John Pratt
03-21-2013, 11:52 AM
I thought I would put this out as a supplement to the thread about hearing loss/protection without hijacking that thread completely. Recently, my shop had a noise survey completed to see what the exposure rates were for the different tools operated in the shop.
All the readings listed were with the machines under load (actually cutting, drilling, etc). Some of these machines may not apply to every shop, but since I do a little bit of everything, we tried to get the DB levels of a different range of tools in and around the shop that make noise. We didn’t get them all, but I’m sure you can extrapolate from these readings to compare to other tools in your shops. The readings were taken with an audiology department noise meter.
Caveat: Your machine noise levels may vary depending on manufacturer, work load, or other factors.
Tool
Noise level in DB
Tool
Noise level in DB
Air compressor (purge and fill)
92db
Metal chop/cut-off saw (table)
104db
Band saw
92db
Miter saw (12”)
103db
Belt sander (hand held, elec)
98db
Mortising machine
67db
bench grinder (metal)
90db
Nail gun (18ga, 100psi)
92db
biscuit jointer
88db
palm sander (1/4 sheet)
90db
Chainsaw (74cc, 24")
104db
Planer (20”)
88db
Circular saw (battery)
95db
push mower
94db
Circular saw (electric)
106db
random orbit sander (5")
88db
CNC machine
103db
reciprocating saw (battery)
94db
Drill (battery, handheld, 1/2"
85db
Riding lawn mower (54")
90db
Drill (elec, handheld, 1/2" chuck)
91db
Router (table mounted)
93db
Drill press (1hp)
77db
Sanding center (disk/belt combo)
87db
Drum sander (22/44)
80db
Scroll saw (20”)
80db
dust collector (from shop area)
75db
shop fan (exhaust)
70db
Earlex 5500 sprayer
80db
Spindle sander
72db
framing nailer (16P)
102db
Table saw (4/4 rip)
91db
Grinder (hand held, electric)
94db
Tormek sharpener
63db
Hammer drill/chisel
91db
weed trimmer
98db
Jig saw (battery)
96db
Worksharp 3000
72db
Jointer (8", 1/8” edge cut, 4/4)
92db
Welder (miller, mig)
68db
Lathe (16/42)
74db
All the readings listed were with the machines under load (actually cutting, drilling, etc). Some of these machines may not apply to every shop, but since I do a little bit of everything, we tried to get the DB levels of a different range of tools in and around the shop that make noise. We didn’t get them all, but I’m sure you can extrapolate from these readings to compare to other tools in your shops. The readings were taken with an audiology department noise meter.
Caveat: Your machine noise levels may vary depending on manufacturer, work load, or other factors.
Tool
Noise level in DB
Tool
Noise level in DB
Air compressor (purge and fill)
92db
Metal chop/cut-off saw (table)
104db
Band saw
92db
Miter saw (12”)
103db
Belt sander (hand held, elec)
98db
Mortising machine
67db
bench grinder (metal)
90db
Nail gun (18ga, 100psi)
92db
biscuit jointer
88db
palm sander (1/4 sheet)
90db
Chainsaw (74cc, 24")
104db
Planer (20”)
88db
Circular saw (battery)
95db
push mower
94db
Circular saw (electric)
106db
random orbit sander (5")
88db
CNC machine
103db
reciprocating saw (battery)
94db
Drill (battery, handheld, 1/2"
85db
Riding lawn mower (54")
90db
Drill (elec, handheld, 1/2" chuck)
91db
Router (table mounted)
93db
Drill press (1hp)
77db
Sanding center (disk/belt combo)
87db
Drum sander (22/44)
80db
Scroll saw (20”)
80db
dust collector (from shop area)
75db
shop fan (exhaust)
70db
Earlex 5500 sprayer
80db
Spindle sander
72db
framing nailer (16P)
102db
Table saw (4/4 rip)
91db
Grinder (hand held, electric)
94db
Tormek sharpener
63db
Hammer drill/chisel
91db
weed trimmer
98db
Jig saw (battery)
96db
Worksharp 3000
72db
Jointer (8", 1/8” edge cut, 4/4)
92db
Welder (miller, mig)
68db
Lathe (16/42)
74db