Reply To: Quieter Woodworking?
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To understand what “semifinished”means, a bit more description would help. The best bang for your buck is providing a sound barrier ceiling between your work space and the living area.
Normally, that would consist of sound deadening insulation in the joist space with sheet rock mounted on single leg isolation chanell to decouple the drywall from the house structure. The heavier the drywall the better. Better yet, and what we used for sound booths in radio stations was two layers of 5/8” drywall also separated by the iisolation channel. Several drywall producers make a sound deadening drywall also.
For example:
Don’t have any penetrations in the ceiling ( can lights, junction boxes, ductwork ) if possible, as they will conduct sound. And even caulking the perimeter of the Sheetrock helps. Don’t couple the ceiling to adjacent walls, as they will act as sound boards.
But you can Do some simple things that will help quite a bit. Try to make your bench not act like a sound board.
Add weight to your bench and make sure nothing on the bench rattles. Set the legs on anti vibration pads usually available at HVAC supply houses.
And if your bench sits on leg assemblies, some silicone shelf liner will help.
Also, if you are chopping dovetails and motrices on the top of the bench, try using a self repairing mat like ones made by Dahle or Alvin. I find they help take the sharpness out of the noise and don’t really seem to cut your efficiency. As a bonus, it will protect the bench.
I’m not endorsing these particular brands. Shop around for all this stuff. Most is available locally and a bit cheaper at discount box stores.
If you have concrete floors, put down some anti fatigue foam mats to reduce the sound that bounces off the floor. It’ll be more comfortable, too.