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  1. #1
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    Default Noise levels in my workshop

    I measured several of the machines in my workshop today. This was inspired by the recently completed installation of a new table saw and new hoses to the existing dust collector. Perhaps we can use this thread as a database for machines and power tools to guide others.

    Noise levels were measured using an iPhone app. The measured ambient noise in my workshop was 46db and my speech level 54 db, which indicate that the levels recorded were reasonably reliable.

    Noise levels were recorded within 1m of the running machine.

    Note: A European Union directive on noise, issued in 2015, requires companies across the Continent to provide hearing protection for workplaces with a noise level higher than 80 dB. From 85 dB on, employees are required to wear hearing protection.

    The three main machines I have are by Hammer:

    A3-31 Jointer-Thicknesser (silent head): 76db
    N4400 Bandsaw: 78db
    K3 Table Saw (12" blade combo blade by Stark): 93db (this appears louder than expected - I will try my Leuco blades next).



    The Festool C26E vacuum cleaner produced an interesting result. With the hose disconnected, the noise level measured 85db. However, connecting the 27mm hose, the noise level dropped to 80db.

    The dust collector is a Carbatec 2HP. The machines were previously connected by 4" hoses, and the noise level was subjectively LOUD (I did not measure them, but I would guesstimate that they were around 95db). Changing to 5" hose appears to drop the level. Previously I could not put them on without hearing protection. Now I could talk over the machine! With 5" hoses, the DC measured 77db. I wonder if 6" hoses would lower the sound levels even more? Currently 5" is the largest I can go to without modifying the ports of the machines. I plan to do this when I eventually get a Clear Vue cyclone (my current dust control is supplemented by opening the garage doors and blowing out the dust).



    The Carbatec floor standing drill press (15 years old now) measured 63db.

    The Tormek 2000 wet grinder measured 56 db.




    The Carbatec 8" half-speed bench grinder with 2 CBN wheels measured 77 db.

    The Carbatec 9" disk/belt sander combo measured 86 db.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

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  3. #2
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    Thanks for the results.

    Were these measurements performed with or without the machines being used i.e. wood or metal.?

    It would be interesting to see the results with your roller door up and then at different points around a working machines on the same side and opposite that door

    Also what was the App?

    Only 3 iPhone Apps are calibrated to ensure accurate comparisons between mobile phone apps. Ie if you want to compare your results with someone else's results also measure with an accurate sound meter.
    Non calibrated Apps can still be used to make comparisons using the same App/mobile phone

    OHS recommendations also take into account exposure time. i.e. you are permitted to be exposed to short periods of sound at higher levels without using hearing protection.

  4. #3
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    noise? you meant sound of music? lol

    The noise also got to do with what you are cutting/planning. I sometimes thought the noise from my compressor is quite loud(10hp beast in a sound attenuated enclosure) but that was localised echo effect. when I stand at the boundary I cant hear the compressor going at all.

    I recommend to wear ear protection anyway regardless of the noise.
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  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Albert View Post
    I recommend to wear ear protection anyway regardless of the noise.
    I'm not sure this is such a good idea, your ears are very important safety devices and they are useful for assessing machinery loads etc
    I have had several close calls in the workshop because I was wearing ear muffs so usually only wear them when necessary.

  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by derekcohen View Post
    I plan to do this when I eventually get a Clear Vue cyclone (my current dust control is supplemented by opening the garage doors and blowing out the dust).
    Will you be planning to vent the CV outside Derek? I hear that the exhaust is the noisiest part by far, and is very loud indeed - and that's on top of whatever other noisy machine is hooked up to it at the time (anything requiring DE seems to be accompanied by noise as well). Perhaps a "Hole in the Wall Gang" and a muffler will be required?
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  7. #6
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    Noise is an interesting subject in a workshop. When I started my Carpentry Apprenticeship on multistory work in Sydney City in 1970 PPE was not "discovered". We had to contend with a large trailer mounted compressor, the sound of concrete vibrators.....one of my jobs was to shoot brick ties on for the bricklayers 3 days a week for months. No Ear or eye protection....result Tinnitus (which I thought was "normal" for hearing), I have some hearing loss and have Hearing Aids to wear.
    When I was in Kitchen manufacture we had Panel Saws and Edge Banders that had high frequency motors that used to scream. That noise you took home with you everyday because it got right into your head. I remember going to a machinery show and a bloke wanting to demonstrate his Edge Bander. It was soooo quiet you could easily talk over it. I lobbied the boss for 18 months trying to get this machine. He finally caved in and it was installed. It was such a relief at the end of the day to not have had to put up with the screaming motors of the previous machine. Aweek later we installed a spray booth into the workshop to evacuate the fumes from contact glue and lacquer. Guess what the blower of the spray booth was as load as the bloody old edge bander so that noise level/fatigue you took home every night.
    Now retired and in my own noise making centre I do use ear muffs but probably not often enough. I can't stand to have them on when there is not a machine on, its just too quiet, I have to take them off or I reckon I'll go crazy. I have gotten into the habit of wearing one of those helmet mounted ear muff screen jobbies when using the Chain Saw, but there again as soon as I stop the saw I have to rip the muffs off.
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  8. #7
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    Just another thought, remember when the Sydney Opera House was being finished attention was trained on the acoustics. After testing they hung large "donuts" over the stage to help. Could there be a material that could be installed up in the ceilings of our sheds that could absorb noise?
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  9. #8
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    Hi Derek,

    Were the noise measurements for the machines conducted with the dust collector on? I ask because this can make a huge difference. My planer/thicknesser for example is very quiet by itself, but when the dust collector is pulling 900cfm across the blades it really howls by comparison and becomes the noisiest of all of my stationary machines despite being the quietest without airflow.

