Early Access Video: DIY Sound Panels
Added 2022-08-20 11:01:01 +0000 UTCFriends:
My shop has a lot of ECHO...Echo...echo. It's a drag and lots of people have commented that they want better sound.
I couldn't agree more, so I set out to make 24 sound-absorbing panels...from scratch. From materials, to prototyping, to production, to hanging the finished product, it was a massive project, but I learned a lot and I can share it all with you.
Stick around to the end of the video for a detailed discussion of costs and time so you can budget your own project. This is a good one. Promise.
--Rex
Comments
Another restaurant trick I've heard of (though I rarely see it in practice, and it wouldn't really apply to Rex's situation) is gluing bits of shag carpet to the undersides of tables.
Tommy S
2022-09-11 23:30:54 +0000 UTCAm I misunderstanding that the company would make all 24 panels for $2000 total? $83.33 per panel? I would expect such a specialized item to cost $400-$800/ea (or more).
Wil Cooley
2022-09-02 21:06:01 +0000 UTCWould you elaborate about what you don't like about the plough plane, Rex? I have what I think is the same plane (only 1 iron though; got the rest via AliEx); the wood is slightly different but the shape is the same and mine actually has a Mujingfang sticker. I have never used any other plough plane and I have not used this one much but it seems serviceable for limited use. During one Instagram video (I think you were reviewing a Mujingfang knock-off), you mentioned that Mujingfang makes reasonable quality planes but did not explain how you arrived at that opinion. I can't just argue, "because Rex says so" outside of a certain limited audience and get away with it. They're a little hard to pin down, since there are a lot of sellers on Amazon/Wish/AliEx/etc that are selling them but under listing their own name (often you can see the Mujingfang sticker in product photos). The only sellers listing them under the Mujingfang are outside of the US, mostly AU. (Woodcraft lists one but I think it's always out of stock.)
Wil Cooley
2022-09-02 20:44:07 +0000 UTCThat IS a great idea. I'll think about it!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-02 17:44:13 +0000 UTCHey, Rex. Nice sound panels. Here's a trick I learned from Japanese restaurateurs. When in Japan I noticed that dining rooms often had ≈2" bamboo rods suspended ≈6" from the ceiling with short "drapes" hanging from them. They stretched nearly across the narrow dimension of the room, supported by several heavy strings spaced out and the drapes were... mmm... 18" long--which hung well above diners' heads. Always thot that leave it to those artisans to make a room look attractive. It hadn't dawned on me yet but the drapes were hung to rather cheaply reduce the din as often heard in many small restaurants with hard walls. Fast forward a few decades and was talking to the manager of a small meeting hall that had a terrible echo. I told him about the Japanese solution and he tried it with success. Perhaps in a shop the same advantages might apply and might make a great pairing with your sound panels. I'd like to see your experiment.
Dianna (Coderjoy) Dearborn
2022-09-01 23:31:38 +0000 UTCTime is truly our most valuable resource!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-30 12:13:41 +0000 UTCMan, I have that plane. It's terrible! As to the grooving plane, I can build it easily. It's finding affordable irons that others can buy that's the issue.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-30 12:13:15 +0000 UTCLooking (and sounding) good, Rex! I have been considering grooves and rabbets more lately and happened in to a pair of vintage Stanley 45s that will need some serious restoration work. I have also been getting more adept at using my wooden body Chinese-style bench plane. I know that you have previously considered making grooving/ploughing planes but maybe the Chinese have already done it? The link is for a wooden body ploughing plane https://a.co/bIFftr0 which looks somewhat like wooden Western ploughing plane but in an affordable, surprisingly red, tropical hardwood package. Maybe it is an affordable option for people who don’t have access to antiques.
