Finally a quiet shop...!

[Tony Latham]

I almost tagged this on to the latest post on dust collection since the question came up in that thread.

My shop, just like most wood shops can get fairly noisy. Just the lathe, no problem, add the dust collector, the vacuum pump and throw the sander on top of it and it's a racket...

I like to listen to podcasts and audio books on my iPod while working in the shop... It'll work just fine with the earbuds with JUST the lathe running.... turn the dust collector on and I can't here anything but tool noise...

I finally found the solution. I bought a set of electronic noise canceling headphones for $40 at a big box store that starts with C... and they are great. I can listen to anything I want and very slightly hear some dust collector noise in the background... even if the air compressor kicks on and even while running my sanding drill..... it's QUIET!

A quiet shop, it's a good thing. 😀

TL

p.s. Podcast? Free subscriptions to anything you are interested in... science, news, 60 Minutes, even some woodworking podcasts out there.

p.p.s. yea, I know ear plugs will ALMOST do the same thing. I just like to listen to something interesting...

 

[n7bsn]

I've got a set that also include an AM/FM radio, they are nice

BUT

I always turn the audio off if I am doing something tricky

Sanding usually isn't tricky

TTFN
Ralph

 

[hockenbery]

Tony,

I wear head phones when I'm carving.

when using the lathe I want to hear the ticks of small crack, any minor chatter, and other warning noises.

Happy turning,
Al

 

[waltben]

I thought about getting a pair of those noise canceling thingies, but quickly figured out what Al said. From least to worst causes of noise in my shop are the air filter that I don't mind and can hear my radio over easily. I don't use my dust collector all the time, only with the band saw or belt sander, or when I'm 'deep' cleaning (just use a shovel most of the time) wood shavings. My real complaint is my old air compressor. Just waiting for a really good sale on a belt driven one.

 

[Tony Latham]

The safety issue IS always a concern for me. If I am doing something that takes a higher level of focus, the headset comes off....

As far as missing a noise that is a warning..such as a tick of a crack.. well, if everything else is so loud.... I'm probably going to be more aware of the feel than the noise anyway.

TL

 

[Matt Owen]

As far as missing a noise that is a warning..such as a tick of a crack.. well, if everything else is so loud.... I'm probably going to be more aware of the feel than the noise anyway.

TL

That is how I've always felt. If I'm paying attention to the feel (vibrations) of what is going on when I'm turning, I'm usually better in tune with the wood than if I'm trying to listen for something over the noise in my shop. Besides, music and podcasts are much better to listen to than noisy motors.

Matt

 

[Odie]

I remember a time when I listened to loud (.....and I do mean loud! 😀) rock and roll while working in the shop.

I don't do that anymore, mainly because I feel more focused on the lathe when there are no distractions.

I do have a small radio going in the shop just about all the time......but, the volume is low enough that I never hear it when any of the machinery is running.

ooc

 

[GA Darling]

That is how I've always felt. If I'm paying attention to the feel (vibrations) of what is going on when I'm turning, I'm usually better in tune with the wood than if I'm trying to listen for something over the noise in my shop. Besides, music and podcasts are much better to listen to than noisy motors.

Matt

Besides that, at least you are listening to something good when a bowl pops up and smacks you across the face😀

Greg