wooden pallets as diffusor panels?

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 12:55 pm

hi,

i was wondering if wooden pallets could be used as diffusor panels?
if you remove the 'top' pieces of wood, and re-fasten them at alternating distances from each other, you are essentially making 'slats' like in john's panels.

you could even get fancy, and stuff them w/ insulation for absorbtion and cover them with cloth.

does this sound like a low cost alternative or just a crazy/stupid idea?

knightfly · Post by **knightfly** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 1:22 pm

I've used pallets to build pig pens before, quick and simple - however, I think you'd find a bunch of rattles compared to starting from scratch and designing what you need for the application. the spacing of slats is one of the critical dimensions that controls frequency of absorption, so you want to not make that an "accident" - Just the same, if you already HAVE them it doesn't cost much to experiment - just make sure there's nothing loose to rattle, and smooth the edges of the boards so they don't snag the cloth - good luck... Steve

You do know about the resonators needing to be sealed, right?

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 9:32 pm

do they need to be sealed for diffusion? absorbtion? both?

i may just hang a few on the side walls & see what it sounds like. i found a bunch of clean, smaller-sized pallets.

trouble is: i never did this before so i dont really know what its supposd to sound like.

all i know is that right now, there is a terrible 'echo' in both rooms, it sounds like crap, we already went way over budget, and i am TIRED!

Ill let you know how it turns out.

THANKS!

PS-maybe i'll name my studio 'The Pigpen"

knightfly · Post by **knightfly** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:10 pm

Short on time, so I'll just let you look (and read) this for ideas

http://www.johnlsayers.com/HR/index1.htm

That should give an idea about sealing, etc... Steve

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 1:42 am

Slot Absorbers have to be enclosed/sealed on the inside to work properly.

Otherwise all you did was put up a wood baffle at an angle, you get refelction with no true absorption. Better to build the right thing than to experiment with any off the wall Idea.

Bryan Giles

To Sum it.

Pallets/Bad Idea unless you plan to spend more money making them work right.

Cheaper to build Johns portable treatments than to experiment and be worn out doing something that probably will never solve your problem.

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 1:38 am

well i just thought i'd ask.

so, after pricing the materials to build john's slot resonators, i found that the slats themselves would be a bit pricey, because there are so many.

anyone know of an idea to get cheaper material to build the slats?

thanks.

PS- I am in NJ

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:37 am

What material are you using?

There are less expensive ways to make/build the slats.

a sheet of MDF cut into strips is one way. You just need a table saw to make straight cuts.

I think my slats for my control room wich I alternated between 6" and 4" boards came out to be about $100 for both walls.

I used 5 1x4" x 10' and 5 1x6" x 10' per wall cut in half for a total wall to ceiling of 19 slats per resonator. $60.00 for the 1x6's and $35.00 for the 1x4's

Bryan Giles

knightfly · Post by **knightfly** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:24 am

Hint: there are more pages in every forum than just the first one, go to the bottom and click on each one. You'd be amazed at how many of your questions have already been beaten to death -

For example, on the second page of the Construction Forum, this -

http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=595

Not wanting to sound bitchy here, but please look around a bit to see if your question has already been answered a few times; it saves us valuable time that can be applied to NEW questions, or our OWN projects - thanks... Steve

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:03 am

hi,
ive decided to ditch the 'pallet' idea & spend the money to make john's panels.

i am making a material list and i wanted to know what to use to 'seal' the boxes.

is it just as easy as screwing it together or do i need to caulk or liquid nails or something else?

thanks!

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:23 am

Glue and screw/nail the wood together and then seal it on the inside with acoustical sealant.

Bryan Giles

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 8:27 pm

hi,
a freind of mine has a bunch of John Mansville insulation that he will give me free. (the kind they sell at Lowe's)

is this stuff as good as Owens Corning 703?

thanks!

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 8:48 pm

hi...it me again!

i was wondering if the formaldehyde in MDF is a concern for any of you??

i have asthma, and i dont feel like taking a trip to the emergency room!

also, can I paint the MDF after i build the panels? i imagine this will reduce the particles on the 'cut' edge from blowing around in the air.

Thanks Again!

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 2:38 am

blackdrum wrote:hi,
a freind of mine has a bunch of John Mansville insulation that he will give me free. (the kind they sell at Lowe's)

is this stuff as good as Owens Corning 703?

thanks!

Which product are you talking about. They sell a bunch of different insulations.

I might be disputed, but I have found the semi-rigid mineral wool to be comparable. The 2" 3.5pcf product.Bryan Giles

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 2:40 am

I hate to use nails to put the coffin together, but if you eat any non 100% natural ice cream you are eating a product that is cured with formaldehyde.

Bryan Giles

I don't have asthma, but My Younger brother has been fighting it and he has yet to clown. My Recording truck floor is MDF.

blackdrum · Post by **blackdrum** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 9:21 pm

The John Mansville Insulation that is available to me for free is the R13.

good as 703?

or no?

We have left over mineral wool...but that stuff is NASTY! and i would rather not have to deal w/ it!

Thanks!