Blakebcg Report post Posted January 28, 2013 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJs Leatherworks Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blakebcg Report post Posted January 28, 2013 Would this be as effective as granite or marble? http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/32228-00.aspx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJs Leatherworks Report post Posted January 28, 2013 Yes, that will work fine. I currently am using one of the larger ones (12 x 24 ) for tooling on. JJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cyberthrasher Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blakebcg Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PutnamLeather Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Cornelius Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmokeCigars Report post Posted January 28, 2013 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zbean Report post Posted January 28, 2013 The suggestions for deadening sounds from the table/platform sound spot on. Not sure how it would affect your speed but a brass or lead mallet might be considerably quieter. Especially if you get to where that's the noisiest part of your operation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmokeCigars Report post Posted January 28, 2013 I've been thinking about turning a leather mallet on my lathe. I've seen it done where you turn a handle, then run a threaded rod through a bunch of scrap leather and crank it down really tight with a big washer and nut. You can then turn it into a nice mallet head. I think that would be much more quiet than the noise a poly mallet creates. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oltoot Report post Posted January 28, 2013 If there is such a place where you live, try a stone monument company that makes grave markers. Often they have pieces around that have been rejected. I work on a simple grave marker stone that has color irregularities all over and must have slipped by the graders a few times on its way from the quarry to the end point. It is 18x36 x 10. I have it inlet into a larger plywood surface, on a piece of rubber belting and use up to 3# mauls and they just go tunk tunk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oltoot Report post Posted January 28, 2013 If you want to try making a maul, put the rough pieces on the bolt wet and crank it down, squeezingthe water out, let it dry, then turn it or . BTW, rawhide, not plain leather is the customary material for the striking surface and generally speaking, the heavier the striking tool you use (mallet, maul, pipe wrench LOL) the less bounce and thus the least noise. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havamal Report post Posted January 28, 2013 Another suggetion for a slab... Try your local hardware box store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc...) They do not sell slabs, but they do have peices in thier displays for counter tops. I went in and was talking to the guy that ran the counter dept and he told me that when they get new displays the old ones are dismantled and the slabs are tossed or stored. I got 2 real nice slabs of granite that are 24"x24" and 3" think for free, they were just going to throw them away! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted January 28, 2013 Supporting a 1" or there abouts thick piece of granite, marble or quartz at only the 4 corners will eventually result in a crack and breaking the piece. So I would use the piece of carpet idea. Stone masons mark a line by chiseling lightly across the surface where they want to "cut", then rap the mark sharply several times along the mark. And it falls apart. Sometimes internal cracks cause it to break where not wanted. So hidden internal cracks in an unsupported area of a thin slab will eventually break. The 3 or 4 inch thick stuff will take a lot of pounding with no problems. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blakebcg Report post Posted January 28, 2013 I just got a 14 by 17 slab of granite. It's HEAVY. Hope the desk doesn't break! Definitely is quieter though, I have pieces of a yoga matt under the slab so it softens the noise even more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
digdug18 Report post Posted January 28, 2013 I'm looking at buying this: http://www.grizzly.com/products/18-x-24-x-3-Granite-Surface-Plate-No-Ledge/G9654 It's a surface plate, that one is 154lbs. Forget about shipping it, I'm going to buy it in person. I've tried one that a friend of mine has, it makes no sound at all when you hit it with a mallet, it's solid. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted January 29, 2013 I'm looking at buying this: http://www.grizzly.c...-No-Ledge/G9654 It's a surface plate, that one is 154lbs. Forget about shipping it, I'm going to buy it in person. I've tried one that a friend of mine has, it makes no sound at all when you hit it with a mallet, it's solid. Look on Enco i got a smaller one a year or so ago and the shipping was free. It weights 70 pounds, something that you move around without any trouble by your self. I really don't think you need one that big, you only work on a small part of the stone anyway. Plus they have cupons on things to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous Beans Report post Posted January 29, 2013 I got this for nothing and cleaned it up, added a strap for tools and fixed my clam to it. There is a 1/4 inch thick disc of rubber under it and when I hammer, it's stealth hammering!!! it absorbs all the shock and most of the noise, with a slab of marble on top it's even better. It's like a tactical silencer for hammers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmokeCigars Report post Posted January 29, 2013 Hmm that log is a brilliant idea. I've got plenty of hardwood at my cabin that I could do that with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hornm Report post Posted January 29, 2013 Blake. The yoga mat was probably the best solution for what you have available at the moment. I put a piece of 1/4" washing machine anti-vibration mat under the 1.5" chunk of marble I got from the local (less than 100yds from my front door) marble countertop place and haven't had any issues with the neighbors. Horn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oltoot Report post Posted January 30, 2013 Back to the maul. I found rawhide refills for mauls on ebay very inexpensive! It would make finishing one cheap and easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted January 31, 2013 Back to the maul. I found rawhide refills for mauls on ebay very inexpensive! It would make finishing one cheap and easy Somebody here used rawhide dog chews as a source for rawhide for a maul he was making. Soak and pull, stretch out, nail down and dry flat. You might be able to find his post if you do some searching here. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leela Valley Leather Report post Posted January 31, 2013 Yes I'm joking but hey... Try everything. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270762679662?hlp=false Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
