ear protection

[aussiek2000]

After running my air hammer all afternoon, my ears are ringing quite loudly and I can't hear. Instead of doing anymore permanent ear damage, I am looking for some kind of ear protection. What do you guys recommend?

 

[930dreamer]

Ones that go into the ear and hard ears. You need to use hearing protection.

 

[Monte]

Peltor Optime III

 

[justafurnaceman]

I use the little foam ones. They come in a pack of 8-10 at Lowes for a few dollars. Should be able to pick them up at any hardware store.

 

[Doc]

At work, we have to have double hearing protection ( ear muffs plus the ones that go in the ear canals for continuous >104db or impact 140db. I promise you an air hammer banging away on sheet metal is greater than 104. Protect those ears because once you lose your hearing, it is gone, you may never get it back.

 

[lotsoftools]

I mostly use the foam ones. I got a 100 pack for less than $10 from Lowes if I remember right.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Just make sure you pick something that's comfortable for you, so you'll keep using it.

Personally, I like the cheap little foam plugs you roll up and put in your ear, but other people may find them hard to use. I also have a couple pair of over ear muffs I keep in the workshop for running the table saw or things like that, where I only need them for a minute or two. One set is some Swedish brand that I can't remember, the other set is David Clark.

 

[DanCo]

I use the reusable rubber ones from Sears, about $40

Dan

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Peltor Optime III

Bulky, but one of the best protection non-electronic earmuff you can get.

I use it for pistol shooting.

But for short term use, just use foam type. (NRR 33)

 

[327-365hp]

I use wax


and Peltor muffs.

 

[GRX]

In my garage/workshop I use the foam ones. A friend is a supplier and gives me all I want. And I also have a nice pair of Remington shooter's muffs. No sense putting your long-term hearing at risk.

 

[flathead74]

I use the foam type... +1 on protecting your hearing, I neglected it when I was young, and now after years of foundries and machine shops, I wish I had taken more precautions.

 

[Barry Tucker]

I use the foam ones. I wear them for twelve hours at a time. Not uncomfortable at all. Regards Barry

 

[trboxman]

I buy a 200 pair carton of these about once a year:

 

[Outlawmws]

At work, we have to have double hearing protection ( ear muffs plus the ones that go in the ear canals for continuous >104db or impact 140db. I promise you an air hammer banging away on sheet metal is greater than 104. Protect those ears because once you lose your hearing, it is gone, you may never get it back.

I do this when shooting, and for other very load sounds.

There are also the "electronic" muffs that allow normal level sounds, but counter the loud sounds. for very loud sounds again used both, in the ear and the muffs.

There is a third in the ear plug that is custom molded to fit/fill your ear. A guy at my local range would make these, and I'm sure other people also make them. they are supposedly a lot more effective and comfortable than the foam type.

 

[SweetD]

I don't have to use hearing protection for work, but I wear foam insert earplugs at night so I don't have to listen to the wife snore!!!!

I happen to have a pair I picked up at the CAT plant in E. Peoria last time I was there. They are foam, but they are that "rounded" more ergonomic bell-shaped foam, which are quite comfortable. As opposed to the yellow cylindrical ones posted above.

Dave

 

[trboxman]

You can get these in a 200 pair carton as well:

 

[Yojinbo]

I keep a big box of non-foam plugs with a plastic rope between. I wear these a lot.

I also keep some muffs. I sometimes use both (pounding on metal boxes with my head and shoulders inside same or running the dry metal saw).

 

[Zelatore]

I use the little foam roll-up guys as well. Cheap and disposable. I mainly use them when I'm riding the bike though. Even with a full face helmet, a couple hours of 80 mph wind noise a day will take it's toll after a few years and I have noticeable hearing loss. Of course, tools, pistols, loud stereos and concerts (in my youth), etc didn't much help either.

I had a set of custom molded plugs made at a bike show a few years ago. They ended up being less comfortable than the little disposable things and no better (it seemed) than them either. I don't even know where they are now.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i have a couple pairs of the banded ear plugs, pick them up at my welding supplier.

 

[housey]

Can anyone recommend any hearing protection for those of us with excessive ear wax problems? Ideally something not too bulky that won't interfere with helmets

I have been using the roll-up foam earplugs for the last 2 weeks at work (noisy workshop extension work going on), and now I have a huge *** chunk of wax lodged somewhere in my left ear and I am only getting about 1/2 hearing through that ear.

 

[brianpgriset]

At work, we have to have double hearing protection ( ear muffs plus the ones that go in the ear canals for continuous >104db or impact 140db. I promise you an air hammer banging away on sheet metal is greater than 104. Protect those ears because once you lose your hearing, it is gone, you may never get it back.

Same for me. When I'm in my garage I usually end up getting the plugs pretty dirty so I just bought like 5 pair of the hf muffs on sale and lay them all over the garage. There's always a pair nearby. Plus it beats wearing the plugs since I have to wear them all the time at work.

 

[rlitman]

I get the ones with the band, and foam cones (the ones with the foam balls don't cut out as much noise). I like them because they don't overheat my ears like the Peltor H10A muffs, and still block as much noise. And unlike the plugs (or plugs on a string), I can pull them off my ears, and hang the clip from my neck when I don't need them but want them around, and I don't have to spend time rolling them up, inserting them into my ears and waiting for them to expand every time I need them. I just stick them back on my ears.

