I Have No Way To Work. Tooling Is Too Loud.

[Blakebcg]

My family has been throwing a fit about how loud it is when I'm hammering on leather. My desk is thin so it is very loud and sounds like someone is knocking on the door. What do you guys do to reduce the noise? I had to tool a belt sitting on my hardwood floor just because I didn't want to hear them complain. (working while sitting on a floor is horrible and difficult) If I put a granite slab on my desk above that foam stuff Tandy sells, will it reduce noise? Where would I even get a marble/granite/ whatever slab?

Edited January 28, 2013 by Blakebcg

[JJs Leatherworks]

Welcome to the site.

You are hammering, so you are never going to be 'quiet'. The more solid your base, they better it will be.

You can buy new marble slabs at Tandy, if you are already shopping there - they have a couple different sizes. Cheaper sources could be either counter top shops or possibly a head stone manufacturer. that is where I got my first marble slab - one side was jagged as the piece had broke, but it worked more than satisfactory and the price was good.

Feel free to ask any questions, this site has enough pros to answer anything.

JJ

[Blakebcg]

Would this be as effective as granite or marble?

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/32228-00.aspx

[JJs Leatherworks]

Yes, that will work fine. I currently am using one of the larger ones (12 x 24 ) for tooling on.

JJ

[Cyberthrasher]

I highly encourage you to check your local countertop company first. Most of them have pallets full of sink cutouts that they just throw away and actually have to pay by weight to have it removed. You're saving them money by taking it off their hands. Once you get that, find a solid desk to work on and if it's still not good enough, then put a poundo board underneath. You'll be amazed at how much a solid piece of granite will help though.

[Blakebcg]

Well I cant really get a new desk, this is my work desk I use for everything.. I was thinking of buying a work bench, but I need to look into that further. I'll call a counter top company, good idea.

[PutnamLeather]

I found a marble slab 5ft by 3ft for free from a place that replaces old countertops. Somebody broke it and the said they couldn't use it. Plus the desk I have now was free off ksl.com in the free section. Its a 1950s oak desk that had quite a bit of damage to the top but I fugured it was going to be covered anyhow. If you can wate long enough, and don't mind some dumpster diving, a lot of stuff can be found for free.

[Randy Cornelius]

Cut a couple tennis balls in half and lay them on the table then place your marble on top of them, will reduce the noise a lot.

[Dwight]

I love the tennis ball idea, . . . but never tried it.

A piece of old carpet WILL deaden the noise, . . . flip it upside down and it will be easier on the finish on your desk.

May God bless,

Dwight

[SmokeCigars]

If you want to build a really nice workbench for fairly cheap check out the Simpson Strong-Tie corner brackets at Home Depot. I've built two benches from them, and they are much more solid than anything store bought.

http://www.homedepot.com/Simpson-Strong-Tie/Simpson-Strong-Tie/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ615Z615/R-100374900/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UQXwRvLHb_I

The bench I made for my lathe is amazing. The top has 3/4 ply on it, and I added four bags of sand under the bench top, which makes the whole bench absorb most vibration.

Here is a picture of my bench, don't have a picture of my lathe bench unfortunately.