Low Cost Sound Dampening Platform instructions
2003-03-16 by Vernon Graner
I know this has been a topic on many an occasion, and recently (after describing the problem to an engineer friend of mine), he came up with a very inexpensive and amazingly effective way to isolate your kit from your environment when practicing. Since I didn't think you folks would appreciate 6.5megs of JPG's plastered into the list ;), I made up a web page with the images he referres to here: http://www.dtxpressions.com/platform/platform.htm Have a look :) -- Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE | "If the network is down, then you're Senior Systems Engineer | obviously incompetent so why are we Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course, if the network vern@... www.txis.com | is up, then we obviously don't need Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Sound Dampening Platform
From: Bob <bob@...>
Date: Fri, March 14, 2003 10:16 pm
To: vern@...
Vern,
Here is the concept on how the make a sound dampening platform
for your drum kit. This platform is made with 1/2 thick plywood and
tennis balls. Tools needed are a saw, electric drill, drill bit, and a 1
3/4 hole saw.
Two additional items will need to be figured out.
1. How big to make the make the pieces of plywood so all the gear
and YOU will fit comfortably on the base.
2. In certain areas there will be more weight on the base, as where
a heavy person will sit. In these areas a few extra tennis balls can be
added to support the extra load. These can always be added later.
The pictures show small pieces of plywood. This is for example
only. A real platform will be much larger.
Pic-1. Mark the corner of both pieces of plywood with and x. This
is so you can match the orientation of the 2 pieces later. Mark the top
piece of wood with marks where you want the tennis balls to be. Balls
about 12 to 16 inches apart offer plenty of support.
Pic-2. Clamp or screw the 2 pieces of wood together.
Pic-3. Drill a 1/4" pilot hole at the marks for the balls.
Pic-4 With a 1 3/4" hole saw drill holes at all of the pilot holes
made
in Pic-3. Hints: Drill through ONLY 1 piece of wood at a
time.
Raise the hole saw briefly while drilling to clear the
cutting teeth of the hole saw. Do the clearing after every
10 to 15 seconds of drilling. This makes drilling go faster.
Pic-5. Remove the cut plug from the hole saw after each cut.
Pic-6. Drill all the holes in both pieces of wood.
Pic-7. Place the tennis balls on the bottom piece of wood.
Pic-8 & 9. Place the top piece of wood on the tennis balls.
An additional 3rd piece of plywood can be placed on top to
give a smooth walking surface. The two top pieces of plywood can fastened
together with some short wood screws and a little Elmers white glue.
These little pieces of 1/2" plywood and 4 tennis balls I used in
these pictures easily supports me standing on it and I weight 200lbs.
So spread this around on the drum forum. It is easy to make and
works well. :)
Bob Sheldon, Austin Texas.