Everyone's ears are different. There's no one set fits all.
My ears really object to any non-foam plugs, but I keep talking about getting custom molded ones.

 

[Nemesis]

I currently use Peltor electronic hearing protection while shooting, and I use the same ones when I use any tool above the comfort level.


For those that like gadgets, but gadgets that work, I recommend these:
- inexpensive
- comfortable
- helmet compatible
- allow normal conversation
- no batteries nothing
http://www.surefire.com/EarProProducts

I am not affiliated with them, but I also use these while shooting. Sometimes for larger calibers, or for indoor shooting I double up with my Peltors.

 

[Syndicate]

I personally like the headphone type that you see at the shooting range. I got mine off the MAC truck for 29.99 and have had them for about 4 yrs now. They work great.

 

[RobertMo1988]

what

 

[BHH]

Can anyone recommend any hearing protection for those of us with excessive ear wax problems? Ideally something not too bulky that won't interfere with helmets

I have been using the roll-up foam earplugs for the last 2 weeks at work (noisy workshop extension work going on), and now I have a huge *** chunk of wax lodged somewhere in my left ear and I am only getting about 1/2 hearing through that ear.

Go to a pharmacy and they sell a solution you can put in your ears that will loosen up the wax and it will run out of your ear.

 

[Contorted77]

For those with max buildup, they have a kit that works pretty well at dissolving it all out. Then, if you use foam plugs regularly you may not get buildup that often. I also keep alcohol swabs to give the foams a quick cleaning. As for earplug choice, I prefer the Howard Leight - Laser Lite plugs with cords (you can always cut them shorter or off). These are lower expanding pressure and can be worn for extended periods comfortably.

 

[BHH]

Surefire makes a protector that allows low DB noise through, like talking or the radio but anything above 85DB is blocked. It also has a "plug" that can be inserted to cut all low level noise out like on an airplane.

http://www.surefire.com/EP3-Sonic-Defenders

If you want the most comfortable ear protection possible you will have to go to an audiologist and get ear moulds made. These will fit perfectly into your ear canal and feel like you are wearing nothing at all. I have had this done to make custom in ear monitors and they are the best "headphones" I have ever used.

http://www.logitech.com/en-ca/ue/custom-in-ear-monitors/devices/custom-ear-plugs

 

[ishiboo]

I use the little foam ones. They come in a pack of 8-10 at Lowes for a few dollars. Should be able to pick them up at any hardware store.

I use the foam ones too.

I never used ear protection until I hit up a powder actuated nailer in the corner of the barn... absolutely insanely loud bouncing off the concrete.

I found that the giant ear muffs you find locally all had MUCH lower ratings than the foam plugs. So I use the foam plugs for anything that's truly loud, and the little orange headband set for normal noises when needed.

 

[EW57]

I've had some degree of tinnitus for as long as I can remember, and it doesnt take too much to get my ears really ringing, so I'm probably more fanatical than anyone I know about hearing protection. Here's what I use:

for long periods of use, I like the Leight Max Lites:
http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/max-lite
For short-term, I grab the Leight Thunder 2's
http://www.howardleight.com/ear-muffs/thunder
For concerts/jamming:
http://www.hearos.com/products/high-fidelity
And for longer rides on the bike:
http://www.hearos.com/products/rock-n-roll

 

[Brad54]

Peltor Optime III

I've got a pair of Peltor gun mufflers in my shop, hanging on the wall.
I've got three sets of ear muffs on the wall--I prefer the Peltors, but the others work well too.

I have three sets on the pegboard above the work bench, along with a full face shield.

It's just like getting in the habit with a seat belt... every time I run a loud power tool (saber saw, skilsaw, grinder), every air tool, or beat on sheet metal with hammers, the ball cap goes on backwards, the face shield goes on, then the gun mufflers.

-Brad

 

[t100]

I HATE any in-ear plugs. I would get headaches in 3 minutes.

I use scanner headsets from Racing Electronics. I can wear them all day standing 5 feet away from a running engine with open headers.

http://pitstopusa.com/i-5068141-racing-electronics-re-58-platinum-scanner-headphones.html

 

[BHH]

I HATE any in-ear plugs. I would get headaches in 3 minutes.

I use scanner headsets from Racing Electronics. I can wear them all day standing 5 feet away from a running engine with open headers.

http://pitstopusa.com/i-5068141-racing-electronics-re-58-platinum-scanner-headphones.html

You need to go get custom in ears made. They fit perfectly and there is no pressure of discomfort.

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Yeah but what do you do if you don't have any proper ear plugs and need to improvise?

My vote is for one sheet of toilet tissue torn in half, one half stuffed into each ear. Not a **** look, but does the job

 

[BHH]

Yeah but what do you do if you don't have any proper ear plugs and need to improvise?

My vote is for one sheet of toilet tissue torn in half, one half stuffed into each ear. Not a **** look, but does the job

Bubble gum...

 

[Outlawmws]

Bubble gum...

Hey, and it doesn't fall out easily!