Shop Noise Levels

[Don Abele]

In response to another question about an air compressor, where someone mentioned how loud it was, I decided to check out exactly how loud my equipment was. I was surprised and thought I'd pass it on...

Here are the sound measurements. All were taken with a slow response meter right in front of the machine (where I would stand) under no load:

Jet DC-1100 dust collector: 82 dB
Jet JTAS-10XL 10" table saw: 84 dB
Jet JJ6CS 6" jointer: 88 dB
Jet JWBS14 14" bandsaw: 90 dB
IR SS3L3 compressor: 92 dB, goes down to 84 dB at 6 feet.
Ridgid 13" planer: 104 dB
Excel 10" miter saw: 105 dB
Craftsman 5 gallon shop-vac: 123 dB

For all - take these measurements to heart (or your ears). All are over the 80 dB threshold of where hearing protection should be worn. The shop-vac is over 120 dB so double should be worn.

[Jim Becker]

This points out one of the reasons I put my cyclone and compressor in their own sound deadend closet. I can bearly hear the compressor when it's running and the DC is also very quiet until you open a gate...the bigger the drop/gate the louder. Hearing protection isn't optional at certain tools in that respect. Like the J/P!

[Bruce Page]

Doc,
I’m not surprised. After spending many, many years working in machine shops I take what hearing that I have left very seriously. A new program at work has me doing a fair amount of long distance air traveling. I don’t mind flying, but sitting in a 737 for 5 or 6 hours would make my ears ring loudly for a day or so. After about 6 of these trips I said BS on this, :( and bought a pair of the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 Noise-Canceling headphones. :) :) They work great on the airplane and they work great in the shop, mowing the grass or with any other loud activity.

[Ian Barley]

I always like to learn my safety lessons at the expense of others.

My father is 90% deaf after a career in the military where hearing protection was "for sissies".

I put my ear defenders on when I walk into the shop and only take them off to answer the phone. I now feel uncomfortable without them.

[Arvin Brown]

This is very interesting because it is something that I have to be concerned with at work. I am a mechanical engineer and I design, build, and/or buy new machinery. Our specification calls for machinery not to exceed 80dba. We require our employees to wear hearing protection when the 12-hour average is 80dba with no level above 85dba. Remember, the decible scale is a logarithmic scale - not linear. That means that the sound level intensity doubles when the level goes from 80 to 81! Also, just because all the machinery is around 80-85dba, that doesn't mean that when all of them are on the the sound level will also be 80-85dba. They will add up. Don - It would be interesting to take a level measurement with everything turned on! Remember....once you loose your hearing you can't get it back. Always to be safe!

[Don Abele]

Ian, being currently on active duty, and in the medical field, I can tell you that we have learned the lesson the hard way and now take it very seriously. Luckily, those that have/had that sissie mentality nowadays can't hear us when we call them idiots!!! Ear protection is just as important as any other type of personal protective equipment. The uniqueness of our hearing is also that it only gets worse, it's a naturally degrading resource. Very rarely will hearing ever improve and never once permanent damage is done.

[Don Abele]

Arvin, you are absolutely correct. We (in the military), use varying measurements depending not only on level (dB), but also stay-time, and type of noise (continuous or impact). Basic guidelines are:

Single protection for 80-119 dB (not to exceed 8 hours/day)
Double protection for 120 dB or greater (not to exceed 8 hours/day)

Personnel who are routinely subjected to levels about 80 dB must also have an audiogram performed annually to monitor auditory levels.

