Thread: DC enclosure and ducting set up

easiest way... for me loading photos is click on 'reply to thread'
there you will see, 'post quick reply' and 'go advanced' ...
click on 'go advanced' there is the box for typing in, below that 'additional options', find 'manage attachments',
click on that and you will see 'add file'
click on that and you can choose file, then upload your photo, one at a time....

Thanks Tonto. I remember having to resize photos to fit properly onto the forum, something about 100 kilobytes? I used to use a free software program but it's not even on the computer anymore. So I've Googled free software and they all seem to be trying to make me download other stuff, so I'm going to try using the windows paint program.

Now I've realised the photos I want are on the phone and not the computer so I'm transferring them across. Sorry, not a very good start.

This first photo is just where the enclosure will go, showing next door house close by. There's a driveway on the other side of the fence. I always worry if I get too noisy in the shed but my neighbour is very good.

I started with this slab. It's 70mm thick up to 85mm at the thickest point. Didn't bother with steel reinforcing, seems pretty solid. There's about 10 bags of readymix in it.


DC shed slab.jpg

I put an app on my phone to measure noise levels, not sure how accurate it is but at least I can compare before and after. Standing next to 2HP dusty gives about 84 decibels. Standing in the corner of the green metal shed and the rock wall gives about 75 decibels, and if I close the rollerdoor on the shed I get 65 decibels. So my goal is to get less than 65 decibels with the dusty closed up inside the enclosure.

Next step was the frame. Used a mixture of bought stuff and bits I had lying around. Dynabolted into the concrete. A bit wobbly now but should be more solid with the cladding.

I clad the shed with 4.5mm Hardiflex. You can also get it in 6mm but it's around twice the price. Shed is a lot more rigid with the cladding and roof on, which is good because the door is going to weigh a tonne.

I initially planned on using two solid core doors hinged from either side but at $100.00 each it was getting too expensive. I also thought the doors wouldn't be as soundproofed as the walls so I ended up making a single door like a wall. I haven't hung it yet, and it's very heavy but hopefully it will be okay. I used plywood on the inside face for bracing, to stop the whole thing sagging.

I'm using batts for soundproofing plus the furring channel shown. The theory is the sound vibration won't transfer so much through to the stud frame with the channel in place.

surely there are recycling yards around you, in Adelaide (granted not local) I can get solid S/H doors around $20 each not pretty but hey..............

I thought that too, Tonto, but when I had a look for 2nd hand building supplies I was surprised how little there was. I had a look on ebay and gumtree and nothing there either. I must admit I didn't search too hard as my thinking changed to a door with insulation in it. The door has still cost a bit but the insulation I already had from a pack left over in the roof (has been in the roof since we bought the place about 30 years ago) and the timber I already had.

I bought some EPDM rubber strip for the door seal. It wasn't cheap but I saw the door seal as a major potential weak point in the soundproofing. Seal is 38mm wide and will seal onto the front wall of the shed opening.

I used silicone to glue the seal strip onto the timber, and spread it out flat so there wouldn't be any high spots.

Good start.

Thanks Flintlock. Today I fitted the door with four hinges I found in the shed. I can't even remember what I previously used them for but they seem ideal for this. Door is rock solid and swings nicely, very relieved.

So now I have to get a catch to pull the door tight on the other side. I'm thinking of a toggle catch but I'll have to adapt it to the side of the door.

These are one of the best door catches you can use because you can adjust the tension very finely.
These cam latches are available at trailer part shops for a good price
Screen Shot 2019-05-01 at 4.56.23 pm.png

I didn't know about these when I built my DC enclosure where I used standard gate pad bolt going into an Eye bolt.
I got the variable tension by adjust the height of the eyebolt.

Have since used the cam latches on a bunch of things including DC filter bag straps and on my metal dust catcher bin.
IMG_1615.jpg