Yeah, but did you ever try to fit these on 2, 3, AND 4 year old?? While they're sleeping??!!:rotflm:
ah ha! another use for duct tape!:rotflm:
Yeah, but did you ever try to fit these on 2, 3, AND 4 year old?? While they're sleeping??!!:rotflm:
Another cheap guy question - is it even worthwhile to consider draping sound blankets between the machine and living area? They are really cheap - here is one for $20:
http://www.markertek.com/Acoustic-Materials/Sound-Blankets/VAN-PAD-BLACK.xhtml
I know they don't sound proof a room, but can you strategically place one or two and have much impact on the sound transmitted in a particular direction? I have a few operations that are borderline and just a little more dampening would make them doable at a lot more hours.
Thanx for the kudo's... but I'm really just a long winded ol' cuss....
The whole principle of mass being your friend is what you are after. The more effectively that you can create a solid mass is what you are trying to achieve... and hopefully within a reasonable budget. (oof... that's the one is what kills ya!)
As far as open cell spray foams... There's a bit of debate on it.
Many of the "acoustic foams" that actually work, are open cell foam. Technically they do work... but the amount of low frequency absorption is actually so little that it doesn't work in terms of practical numbers. Closed cell foams are worthless.
Again, this is in reference to open cell foam use as an acoustic treatment, and does not have a thing to do in terms of the spray foams used in the construction trades.
The little data I have seen in regards to the spray foams is that the closed cell seems to resemble it's cousin, bedding foam. e.g. decent thermal properties but less significant at reducing LF transmissions than a piece of paper.
The spray open cell foam's are fairly new technology that haven't yet been sent to places like Riverbank for testing. (If they have, no one has been discussing them.) However, IMVHO, I would guess that the open cell foams are going to work fairly well at both thermal and sound absorption... probably far better than they do as a standard acoustic treatment.
The fact that they are creating more air cells in a tighter confined space, e.g. stud bay, that they are actually creating a much more compressed "spring" and thus, would absorb more sound energy.
I remember you taking me through the farmhouse, and yes, it was darn quiet up there! So, I wouldn't be afraid to try it at all.
I would consider using 1/2"-ish plywood or even 3/4" chip board (non cert OSB) and green glue with one layer of 5/8" gypsum for your gennie room with regular pink fluffy... IF you decide to not use the open cell spray. Again, the rigidity is a compounding factor to the mass equation. The more you can tie the whole structure into a single mass, the better.
It's not like you couldn't go back and add more gypsum, but I'd probably try the open cell spray and a single layer of either wooden sheet good or gypsum and see what you get.
You could also try getting your compressor isolated by floating it on a suspension pad. (Floating a single tool is a LOT easier than an entire room.)
Scott,
You'd actually be surprised at just how much deadening you can probably get from your doors, just by installing air tight weather stripping around them. Foam weather stripping is probably adequate, but a good soft neoprene will out last the foam stuff by years.
Even tacking some narrow 1x to the existing door stops to make a second seal will make an improvement.
If the doors are hollow core, to can apply some contact cement to a sheet of 3/4" BC, OSB or MDF and attach it to the door along the edges. I'd recommend a decent sheet rock screw. Just make this plate 3/4" shorter at the top and on the sides. Then you can step back the 2nd door stop by a bit over 3/4" to accommodate your neoprene seal.
Make sense, or am I just being mildly incoherent?
Let me echo Scott's comments. This has been incredibly helpful, especially with all the practical advice on caulking, gaps, variations etc. The info I've come across so far generally assumes you're starting from scratch (as opposed to modifying an existing structure built the conventional way) and/ or suggests material that's hard to obtain or expensive. Drywall, OSB, blankets, weatherstripping and fiberglass insulation are items I can work with! I'm not shooting for total silence, just bringing down a 90dB machine to around 70dB. I think I can do that now.Max, your post is the single most informative essay on sound control that I have ever read. Thanks MUCH for sharing your extraordinary knowledge on this topic.