As for checking everything running...I'd probably pull too many amps and pop the main breaker. Besides, it's 9:30 and I'm sure my neighbors wouldn't like all that noise. :eek:

[Bruce Page]

As for checking everything running...I'd probably pull too many amps and pop the main breaker. Besides, it's 9:30 and I'm sure my neighbors wouldn't like all that noise. :eek:
I's only 7:30 here! :p

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Doc,

I was one of those "nerds" who while working around naval aviation for 6 years wore my ear protection. :eek: Since getting out of the military I've spent hundreds of hours sport shooting, either competition or working up handloads for my guns. I have at least 4 pairs of hearing protectors and wear inserted ear plugs beneath the "mouse ears". :eek: :eek: 7 years ago, I woke up one morning with a total loss of hearing in my right ear coupled with tonitis(sp?) in that same ear. :( The constant tone detracts from my hearing in my left ear. In my 28 years of repairing CT scanners and 17 years repairing MR scanners I've seen the scans and heard the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma.......I went to my personal physcian....was referred to a specialist......end result....some type of possible viral infection of the inner ear. In short, I have about 30-40% of normal hearing. My biggest relief from life's daily stresses and one of my greatest loves was playing and listening to music. Now, I don't play and I don't listen because what I hear is distorted. Folks the big message here is "Wear the protection!" It's a real PITA to constantly have to ask people to repeat themselves because I can't hear what they're saying.....It's a bigger PITA to have to apologize for inappropriately reacting to something because I didn't understand what was said. :( :(

[Dan Mages]

Lets not forget the sound that pnumatic nailers use, especially framing, roofing, and finishing nailers. I have a set of 26 db ear muffs that I use whenever I use my tools. Its better to play safe than to take the chance of irrepable harm to your hearing.

Dan

[Todd Burch]

Don, I wear a pair of yellow Pelton branch ear muffs when i nthe shop. I think they are marketed towards hunters and shooters, but I get what I feel is good protection from them.

What would be considered "double" protection? Ear plugs AND muffs?

[Mark Singer]

Sorry, can you repeat that.....

[Arvin Brown]

Todd - double protection is ear muffs and ear plugs. Each ear plug has a decible lowering rating. For example....if the sound level is 125dba, which required double protection. Usually, foam will lower approx. 25dba (will say on the package). Therefore, you need something that will lower it another 20dba. If you already have something in your ear about the only other thing you can use is a head set. They will lower it another 20-30dba.

[Waymon Campbell]

Bruce - I looked into the Bose Noise Cancelling earphones (man are they pricey!). But I guess you can't put a price on one of your senses. Can you give me some idea of how well they work in the shop. I currently wear a pair of hunting/shooting type earphones and they probably cut 25db off the sound.

[Don Abele]

Dan, a typical pneumatic nailer fires off somewhere around 100-120 dB (that's from memory, rather than me going out in the shop and checking it). Again, still very loud. Especially if you shooting all day (like construction workers).

Todd, double protection is just what you hit at: wearing inserted ear plugs under a set of ear muffs. The typical protection on the market today averages between 18 and 25 dB protection per set. That is, it reduces the amount of noise that gets to your ear by that value.

Wearing double though, does NOT double the protection. A set of 20 db plugs and 20 dB muffs does not give you 40 dB of protection, it's closer to 30 dB. Again, this has to with noise propagation not being linear but being logarithmic.

BOTTOM LINE GUYS: We should all be wearing ear protection in the shop when our machines are running. And if the machine you are using still sounds loud under those muffs, double it up and put a set of plugs in.

BTW: I did not mean to get on a soap box with this thread. It started out as me just curious about levels and checking them. BUT...if it gets even one person to start using hearing protection, well...then I'm happy :) I'd like for nothing else then you all to continue to have a happy and healthy life enjoying woodworking...so please take of yourselves...

[Dean Baumgartner]

Optional for > 85 dBA TWA;
mandatory for > 90 dBA TWA,
and for > 85 dBA TWA for
workers with STS. Protect to 90
or to 85 with STS.
Double hearing
protection (muff plus plug)
required at exposures
Mandatory for > 85 dBA
TWA; must protect to 85.
Double hearing protection
(muff plus plug)
recommended at exposures
> 100 dBA TWA.

Here's the OSHA statute on hearing protection OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95
Essentially single protection required between 85 and less than 100 dB and double protection if the time weighted average exceeds 100dB. The time weighted average is based on an 8 hour exposure. Higher levels allow for less time.

