Reduce Dust Collector Noise / Sound Suppression on Noisy Woodworking Dust Collection System

Decrease noise from woodworking dust collector with a soffit baffle and deflector shield. These easy mods with acoustic foam panels will greatly reduce the volume of noise coming from your dust collection system. Make the shop environment more comfortable and much quieter with these wood working improvements. Follow along as Willie Sandry the Thoughtful Woodworker takes you through step by step. Tired of a noisy dust collector? This is the simple solution!
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[@weekendwarrior9570]

Excellent video and process. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

Thanks for the nice comment.
Cheers

[@TheSnekkerShow]

Thanks for the ideas; this is a constant challenge for me as well. I recently did a video review of some Forrest finger-joint blades, involving around 20 cuts on a variety of good pieces of wood that I didn't want to waste. I had to shoot the entire test sequence three times, because the table-saw motor was directly under the camera mic, and the dust collector was directly behind me, making it impossible to hear the differences in the actual cuts. During the final set, I had to grab an extension cord and move my dust collector outside, then clip my lapel mic onto my table saw sled. Finally, I used AudioDirector to select just table-saw and dust-collector noise so I could lower its intensity. I kind of want to build a dust-collector shed now.

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

Oooohhh a dust collector shed, now there's an idea. Honey, I need money for a dust collector shed!

[@kevinwillis6707]

8 db is a big drop in volume, makes for a more pleasant workshop, good job👍

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

Thanks Kevin. I appreciate the soft hum of the dust collector every time I'm in the shop. Best to you.

[@RoboArc]

My shop vac in my room is like 106 db 🤣 i legit need to figure out how to do dust collection for my cnc and other tools. I dont ahve a shop, so my room is legit my lab 😦
I have a dormer though i might run the dust collection through the wall and then down to the CnC from a drop cord or something on the gantry.
This is like way bigger than what i need, i just wanted to see see you were doing. I plan on building a shop soon and was going to get the JET dust collection system.
( edit, to many typos. Was at work 😄 )

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

Good luck with the shop and dust collection plans. Best to you.

[@incognitotorpedo42]

I built a plywood cabinet for my shop vac. It's lined with sound absorbing material (the half inch thick tiles that were used on the outside of the filter baffle in this video). The cabinet incorporates a long twisted path for exhaust air, for maximum noise absorption. The result is remarkably quieter. I'm pretty happy with it, although it does take up some space. I also disassembled the shop vac and lubricated a bushing that was making some noise, so that helped too.

[@yousuflootah]

Thanks for this informative video. I have been struggling with my 5hp cyclone set up. I get about 85 db and been living with the noise using a noise cancellation ear AirPods. Just wondering have you tried soundproofing blankets like audimute? The reason I am considering those is that I saw somewhere that acoustic panels aren’t intended to reduce sound rather reduce eco.

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

I've used rock wool insulation and regular acoustic panels. Both seem to do well at reducing sound volume. Technically, I'm not sure if it's less volume or less echo, but I know it's a measurable difference with a db meter. Subjectively the improvement is even greater. I'm glad I built the enclosure.
I've never tried soundproofing blankets. The general rule is thicker is better.
Best

[@incognitotorpedo42]

The reflected sound is contributing to the overall noise level. About 8 dBA, in this case. Sound is sound, whether it's direct or reflected.

[@markahlenius1962]

Thank you for this informative video. I am installing an Oneida system and looking to build a closet around this fixed unit. Where did you find the acoustic foam?
Thanks again
‘Mark

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

Thanks Mark, I just used random Amazon acoustic foam. It's not the best quality, but if you use enough it really helps.
Best

[@RossWilliamsDC]

Hi, I am about to buy an Oneida SuperCell 80 dbs (loud) and am wondering if you ever got that closet built for your collector and how it's working? cheers

[@placestosea]

good result, did you consider stick on sound deadener on the body of the cyclone and cone?

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

I think that would help too, but I was happy with the results, so I didn't add more acoustic products.
Thanks

[@Zero2Random]

It’s unlikely stick on vibration damping would do much, that could be measured without an accelerometer. Being a curved shape, the cone and body will already have less resonance than a flat panel, and the sheet metal is relatively thick. Constrained layer dampers are also a very narrow band product, only being truly effective at the treated items natural resonance. I have a ton of performance measurements from about 25 different products, and that would be one of the last things I would attempt for this use case, as I just don’t think the cost to reward ratio is there.

[@damonmanni]

I’m following your solution which is just what i need. Can you clarify the dimensions of the stiff styrofoam used? 2”, 3” or 4” thick? Also, can you provide details on the pyramid acoustic panels? Make and product info, where you bought them, etc. And the same for the outside thinner acoustic panels. Much appreciated cheers!

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

I didn't actually use any of the rigid Styrofoam, although I did have some in the background of the video intro. The acoustic panels are nothing special. I got them free off Amazon Vine, but any brand will work. The thin dense panels are about 1/2" thick. It works amazingly well for, and makes my big 2 hp DC so much quieter than my mobile cyclone! Best to you.

[@damonmanni]

@@TheThoughtfulWoodworker thank for helping. All the best

[@brianwohn]

Will the exhaust have enough air flow to “breath” with the acoustics? I know you said open on top - wasn’t sure if that was enough?

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

Hi Brian,
Yes, the filter has plenty of space to exhaust the air. No change in suction or system performance. I tried to measure CFM with an anemometer and nearly had the device sucked out of my hand into the collector!

[@brianwohn]

@@TheThoughtfulWoodworker OK great :)

[@dougbitt]

Every 3db drop is half, so 9db drop would be 1/8th the sound

[@TheThoughtfulWoodworker]

I'm sure this point is debatable, but the info I have shows that a 3db change is 100% change in sound energy. However a 10db change is generally perceived as half as loud. Thanks for weighing in.