Alexander May
2022-08-27 01:59:27 +0000 UTCThis was a great video, Rex. I really liked your cost assessment that includes your time in addition to the financial costs. When I was learning about opportunity costs in economics I thought the inclusion of time was silly. Now that I am older, it is *so* real to me. :)
Jonathan Lillpopp
2022-08-24 20:18:29 +0000 UTCYes. The Building is so great for all you do. I so enjoy the videos I am upping my monthly donation. I appreciate all you do and share
Blake Webber
2022-08-23 01:07:36 +0000 UTCThanks for making it possible! My patrons allow me to do this stuff, but lack of sponsors means I have to watch every penny. It's a useful experience!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:54:09 +0000 UTCI'm not sure those tiles would work on the walls and yeah...ugly!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:53:26 +0000 UTCI've barely heard of those! I need to look into them. Thank you!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:52:57 +0000 UTCThanks, John! You're right about the experience. That was valuable. I'm also proud of this video. It really came out well.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:52:35 +0000 UTCI think stiffness is a liability, not an asset. Rockwood seems to be the standard for both cheap and expensive sound treatment. It's just what people use.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:52:00 +0000 UTCAnd I love having you. Thank you.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:51:02 +0000 UTCYeah! No sound treatment at all in the old shop...just lots of crap!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:50:52 +0000 UTCLOL
Marc Barash
2022-08-22 18:50:49 +0000 UTCIf you can stay in the garage, do it! This building is a major investment.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:50:25 +0000 UTCThanks! I was glad it didn't turn out boring.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:50:03 +0000 UTCMost of the wood I used I bought specifically for a project that didn't happen, so it was a real cost.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:49:49 +0000 UTCYou're right. I should lead with the forum. I'm hugely proud to have started that even though it's all of you that keep it going.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:49:04 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:48:25 +0000 UTCI think there are just more panels behind me and I'm not facing a wall. You're right, though it's better on the angle.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:47:08 +0000 UTCOh, I'm a bit of a hack, too! Doesn't stop me!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:46:11 +0000 UTCDon't worry: all of this is in the service of getting back to woodwork!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:45:47 +0000 UTCI hope people can be realistic. This is a big space!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:45:21 +0000 UTCI'm going to do something like that. I'm just not sure exactly what.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:42:39 +0000 UTCIt's really true. Viewers in the DIY space don't care much about video quality, but they care a lot about audio. This needed to happen.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:42:10 +0000 UTCThey will attract dust....dust that I will rarely or never clean off!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:41:10 +0000 UTCYup! I had two set up right behind the camera. I'm going to build feet for them in the future so I can get them up a little higher.
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:40:38 +0000 UTCYou're very welcome! I'm glad you liked it!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:39:57 +0000 UTCI might do that!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:39:41 +0000 UTCI feel that way....when I'm making things I enjoy!
Rex Krueger
2022-08-22 18:39:24 +0000 UTCI am really enjoying your "new shop"-series. Escpecially in contrast to other creator`s "moving shop" videos, which tend to turn into sponsored ads for new machines, lighting, etc. quickly. Doing this without sponsors really allows for a different approach here. I dig it! The financial stuff is fascinating, too. Thanks for sharing and please keep on sharing
Helge
2022-08-21 19:14:31 +0000 UTCThat really was a great sound improvement! Thank you for sharing cost and thoughts. The panels you made look amazing. Did you consider using Acoustic drop ceiling tiles instead? They would look worse, but the cost is orders of magnitude cheaper. I'd like to understand the pros/cons of those vs the beautiful ones you built
David Bumpus
2022-08-21 14:49:17 +0000 UTCBy the way, switching from particle to pine probably saves you a lot of weight but if you do have a situation where you need to end joint particle, check out conformat screws.
STFU FFS (Martín)
2022-08-21 11:09:49 +0000 UTCHaving that company make and install the panels vs your DIY set may have turned out to be about a wash financially, but you're also learning as you go, and building relationships (and their skills) with your loyal assistants. I enjoy all of your vids, so thanks for another update. Take good care, Rex.
John Shufelt
2022-08-21 11:09:34 +0000 UTCOH! It's rockwool! I have a lot of experience with that particular fiberglass back when i was growing cannabis in California in the early 2000s. It is the preferred inert growing medium for taking cuttings from mother plants... but oh boy that's an expensive sound dampener. You didn't want to use styro? It feels like that would have been cheaper, stiffer and waaaay lighter.
STFU FFS (Martín)
2022-08-21 11:02:32 +0000 UTCI absolutely love being a Patreon for your channel, Rex.
Jennessa Lynam
2022-08-20 22:31:27 +0000 UTCMajor drop in the echo Rex. Nice panels too. I would probably need some if it wasn't for the massive amount stuff in my shop. Thank you for the video. Take care and have a great weekend.