Dean

[Bruce Page]

Bruce - I looked into the Bose Noise Cancelling earphones (man are they pricey!). But I guess you can't put a price on one of your senses. Can you give me some idea of how well they work in the shop. I currently wear a pair of hunting/shooting type earphones and they probably cut 25db off the sound.
Waymon,

The Bose are indeed pricy, but I have some other Bose equipment and IMHO it is first class stuff. It is hard to describe how the headset works, the higher pitched noises are tuned out more so than the lower pitches. For example, when I raise my WWII all the way up on my unisaw and turn the Bose on & off, the difference is significant. I have a hot dawg type overhead heater that I very much love :) but the fan does become annoying at times, with the Bose on it becomes a whisper. The wife & I share vacuuming duties, we have one of those mega horsepower “tornado” vacuum cleaners that I absolutely HATE the sound of - the Bose makes it much easier to deal with.
They worked wonders with the jet noise too.


None of the sounds go away, they are just easier to live with.

Bose usually has a free 30 day trial offer so it wouldn’t hurt to check a pair out for yourself.

Boy, this reads like a commercial – no connection with Bose, just a satisfied coustomer.

[Dan Bussiere]

Hey Doc,
Don't worry about being on a soap box! After 23 years (retired) in the military vehicle maintenance (heavy equipment) field, I know the importance and sometimes futility of preaching hearing protection. I know all about the "sissy" factor! I've worked with many of those so called "real men". The V. A. clinic is filled with real men who can't hear their name called anymore. So, when it comes to safety and/or health preach on! Thanks for taking the time to look after us and thank you for your service to our country.
Dan

[Byron Trantham]

Don, wish I had your sound level meter. I can't imagine what my new DeWalt 13" planner puts out! Hands down the loudest machine I have ever heard. I wear headphones but I am sure I need more!

[Chris Padilla]

http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum954.php

The Howard Leight Leightning 31 are the most comfortable ear muffs I've ever worn. I hardly remember I have them on. They aren't very expensive either at around $20.

Also, see www.howardleight.com (http://www.howardleight.com) for the mini-plugs if you want to further up your protection.

[Doug Littlejohn]

Now I know for sure I want to put the compressor and DC system outside in their own room. I did notice that you did not measure a planer. That's the noisiest piece I have. Outside it's not to bad but if you use in inside, hearing protection is mandatory.

Woodworking is sort of like shooting. You have your 'ears' (hearing protectors) and 'eyes' (safety glasses) on before proceeding.

Thanks for sharing the information.

[Bob Johnson]

http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum954.php

Also, see www.howardleight.com (http://www.howardleight.com) for the mini-plugs if you want to further up your protection.

Chris,

Can a person buy these somewhere in quanities smaller than 2000 pair? I'd be interested in trying some, but that quanity seems a bit excessive for my use.

Bob

[Ken Garlock]

Dan, a typical pneumatic nailer fires off somewhere around 100-120 dB (that's from memory, rather than me going out in the shop and checking it). Again, still very loud. Especially if you shooting all day (like construction workers).

Todd, double protection is just what you hit at: wearing inserted ear plugs under a set of ear muffs. The typical protection on the market today averages between 18 and 25 dB protection per set. That is, it reduces the amount of noise that gets to your ear by that value.

Wearing double though, does NOT double the protection. A set of 20 db plugs and 20 dB muffs does not give you 40 dB of protection, it's closer to 30 dB. Again, this has to with noise propagation not being linear but being logarithmic.

...

Don, actually the addition of -30db and -30db results in -33db. Negative values are used to indicate a reduction in power. To double the power, power is what you are measuring, adds -3db. The formula is 10*log(p1/p2) . Hence, 10*LOG(-60/-30) = -3.01.... or just -3 for most purposes. It is important to note that DBs measure power, or in this case doing work on the ear drum. Take a look at DB reference (http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/noise_education/web/ENG_EPD_HTML/m1/intro_5.html) for a good explanation of sound measurement in DBs. :)

[Don Abele]

Excellent Ken, thanks for clarification. I was going by memory (which is not all that great). What I did remember clearly was that it didn't just add up. I could not recall the equation, but thought it was half. Again, thanks.