Good hearing protection - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Chris G · 03-27-2009, 05:08 PM

After a while, an impact driver gets annoying, as do a few other tools. Is there a good option to a standard over the ear headset?

woodchuck2 · 03-27-2009, 05:16 PM

I use regular ear muffs from snap-on, if they dont work enough then i put in ear plugs with the muffs on and you cant hear a damn thing except the blood rushing through your skull.

**loneframer** · 03-27-2009, 05:39 PM

Curiously, the voices seem louder when I put earmuffs on.

**BuiltByMAC** · 03-27-2009, 06:07 PM

I use in-ear earphones - clip my iPod Shuffle to the back of my ball cap -
there you go, tunes all day plus ear protection from loud tools.

Mac

s. donato · 03-27-2009, 06:55 PM

i just bought these they are great for planes and work.
AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds
when inserted i really can't hear much of anything other then my ipod.

WarnerConstInc. · 03-27-2009, 07:49 PM

huh?

TempestV · 03-27-2009, 09:27 PM

I use 2 different types, both of which are "tactical" hearing protection meant for shooting. The first are Active noise reduction muffs, which have a microphone on them that plays the noise from outside on speakers inside the headphones, but at a safe level. They are pretty cool, because when everything is quiet, it sounds normal, but when something makes too much noise, you don't hear the extra volume. Mine also have a place to plug in an MP3 player or a radio. I've also found that I can pick out quiet noises much better when something else is making a lot of noise (conversing normally with someone while running a jackhammer for example).

The second is an in ear type that has a sound passage that shuts when hit by loud short duration sounds (they are meant for shooting). As a result, you can hear normally without taking out the plugs, but you are protected if something starts creating noise. I've found that they work perfectly for nailguns. The ones that I have are made by Peltor, and are two ended, with one end being sound reactive, and the other being a normal ear plug for longer duration sounds.

I've forgoten to take both of them off before when I'm done doing something that I need them for. Half an hour later, I realize that I still have hearing protection on.

Quiglag · 03-28-2009, 12:38 AM

I pretty much use the disposable ones everyday at work, I think the ones I use are made by 3M. They work really good. I also have an earmuff like this I use if I am just doing cuts at a miter saw or something like that. It folds up nice and small.

TempestV · 03-28-2009, 07:11 PM

This is the ANR headphones that I use
http://www.keenzo.com/showproduct.as...3437679&ref=GB
and these are the plugs that I use
http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-97079-C...8285317&sr=8-1

**framerman** · 03-28-2009, 08:12 PM

I think these are the ones I get locally here. I wear earplugs almost every day. They are my personal favorite, but I also use some pods every once in awhile like Mac does.

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-...ACHBCXVG22YKKM

galla35 · 03-31-2009, 08:50 PM

the bosh box cranked

HandyHails · 04-04-2009, 05:41 PM

A little tip for plugs. Roll em up tight and open your mouth all the way to insert the plugs in your ears. I know it sounds whacked out, but this opens up your canals and makes em slide right in. For those of you with small openings, a little spit goes a long way.

Railman · 04-04-2009, 05:49 PM

We've been using Peltor "Work Tunes" am/fm in our shop for about 5 years. They still work. I originally pd about $70 a pair, but they can be had for about 1/2 that. There are lots of new models now, with Ipod jacks, active noise canceling, etc. The price range is now $30 to several hundred. Some are even used by Nascar crews.
Joe