Matt Evans-Koch
2022-08-20 22:14:20 +0000 UTCGreat job. I think with all I I learned here. I will just stay in my garage, and share with a Prius.
Blake Webber
2022-08-20 19:32:23 +0000 UTCThis is EXACTLY the sort of thing I was hoping that you’d show us. Barely anyone really shows this, and I love that you did.
JKlarinet
2022-08-20 19:22:06 +0000 UTCWE HAVE THE POWER!!! Seriously though, kind of hard to account for the cost of your scraps since you accounted for them in the other projects. Unless you subtract them back out of the previous videos.
Benjamin Fouty
2022-08-20 19:02:01 +0000 UTCThe plans? For sure! For me it’s the Hive Mind above all else. So Much Knowledge and experience!
Meryl Logue
2022-08-20 18:21:36 +0000 UTCAnd the drawings.
Henrik Ubbe
2022-08-20 18:13:56 +0000 UTCA thought about the Patreon pitch at the end: Perhaps describe one of the huge benefits… more important to me than early access… which is that vibrant and supportive community on your forum. It is unique in this area of craft, and a definite minority in the internet world.
Meryl Logue
2022-08-20 16:48:10 +0000 UTCThere looking good and seem to be doing the job well, good work Rex :)
Jim
2022-08-20 14:27:36 +0000 UTCNoticed that the echo was much less present when you shot at a 45-degree angle into the corner...no doubt your audio engineer can explain this but food for thought when you film;)
John Griswold
2022-08-20 14:25:56 +0000 UTCI thought the same thing but I guess going over the panels with a vacuum cleaner once in a while will do the job of keeping them more or less clean
Hagen
2022-08-20 14:07:09 +0000 UTCThe shop sure has changed over the weeks. You made a lot of progress despite COVID and other issues. I hope you find time to some more tool videos and technique videos. Proper technique sure makes the difference. That’s what makes the difference between a crafts man and a hack like me.
Richard C von Brecht
2022-08-20 14:03:34 +0000 UTCJust checked Harbor Freight 4to package $8.99
joseph severson
2022-08-20 13:14:11 +0000 UTCYou may want to try the interlocking floor pads as well. Not positive but I think they come 6 to a package are 2’x2’ will make it easier on your back and will absorb some sound for less than $20 a package.
joseph severson
2022-08-20 13:10:51 +0000 UTCVery informative as usual but go woodworking!!’
joseph severson
2022-08-20 13:06:24 +0000 UTCThe cost review at the end was gold. Most people never even think about that. And the sound is much better. I hope nobody is really expecting sound like some channels get in a 12' x 12' room...
Sean McGown
2022-08-20 12:55:33 +0000 UTCNot going to cover the ceiling with panels. Have you looked up in a HS gym? On occasion you will find panels hanging from the ceiling dividing that rectangle into smaller ones. This stops reflected sound going across the room.
Thomas Sutrina
2022-08-20 12:10:17 +0000 UTCTurns out the YouTube viewers are very picky. One of the main things that annoys people and gets them to stop watching is poor audio. More so than lower quality video. Good investment.
Thrifty Woodworker
2022-08-20 12:09:48 +0000 UTCWill the panels attract saw dust and other air borne particles? Will they require say monthly maintenance?
Marc Barash
2022-08-20 12:02:52 +0000 UTCWell done: the echo improved a lot. As you have a couple of extra panels, did you try to put them in front of you? Around or above the camera. Also, building a foldable easel might be a project.
Pierre-Olivier Fineltin
2022-08-20 11:38:37 +0000 UTCYelp, still not a waste of my time, very well done. Great information and presentation. Thanks
Richard A Ray
2022-08-20 11:33:37 +0000 UTCVery nice work. Adding the cleats is fantastic, simple, strong, and practical. They look great too. I'm no acoustic engineer, but I work in vibration isolation. If you have just a few minutes to play around with wire, I recommend trying out the remaining panels in the corners of your room, and angled from the roof facing you.
Conor Mow-Lowry
2022-08-20 11:28:03 +0000 UTCReally appreciated the honesty of the cost at the end. Most people don't factor in their time when calculating cost. As they say, we do woodworking not because it's cheaper, but because we enjoy it
Kirk von der Heydt
2022-08-20 11:14:31 +0000 UTC
