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LAN_403

Killa-X

Mon Sept 27 2010, 02:44AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Thought it be fun to start a thread on hearing protection. Seeing stuff like high voltage capacitors, railguns, electrothermal guns, and large tesla coils make loud sound decibels that can risk damaging hearing...

So, first I want to start with my own question. Ear plugs, personally bug me to have to put on all the time. I rather earmuffs. I'm trying to decide on 2 on amazon, both are good reviews, one has a TON...but, it's rather 'bulky' as I hear a lot.

The differences is mainly in the size. One is bulky, due to the thicker cups. One does 30dB reduction, the other 25dB reduction. I was wondering, for use of capacitor discharges, which would you think is better? I cant decide, and I rather get the yellow thinner ones if the large bulky ones wont do much difference. I had hopes, some of you here would have one maybe =D

So, I want to hear from you too!
What type of hearing protection do you use? Ear plugs? Earmuffs?
Which of the 2 types of protection do you prefer, and why?

Currently, I use ear plugs. I prefer earmuffs, because they are easy to put on, and they dont bug me like ear plugs.

dmg

Mon Sept 27 2010, 02:56AM

Registered Member #2628 Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627

I own a pair of those red ones, and I must say, they are very good.

They seem to do just fine for capacitor discharges, coils, etc. (we use em for guns also), I found using earplugs annoying to, mostly because I dispose of them, then have to open new ones, and they get dirty very easly.

you can also wear with safety glasses, you put them on before the muffs, and you should have no issues, these muffs are quite comfterable with glasses.

I cant really say just how much of a difference will it make between the two, but either way, the red ones work just wonderfully, and I would really recommend getting a pair.

Dave Marshall

Mon Sept 27 2010, 03:13AM

Registered Member #16 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:22PM
Location: New Wilmington, PA
Posts: 554

It depends a lot on whether you're going by practical standards or technical standards.

In the realm of strict technical doctrine, the 30dB pair will always be the better choice. Why take the risk?

That being said, how much good does the 30dB suppression do if you hardly ever wear them except when you KNOW you're going to need them? If they're 'skull crushers' and are uncomfortable/cumbersome/limit peripheral awareness, etc and you don't wear them often, they aren't doing that much good.

25dB suppression is sufficient in my experience to bring the muzzle blast of a .308 rifle (positioned face approximately even with the muzzle, 6' away) down to a *tolerable* level. Tolerable meaning I still blink with each shot, but it isn't uncomfortable. My ears don't ring, I don't flinch, and I feel no after-effect of the muzzle blast (such as washed out hearing or white noise). My 25dB muffs are quite comfortable, if a little sweaty on a hot day, and I wear them any time I might potentially need them. Large electronics, power tools, fire arms, etc. The nice thing is, if I'm doing something really insanely loud (firing rifles larger than .300 Win Mag, working on the flight line around jet engines at high throttle, etc), you can always just put ear plugs under the muffs.

There are very comfortable 30+dB muffs out there, but it is usually a case of getting what you pay for. Good ones aren't cheap, and cheap ones aren't often good.

-Dave

Killa-X

Mon Sept 27 2010, 03:57AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Yeah, I can understand. They won't be used for long periods of time, mainly during shots. It's nice to see everyones views.

Gatebreakdown, it's nice to see you have one of the pairs i was looking at, and it does seem everyone says try feel good. Have you ever had ears sore after wearing them long? Might be the ones I'll go after since I am going to have them on for short periods, and 30dB would be a nice decrease.

dmg

Mon Sept 27 2010, 04:02AM

Registered Member #2628 Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627

the longest time I wore these earmuffs where around an hour or so, never had an ear sore at all, those cushions around the "holes" do thier job, on Dave's point, yeah, there are probably better muffs then this, (electronic ones for instance) that are far more effective and better, but these muffs are fairly good for cheap.

Hon1nbo

Mon Sept 27 2010, 04:26PM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 1042

I like the Ryobi ear muffs, they actually have adjustable noise canceling (dual mics with a volume knob) and an mp3 jack

just my 2 cents

-Jimmy

Torchwood

Tue Sept 28 2010, 12:42PM

Registered Member #2668 Joined: Sun Jan 31 2010, 12:11PM
Location: South Australia
Posts: 18

Try Surefire earplugs, they reduce any noise above 80db down to around 80db yet you can still hear what is going on around you and even have a conversation.

Mads Barnkob

Tue Sept 28 2010, 02:05PM

Registered Member #1403 Joined: Tue Mar 18 2008, 06:05PM
Location: Denmark, Odense C
Posts: 1968

Gatedbreakdown wrote ...

I bought some similar to these some years ago, cheapest they had in the store, works just fine!

Remember that long term hearing damage is caused by too high sound levels over a long time, short exposures is far from a relevant matter when wearing protection, I would not go into discussing hearing protection quality when its for short runs like the ones we typically do...

Killa-X

Tue Sept 28 2010, 02:52PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Yup. This isn't for a job, for example. When you need hearing protection 8 hours every day. This is just for short use, when firing electrothermal guns, shorting capacitors, and sometimes tesla coils. When I have my larger ones doing music or just arcs at 3ft, it's too loud to not have protection.

But yeah, short use. I put the order in for the red ones From amazon. I also want to try a pair from harbor freight, the electronic ones. People at gun forums said they aregreat and make gun shots into dull thuds thanks to noise compression circuits. While firing guns, the mic let's you hear people talk even during the shooting.

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