Hello everyone,
I recently bought the Bosch 4100 table saw (great saw BTW, I’d highly recommend it). I’m wondering if anyone has used acoustic foam or a similar product to quiet a table saw. FWW #195 has an article on using a box and acoustic pads to quiet a vacuum and I think I can do something similar by lining the inside of the saw frame with some sort of foam. Has anyone used this technique to make a worthwhile reduction in noise? Will the dust destroy the dampening properties of the foam?
Thanks,
Matt
Replies
shhh!
On saws that use a v-belt, going to a power-twist belt will substantially reduce noise.
http://www.eagleamerica.com/product/485-4000/saw_blades_and_accessories
I never considered gluing foam to the inside of a saw to dampen noise, though.
The Bosch is a direct drive, and a universal motor to boot. That's part of why I want to dampen the noise if possible. I think if I glue some sort of foam to the inside, in the parts that won't interfere with saw operation, that would help reduce the noise.
Heat
In addition to what John said. I would be worried about making one big heat trap, not a good thing for motors.
Not Practical
Matt,
Sound dampening is only effective if the enclosure is also very tightly sealed, even small gaps or openings will allow much of the noise to escape. Given the complex shape of the saw's base, and the need for ventilation, it will be near impossible to close off the base well enough to get significant noise reduction. If there were some practical way to do this I am sure that a number of manufacturers would already be doing it.
Try a Tenryu Gold Metal blade. It is very quiet and you will love how it preforms.
Direct Drive ?
Yah well they call my cheepy Delta a "Direct Drive" but if a person looks at the owner's manual, or the parts rack at Home Depot, for that matter, for that saw's model number one will find a cogged belt that looks like a very small timing belt for an automobile engine. A lot of the noise over and above what a high end cabinet saw produces, comes from the whine of the cogged pullies and cogged belt meshing, or gnashing, what ever you want to call it.
http://servicenet.deltaportercable.com/Parts/Detail/244089
I bought the saw with the full understanding it was a noisy saw. The guy at the wood working tool store said
" that is about the noisiest saw in the . . . well I would think there is something wrong with a saw that . . . I wouldn't want . . ."
I said how noisy can it be? Plug it in and let me hear it. I wasn't too sure what he said after we shut it off but I had some killer ear protection at home and if I ever recovered I figured I had that part of the problem covered and I was sure I could fix the broken handle that was making the saw such a bargen, when I got my little jewel home, so I had that part of the problem covered.
His mouth hung open the whole time we loaded it into my van and he just stared at me like I was from another planet. I am used to having that effect on people so no worries there. I fixed her up and made it accurate. The three or four times a year I need to use a table saw I am all set.
PS: My hearing did, eventually, make a full recovery. I NEVER forget to use hearing protection with THIS saw.
PPS: as Doctor Science says "I hope I answered your question".
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled