 psi, then you’d be using 9 CFM at 40 psi.

Duty Cycle

Considering duty cycle is one of the most important things to look at when sizing a compressor. How often you’re using the air is just as important as how much. I use the example of a framing or roofing crew that is installing a ton of nails, and often running multiple nailers at one time. This application requires a larger tank, and fast recover duty cycle.

Tip: Purchase a compressor that offers 10-15% more capacity than you calculated is often a good safety cushion.

Testing the Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon Quiet Compressor

We tested the Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon Quiet Compressor in our shop, and on some finish carpentry projects.

We hooked up a 50-foot, 3/8” air hose to the compressor, set the output to 90 psi and used a phnuematic nailer to install 2-1/2” 16-gauge finish nails into 2×4 spruce framing material. After 4 tests, we averaged 34 nails before the compressor would cycle. The compressor then took on average 32 seconds to recharge the tank, before shutting off.

6-gallon Quiet Compressor Specifications

• Tank capacity (Gallons): 6
• HP: 1
• Max PSI: 125
• CFM @90/40 PSI: 2.4/3.5
• Voltage: 120
• Sound Output: 68 dBa
• Unit Weight: 53.5 lbs

Overall Impression

The Campbell Hausfeld 6-gallon Quiet Compressor is absolutely the quietest compressor I’ve tested, in this class size. It operates at 68 dBA. It’s a no-brainer addition to a small shop or garage where reducing compressor noise may be a goal!

We found it simple to operate and use.  It sells online for $230.00 here: Campbell-Hausfeld-Compressor-Gallon-DC060500

4 Comments

1. Todd K

   October 27, 2016 at 3:59 pm

   Looks like a nice unit, though not anywhere near as quiet as the CAT 4610, of stats are correct. That one is only 60 dB’s.so the CH is nearly twice as loud.

   Reply
   1. Mark

      March 18, 2018 at 11:06 pm

      Check out all the negative reviews for CAT quality. Extremely low grade parts and numerous reports of catching on fire. No thanks

      Reply
2. R.J. Renzi

   February 9, 2017 at 3:05 pm

   I have a Craftsman 26 Gallon 150 PSI air compressor that I use for cleaning the cars that I got nearly brand new for $100 of Craigslist and every time I plug the thing in and turn it on it keeps popping the circuit breaker. I try to run an extension chord and plug the compressor into a separate circuit but then it pops that breaker as well. I get a little crazy with the air gun because I like my car to be polished and realize I may not necessarily need that large capacity of a tank but the price was right and my question is what would you recommend that I do or change so that I can use my Craftsman compressor without tripping any breakers in my house?

   Reply
   1. Todd Fratzel

      February 11, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      It needs to be plugged into a dedicated circuit with a heavy gauge cord.

      Reply

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