What do you use for ear protection?

[Stephen Saar]

I didn't used to ever use ear protection while working, but I only did stuff once in awhile. I'm starting to do more and more working, and some of it is pretty loud so I wanted to get some decent ear protection. I don't really care that much for the little ear plug things, I prefer full over ear protection if possible. I searched the site for ear protection, but didn't come up with anything to useful so I figured I'd ask. Any recommendations? I would prefer something that also has built in speakers so I can listen to my music, but ear protection is the main thing I'm after.

Also any recommendations for decent respirators?

Thanks.

-Stephen

[Tom Esh]

Peltors are the best muff type I've used. Comfortable, real quiet (-29db I think), and a metal headband/spring. (The cheap AO brand the BORGs carry work okay but the plastic headbands eventually fatigue and snap in two, at which point the broken sharpish ends instantly try to gouge your scalp:eek:.) Only thing with muffs is they can get awfully warm. I like Zems for all but the noisiest work. They're awesome. They look like plugs, but the cushions actually fit over the ear canal. Lee Valley and Woodcraft carry them.

[John Coloccia]

For ear protection, Leight makes some very comfortable hearing protection. Go to your local firearms dealer. They'll have a great selection. Both Peltor and Howard Leight make fantastic hearing protection that I can't recommend enough. I personally use Leight and Peltor in the shop and on the firing range. I know Peltor makes sets with AM/FM radios built in. I'm no sure about HL.

There's a newer type of hearing protection now that has a thin headband and it just sorta nuzzles snuggly around the outside of your ear canal. I's called the ZEM. Others have done similar ones in the past, but these seem to be a littel bit nicer. I have a set. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005488/16255/Zem-Hearing-Protection.aspx

My head/ear shape just doesn't work well with them but they're suppose to be very comfortable. I just wear ear plugs, now, because I can drape those over my shoulders (I use the kind with the little plastic string between them), eye protection in the pocket of my smock, and I'm always ready...no excuses.

If you decide on ear plugs, don't buy them anywhere but online once you find what you like. I buy them in bulk and save a TON of money. Unless you like paying $1.00 for one disposible set of ear plugs.....lol. To give you an idea, I use these ear plugs:

http://newenglandsupply.net/product_info.php?products_id=367

These last me almost a year. Maybe 9 months (I don't use loud machinery everytime I'm in the shop, so 100 pairs is quite a bi). If you look around, you'll find them for upwards of $40, and if you buy similar ones seperately, you'll pay a ton for them.

I won't reccomend a respirator but I'll say that I happen to get mine at Home Depot, usually. I also buy several cartridges, but keep them unopened or they will start to degrade. 3M makes fantastic respirators, but you'll probably have to order them. Sometimes automotive paint stores carry a decent selection, but usually not in my experience. The only reason I'm not all over 3M respirators is that I had a hard time finding filters locally where I used to live. I would always seem to run out just as I was getting ready to start a large session.

I don't like the little dust mask style ones. Without even guessing if they actually work well enough or not, I find them incredibly uncomfortable. Maybe it's all those years working in a clean room!

Do you have a beard or any other facial hair? A respirator won't work. It will seem like it's working, but it's not. If you can't block the filters, suck in, and have the respirator stay sucked into your face for at least some number of seconds, it will freely pass everything you're trying to block.

I used to spray epoxy primers, and other nasty stuff, as part of my airplane building projects, so I was pretty anal about my respirators. If you have facial air, the best is clearly a fresh air positive pressure system with a full face mask. I've had to do this when I had a beard.

[Greg Johnson]

I use the AO Worktunes headset and while they work well for noise protection and sound pretty good, they are a PITA to tune in to a station. Strong recommendation to get digital tuning....

Greg

[Dennis McGarry]

Vic Firth noise isolation headphones which reduce overall noise levels by 25 decibels.

[Josiah Bartlett]

I use the squishy foam earplugs, but I don't throw them out. I chuck them in the washing machine with my work clothes and they come out of the laundry squeaky clean. They last hundreds of uses that way.

[glenn bradley]

+1 on Peltors. Of all the ones I have tried I can wear these with the least bother. I sometimes forget to take them off even after everything has wound down and that's saying a lot. This sort of thing, like respirators, varies with your head shape, scale, personal tolerance and so forth so YMMV.

[Dave Lehnert]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013092CS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000067O0F&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=193X69AD7TV3SM0BQEVG

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416DB-645uL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I use them also mowing the grass.

You can also get them at Lowe's or most hardware stores in the safety section.

[Scott Hildenbrand]

+1 more on Peltor.. I picked up this one.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0013A2BGM/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A26UI25H05IHIA&v=glance

Figured the bright color would help me find them when I set them down.. I'm constantly forgetting where I set stuff from moment to moment, like my tea glass..

[Paul Ryan]

I dont use it. Compared to my last job the wood shop is as quite as a library. And I cant here what my boy is up to if I have something in my ears.

[Wayne Cannon]

I like these Peltor headsets. They have a thin nylon strap that goes over the head, with the tension provided by a spring wire that passes behind you head/neck. They are the same excellent Peltor muffs, but the lack of the heavier headband makes them lighter, cooler, and more comfortable. In addition, they don't interfere with a helmet, cap, face shield, etc.

I believe this style is available as an option on most models of Peltor ear protectors.

http://www.airwareamerica.com/images/products/detail/H10b.jpg

[Rod Sheridan]

Peltor earmuffs, they're comfortable and have a high noise reduction rating.

Spend money on them, if they aren't comfortable you won't wear them.

Regards, Rod.

[Chris Rosenberger]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013092CS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000067O0F&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=193X69AD7TV3SM0BQEVG

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416DB-645uL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I use them also mowing the grass.

You can also get them at Lowe's or most hardware stores in the safety section.


I use these also.

[Art Mulder]

I have a good set of ear muffs... But I'm planning to get some ZEM's from Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=53610&cat=1,42207).

I like my muffs just fine... but the problem is my safety glasses. I find that Muffs totally cover my ears and work well. But in order to put on my safety glasses, the armsof the glasses have to slip under the ear muffs, and this puts a gap at the front where the ear muff cannot fit tight to my head. This makes a small but noticeable difference in performance.

That is why I want to get a pair of ZEM protectors.

[Dan Bowman]

I bought these, based on customer comments, and am very happy with their performance: http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-H10A-Professional-Canceling-Earmuff/dp/B00009LI4K/ref=pd_cp_hi_3

[Cody Colston]

I've been using the MSA ear muffs from the Borg but I broke the second pair yesterday pulling it apart to put over my head. Like was said here, the plastic spring band eventually fatigues and breaks.

Peltors are what we are provided aboard our helicopters when flying to work. Those copters are pretty loud and the Peltor muffs work great. I'll be trying them next.

[Chris Tsutsui]

Wal-mart had a clearance bin selling collapsable fire-arms ear muffs designed to muffle gun shots. These work fine in the shop for woodworking and seem better quality than the ones they sell at the Borg.

[Brian Tax]

I usually use the muff style, but the problem I have found is that when I where eye protection, the side ear pieces leaves an opening for sound to get it. The Zem style seem interesting, how do the Peltor work with eye protection? I have also thought about eye protection built into the muffs.

[Jerome Hanby]

+1

I have a bunch of them scattered around. A pair always go in my pocket along with the tape measure and mechanical pencil.


I use the squishy foam earplugs, but I don't throw them out. I chuck them in the washing machine with my work clothes and they come out of the laundry squeaky clean. They last hundreds of uses that way.

[Byron Trantham]

Sound protection? Simple, the OFF switch!:D Just kidding, I use the muff style and they work for me. ;)