    As per BobL's and Albert's comments cutting wood will obviously also have a huge influence depending on what you are cutting.

    Noise of the individual machines without dust collection running and without cutting, whilst interesting, is therefore not really very useful for determining effects on hearing / requirements for hearing protection in my opinion.

    Cheers,

    Dom

  10. #9
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    Sorry, I just re-read your post and it seems you did take measurements with the dust collector on / dust ports open. Sorry!

    Out of curiosity I just went out and checked my jointer/planer (JET 310HH). With dust port closed noise at ear level in front of the machine was approx 72dB(A), but with the dust port open I measured approx. 90dB(A). These measurements are just with a phone / app so definitely not reliable by any stretch, but possibly good for a really ball-park figure. I'll have to check with a proper sound meter.

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by chambezio View Post
    Just another thought, remember when the Sydney Opera House was being finished attention was trained on the acoustics. After testing they hung large "donuts" over the stage to help. Could there be a material that could be installed up in the ceilings of our sheds that could absorb noise?
    That was does not to reduce the sound levels but rather to change the echo/reverb characteristics of the chamber. Lining a shed with absorbers like carpet will help with some frequencies but not that much more than open cupboards/shelves and other uneven scattering surfaces. Most of the sound from a machine is from the direct line of sight/sound which no manner of absorbers will help with. Another thing is, to make a dent in the sound levels using absorbers may require the use of large volumes of absorber, which most DIY sheds don't have.

    DomU makes a good point about airflow and noise although sometimes the noise may be a signal of constricted flow.

  12. #11
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    We have a number of Diesel engines that created high noise levels throughout the workshop. Acoustic engineers were hired, who measured the sound level thoughout the shop including line of sight and echo and reverb from the ceilings, walls and off other objects . They ended up hanging large sound absorbing panels above the Diesel engines and some way into the workshop as well as a moveable sound absorbing barrier 1 metre wide between each engine. The ceiling panels, by themselves, make a huge difference.

  13. #12
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    I have time to add a few more comments.

    I became very aware the dangers of noise several years ago when tinnitus began to rear its head. I've long preferred hand tools and the peace of jazz on the hifi in the workshop, but have used machines as well for some decades. I was not always good about wearing hearing protection. Since tests back then revealed that I had hearing loss, I have been extremely cautious in this regard. For a few years I was super sensitive to noise, and the noise of a motorbike would overwhelm me. There was no way that I could have the DC running without hearing protection, even for a few seconds. It's the reason I spent more purchasing the quietest vacuum cleaner, and paying attention to noise levels in other machines. My intension for posting this information is to bring home the dangers of sound abuse.

    My tolerance has improved in the past couple of years. My hearing probably has not improved, but it has not got worse (just don't expect to have a conversation with me in a noisy restaurant). The oversensitivity has gone. I do not run any equipment without hearing protection (and I have Peltor Optomi 105, which are excellent), however I can now tolerate all the machines without protectors. Until I changed the hoses, the DC was clearly the worst offender - not just by my reaction, but also noticed by the household. Now I really doubt that they would know it was on. I am amazed that it has been muffled so.

    I ran the DC and Jointer together (not cutting wood), and the level was 78 db. Alone, they rated 77- and 76 db, respectively. I pushed a board through the jointer and, as expected, it went up to 85db. This is bearable (just) without hearing projection (no, I'm definitely not recommending this). The reason that I only offered machine-alone levels is that I expect noise levels to increase according to variables (thickness of cut, speed of cut, type of wood). We can compare machines alone.

    Bob, the app on my iPhone is the SPLnFFT. This was calibrated.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  14. #13
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    I guess for some of us the awareness of the damage noisy environments can do is a message too late as we are now suffering the consequences of that noise. For me my Tinnitus is so loud it masks speech and makes conversation difficult in a noisy environment. I have had it tested twice and both times was told that it was the loudest they had encountered which is a prize I never wanted.
    CHRIS

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    Pardon me Derek, with a quick aside....

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    For me my Tinnitus is so loud it masks speech and makes conversation difficult in a noisy environment. I have had it tested twice and both times was told that it was the loudest they had encountered which is a prize I never wanted.
    The guy next door says his is so loud that if I put my ear up to his I could hear it!

    Can this be true? Apparently the tinnitus volume can be measured Chris? So I guess it is true. I have a hearing test booked for November, and this is the first one I've had. I do have a little tinnitus, but I believe that I still hear things that others don't. We'll see how my self assessment is, I suppose. I've always been big on muffs but like Bob I had a fair amount of loud music for a good long while.

    However, judging by the way the noise of the shrieks from the childcare centre behind us bothers me (BADLY!) I think my general hearing might be pretty reasonable still. The uncontrolled little horrors are fully 100m away, but.....it makes me SO MAD!!!
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    I've always been big on muffs
    I'm still voting Yes but.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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