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Custom Molded Earplugs

Started by Magicman, December 26, 2012, 09:30:20 PM

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Magicman

I read about these last week and decided to give them a try since I wear ear plugs instead of ear muffs when I am sawing.

This kit was $11.18 including shipping from Amazon and came in less than a week.  It consist of two parts of a putty like substance that you divide, knead and roll into a ball, and then form it into your ears.


 
The opened kit.


 
Here I have divided the two portions.  You mix ½ of each and complete the process before mixing the other half.


 
Two halves thoroughly mixed and rolled into a ball.  This ball is then placed into one ear and following the instructions, gently pressed into the ear canal as well as forming a smooth outside surface.


 
After 10 minutes they have hardened and are removed from the ear.  They are then allowed to cure for 3 hours before using.

I will try them out while I am sawing tomorrow.   
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

clww

How much noise are these supposed to suppress?
Many Stihl Saws-16"-60"
"Go Ask The Other Master Chief"
18-Wheeler Driver

Magicman

The instructions say 26 decibels.  The rollup foam ones that I have are 31 decibels.
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

jdonovan

I had custom ones done by a local audiologist a few years back. They make molds, and then sent them off to  westone to be made.

Hands down the best $75 spent on anything in recent memory.

All day comfortable, and better sound reduction than the foam plugs.

I'd worn foam plugs long enough that I'd enlarged my ear canals to the point the foam ones no longer sealed properly.

Leigh Family Farm

A couple of people in my line of work got custom ones made by an ear specialist and they loved them. Bonus part was that their insurance covered most of the cost. Check and see if your insurance will cover the earplugs and you might be able to get a "free" pair of custom earplugs.

You can do the same thing for sunglasses by getting 0.00 perscription lenses for a pair of Ray Bans and have your insurance cover 90% of the cost. You all might not like this but when I was sailing 10 two-day races a year, I would go through a pair of polarized glasses every year and paying $30 versus $150 was good for me.
There are no problems; only solutions we haven't found yet.

Magicman

I sawed today and used the molded ear plugs.  Once while putting my dust mask on, I moved one and immediately knew that it was "leaking".  I pushed on it and it immediately sealed again.  Actually these plugs stopped much more noise than the ones that I had been using.

Bottom line, I was satisfied and I am sure that I will get another pair.  I was a bit hesitant about pushing that putty too deeply into my ear, but that was unfounded.  After 10 minutes, I has hardened to a point where it is all coming out.

Thanks for the other suggestions, and I will investigate.  Loud noises hurt my ears, but I know that I also need hearing aids, but I ain't telling PatD.   :-\
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

drobertson

I have used many types of ear plugs through the years, the best I have found are the radio head phones. You can here all the sound of the mill, the news, talk/tradio shows, and weather, and last but not least, some good music.
only have a few chain saws I'm not suppose to use, but will at times, one dog Dolly, pretty good dog, just not sure what for yet,  working on getting the gardening back in order, and kinda thinking on maybe a small bbq bizz,  thinking about it,

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