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The last few months I've been using earplugs made from hardware store plastic thread protectors and a dowel. You can keep several in your pocket and stick them in whenever you need to. I'm always misplacing my regular ones. I started with the big ones but for me the yellow 5/16th work best.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Cool idea.
I use the kind with the plastic "headband" with plugs on each end.
They are always around my neck when not inserted.
One thing about them is that when routing or sawing, if the headband contacts the machine or work piece, the noise goes straight to the ears. It has scared the you know what out of me several times.

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I had a car accident a few years back where I had an airbag go off right in my left ear. It's left me super sensitive to sound (the audiologist called it hyperacusis). Even the sound of a few people talking in a room is painful nowadays. But, I got a set of "musician's earplugs" with different db level filters that can be easily installed for different environments. I can wear them with low db filters if I'm in a meeting or a restaurant, but can put in higher db filters to use in the shop. They're not cheap, but they're custom fit, and I've never used earplugs that work that well. I've always used either the foam plugs or earmuff type covers, but neither come even close to cutting the noise like custom fit plugs do. They're also not uncomfortable to wear.

Since we're building musical instruments and presumably would like to be able to hear our instruments in the future, I've always considered good ear protection to be just as important as good safety glasses or tool guards in the shop. After my accident and it's subsequent effects, I've only been more convinced of this importance. Spring the bucks for some custom fit plugs if you can. They're a lot quieter and a heck of a lot more comfortable at the same time.

Dave

You want an earplug that will conform to the shape of your ear cannal. Not the other way around. I can't believe your sticking dowels into your ears.

I was fairly certain that this thread was a joke but a couple of the replies make it seem like it was genuine -- if that is the case, then please let me mention that the idea posted in the picture is a massive safety hazard.

Ya, those earplugs remind me of the time my brother stuck a Tick Tack in his ear and had to go to the emergency room remove it. ......Then again, better than nothing in a pinch.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

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Pat

A kid in my kindergarten class stuck a pussy willow in his ear. It was fine until his body heat made it sprout! Off to the ER.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Seriously, I have to agree with those who think the homemade ear plugs are a bad idea; poor noise attenuation and a large risk for mechanical damage to the ear. There's also a sanitation issue. A box of disposable ear plugs is relatively cheap when compared to the value of your hearing.

Joe

WHAT?!? WHAT?!?

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PMoMC

Sorry if I upset anyone. This post was probably a bad idea. I can understand the justifiable concern. I'm a retired doc and would never put anything dangerous in my ears. These do not go deeply into the ear canal, can fit quite tightly, and for me have worked surprisingly well in a limited shop setting. Easily as good as the foam or rubber plugs in my personal experience. For really loud stuff I also use some shooting type ear muffs over them. A custom fitted plug would be best as mentioned earlier. Better let his thread die a merciful death and continue to use approved hearing protection.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Hi Terence,
I don't think anyone was offended/upset - just concerned. I'm sure they work great -- my big concern was what if you knocked your head on something and the hard dowel punctured your eardrum. Being a doctor, I'm sure that possibility was obvious to you but maybe you thought the risk was very low (I'd agree with that). 9 times out of 10 you'd be fine - but when it comes to shop safety, I have recently gotten pretty paranoid - especially, after I've realized there are things that I have been doing that could result in serious injury. It is so easy to think that nothing bad will happen to us and then it does.

I have recently reworked a lot of my jigs so that my hands are much farther from cutting tools -- I love playing guitar and never want to damage my hands, especially if it could be prevented. Let's stay safe everyone!!!

this made me LOL....and that is rare. thanks!