Shop Vac silencer and boom version 2.0 Pic Heavy

[rjwz28]

Okay this is my second vacuum cleaner silencer. The first was too small and a lot of people told me that it was dangerous so I listened and made a better, and I believe, safe model.

The first thing I did was make the enclosure larger to give the vacuum more space around it.  Next, I installed a boxer fan to bring in fresh air blowing straight into the vac’s grill.  The inlet has a housing surrounding the fan with some carpet to dampen the sound coming out from that opening.  Then I found fire resistant carpet padding and covered all inside surfaces with it.  I stapled the padding as not to use spray adhesive like the last time.

Well, I took some tests and here are the results.  With the door open and taken from 6 feet directly in front the vacuum outlet with a cheap Radio Shack sound level meter I measured 84 dbs and with the door closed, it’s 65 dbs.  It is really quiet.  I can't tell if it's running when my sander is on.  I've never heard a Fein or Festool vac, so I can’t compare it to them, but I am happy with it.  As for the heat, it is fine.  With the vacuum running constant for over 30 minutes the inside temp was just 100 degrees.  I think that is pretty good as some places, that’s the outside daytime temperature.

I spent a little over a hundred bucks to do it and I think it was worth it.

Thanks for looking,

Rob

 

[woodwreck]

A lot of good hard work there, but your Rigid (it s not a Shop Vac) vacuum is arguably at the top of the industry list of excessive noise levels, well above some Shop Vac models, to say nothing of the Fein and Festool products.

To compare the enclosed 100 degrees with outside air temp is a little risky IMHO.  [scared]  Your efforts and resources might be misdirected.

 

[Tinker]

A lot of good hard work there, but your Rigid (it s not a Shop Vac) vacuum is arguably at the top of the industry list of excessive noise levels, well above some Shop Vac models, to say nothing of the Fein and Festool products.

To compare the enclosed 100 degrees with outside air temp is a little risky IMHO.  [scared]  Your efforts and resources might be misdirected.

A question because I don't know.  What is the risk in measuring enclosed temp with outside temp?
Tinker

 

[Laminator]

Looks like a much improved product this time around!  Just a note, here in Texas during summer, It would likely be around 100 degrees before you closed the door and turned it on. [wink]  A 19db reduction in spl is significant.

 

[rjwz28]

A lot of good hard work there, but your Rigid (it s not a Shop Vac) vacuum is arguably at the top of the industry list of excessive noise levels, well above some Shop Vac models, to say nothing of the Fein and Festool products.

To compare the enclosed 100 degrees with outside air temp is a little risky IMHO.  [scared]  Your efforts and resources might be misdirected.

Woodwreck, what's difference between 100 degrees in or out?  To me, 100 degrees is 100 degrees.  Risky?

And BTW, the Ridgid is not louder than the shop vacs in my opinion.

Rob

 

[jc]

A 19db reduction in spl is significant.

I agree.  Good job Rob!

 

[woodwreck]

Comparing outside ambient air temp to inside the box might be risky because it is misleading - Ambient air will not increase dramatically in a short period of time, and might even drop substantially depending on weather conditions. Inside the box however, even assuming temp. is similar, is subject to rise in temp. and electrical motor heat and fire risk as so well mentioned.

As to noise, while the Rigid may not be louder than the particular Shop Vac(s) that Rob observed, Shop Vacs noise levels, for reasons not clear,
vary dramatically across the product line. Some are questionably mis labeled as super quiet, most are not identified; noise levels between same size vary. Rigid tools, not just vacs., tend to lack in nose control, balance (vibration) and a few finer points which is why they are priced where they are. Refining those characteristics adds to the production cost.