Anyone got any advice on cheap solutions to cutting down on sound leakage from a workshop? I need to make sure I'm not disturbing anyone.

Its mostly grinding that makes a noise, that and steel etc banging on the floor / being beaten with a Special Tool No. 1.

Are there any cheap solutions for lining walls / roof etc? Any other ideas? Boxing in a compressor? That sort of thing.

Cheers for any ideas. Al.

Do Vapour tools make noise?

how many Sq M do you need Al?

Quite a bit mate - haven't measured exactly, the roof is pretty high.

Blockwork on the lower wall portion, corrugated toilet paper for the upper walls and roof. Say 750 square feet floor area. Whatcha got it mind?

Al.

same stuff as in the lab, you need a combo of absorption and reflection - glass wool tiles with a plasterboard backing will kill it flat

Cool mate - got a source for the tiles? (Didn't yours come from an old school or something?)

I even wondered about some old carpet... At least its cheap & quite dense!

Al.

I'll ask for ya

you can get spray foam. Once did a narrow boat, obviously for temperature not sound but I guess you will want both. Quite easy diy job.

Found a linkhttp://www.spray-insulation.co.uk/

About £400 to do garage 1" thick but you have a much bigger space so that would cost loads more.

Thanks landymannn - I once did a narrowboat with that stuff myself!

Great stuff, but a bit spendy for this large an area.

Cheers Jez - let me know.

Cheers, Al.

What Jez said, the Lab's soundproofing is so good it also stops time

Old carpet is a good idea too, it's about absorbing the noise as much as possible, which means removing hard flat surfaces. Shutting any gaps in doors is a good move too, a flexi lip of something like plastic sheeting or rubber will help greatly - if drafts can't get in, sound will have a harder time getting out.

Double skin doors are and walls are also a good thing, just putting an extra layer of something (even wafer thin hardboard) between the noise and the outside will take a big bite out.

For more ideas, start with anechoic chambers.

its always FF who comes out with these space-age words that nobody understands.

i sometimes have to use a dictionary to understand your posts

Your taking this Vapour Build Competition quite seriously then Al ?

Now building a workshop are we before you start

Nige

Don't you know Al's plan then Nige?

He's trying to collect enough tools and equipment so that, eventually, he'll just push a button and the machines will build a car for him in an afternoon.

The only problem is it's going to take about 10 years to accumulate all the gear

Egg boxes work well. But they are not waterproof or very strong. I once used a cheepo home-made recording studio that used them. Just don't lean on the walls!

Once you've successfully sound proofed your workshop, your neighbours will still know when you're welding if they watch any telly.


Michael

Hi Al

Here is my ideas and it is not just ideas it also works, as we have done quite a few builds like it and also done some consultant jobs and helped others out.

We do sell motorcycle dynos from Dynojet, that the reason why I know about this stuff, and believe me Bike engines do make a lot off noise, our construction makes it possible to use our Dynoroom 24hours and it is placed in the middle off a small village

There is two things; you have to dampen the sound inside the room and stop any sound from escaping the room.
We do it by making two rooms inside the exsisting room.

We are making use off the Rock wool stuff that is normally used under your concrete floor, it is put up in a frame system made off 1"x2" wood it is made as a room inside the room not touching the outer wall, when it is finished it is sprayed with some stuff so that the Rockwool doesn't fluff.

The outer wall is made as a wooden construction off 2"x4" ( I just love that the Fraze " and this is a 2x4, but I cant remember where it is from) that construction is then covered with 1/2" plasterboard and every seem is sealed with acrylic something I don not know the English word for.
In the wood construction is also 4" thick soft Rock wool.And again this room does not touch the outer wall.

The important thing to think about the sound as if it was water you wanted to keep in have you ever noticed how Much noise that escapes a keyhole

This translated to a cheap DIY system would be; seal the outer wall completely every little crack needs attention.

Then a wooden construction made off 1,5"x2,25" if you that size in your shop's and then 2" Rock wool in between and plaster board everything sealed-.

Then you track dawn all the old carpet you can and you hang it dawn from the sealing about 2" from the walls but there is a risk off fire with the carpet it could be sprayed with the same stuff as is being used in theater's for the decorations.

It sound like a lot off work but a thing that is also gained is the fact that it will be lot easier to heat the workshop.


Regards

Ole.

Hey Ole - hows it going? Thanks for the great post.

I think between that and Jez's info I've about got it. I did hear that small holes make a big difference, but no, I've never measured the sound coming out of a keyhole!

John - yeah, I've been in an anechoic chamber - pretty weird to have a conversation in if you get the chance. I found some cone-type panels, but they are silly money. This needs to be cheap as the area is pretty large.

Nige, a person can't take vapour-ware too seriously! This workshop is built, just needs a bit of sorting out and some power / soundproofing putting in.

Glad to hear it John. I need it to work.

Michael - I can only hope so!

Jim - omelettes for the next 12 years...?

The lower part of the walls is blockwork - any thoughts on soundproofing that, or is it not necessary?

Cheers, Al.