So much talk of 703 but what about mineral wool?

  • Thread starter Thread starter blazingstrings
  • Start date Start date
B

blazingstrings

dgatwood can **** himself
Hey sorry if I'm re-treding old ground but.
What is the major diference between Mineral wool and 703?
What is the needed info as far as ratings if any on the wool?
is it realy hard to work with?
Any tips?

I ask because 703 is becoming scarce around my town(to many little studios).
I am going to need to build a few new absorbers and bass traps any links to others projects(pics are nice)...

Thanks for any help.

-Blaze
 
The major difference is that 703 is a fiberglass and the Mineral Wool is a wool of sorts, not made from sheep though! It is more comfortable to work with than the fiberglass, not as itchy and fiberous.

Without getting to technical the properties of the two materials are similar!

The Mineral wool is not as rigid as the 703 but is still workable.


Here are two of the best links in relation to absorbers and bass traps I have read!

http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

http://www.hp-h.com/p/hapicmpur/basstraps.htm


Gorty
 
Gorty said:
The major difference is that 703 is a fiberglass and the Mineral Wool is a wool of sorts, not made from sheep though!
Click to expand...

Wrong. Fiberglass is made of melted glass, mineral wool is made with basalt or melted rock that is spun into wool. The 703 is more rigid, and will not sag if you stand it up by itself, mineral wool will. Generally, mineral wool is cheaper and is actually the better overall absorber, especially at low freq's. 703 is 3pcf while most mineral wool is 8pcf, but I have seen many mineral wool brands that are 3,5, even up to 12pcf. Mineral wool is a little more difficult to work with but will still get the job done, and it is not cancerous like the 703 is! However, it is still itchy so you will still need gloves and a mask when working with it.

I could keep going, but I'll leave it at that. ;) :cool:
 
Oh and one more thing. Would it interest you if I said there was another type of insulation that absorbs even better than 703, is much cheaper, AND it doesnt itch, cause cancer, or have ANY dangerous particles in it? Well, check this stuff out:

http://www.bondedlogic.com/

Its called ultratouch. Basically you can rub your face all over this and it is completely safe. Absorbs like a bitch too. Check it out.
 
Diffusion said:
Wrong. Fiberglass is made of melted glass, mineral wool is made with basalt or melted rock that is spun into wool. The 703 is more rigid, and will not sag if you stand it up by itself, mineral wool will. Generally, mineral wool is cheaper and is actually the better overall absorber, especially at low freq's. 703 is 3pcf while most mineral wool is 8pcf, but I have seen many mineral wool brands that are 3,5, even up to 12pcf. Mineral wool is a little more difficult to work with but will still get the job done, and it is not cancerous like the 703 is! However, it is still itchy so you will still need gloves and a mask when working with it.

I could keep going, but I'll leave it at that. ;) :cool:
Click to expand...


Hey Diffusion,

Exactly where did I go wrong?.........I stated that the mineral wool is a wool which it is. However you have just added that it is spun from basalt, which incidently over here in Aussie we generally call this stuff Rockwool. There is various minerals that these wools are manafactured from. (Not sheeps wool)

I also stated that without getting too technical that the absorbent properties of these two products are similar, which without getting too technical they are, but hey thanx for the technical support and info, however for broadband absorbers I beg to differ that any major discrepancies exist or would be recognizable between the two products when used in such an application.

You also just repeated the info I stated about the rigidity and workability of the two products.

Thanx for correcting me with ya frickin house brick through my front window! :D
 
Thanks gorty,diffusion and nightfly!

I'll check them out.

My father calls that stuff rock wool too. Is it looser then?

I'm in MN, its seeming to be much harder to find the 703 here now........

Thanks again

-Blaze
 
Gorty said:
Hey Diffusion,
Exactly where did I go wrong?.........I stated that the mineral wool is a wool which it is. However you have just added that it is spun from basalt, which incidently over here in Aussie we generally call this stuff Rockwool. There is various minerals that these wools are manafactured from. (Not sheeps wool)
Click to expand...

My mistake, the reason I stated you were wrong was because I thought you were inferring that mineral wool is actually naturally grown wool, not manufactured. ;)
 
Actually, the mineral wool fo the same density and thickness will be a better bass absorber due to it's gas flow charactersitics in most cases. Now, if we're talking 2" 3lb material for reflection points - yes - they're pretty much interchangable.

Dollar for dollar 4" of 8lb mineral wool is cheaper and will outperform 4" of 703 or 705. It is a bit harder to work with since it can tend to crumble a little bit but if you're careful when you cut it, it works fine. 703 and 705 are very easy to cut and are more rigid but are also a lot more itchy than the mineral wool.

Acoustical cotton is also not as rigid but does a great job - though at a higher price. It's also a natural product that doesn't itch or shed, you don't need protective clothing to work with, and you don't need to worry about it 'denting' if prying fingers poke at it as it will bounce back to shape. The cotton is available in 1.3lb density for thick solid applications, and 3lb and 6lb for thinner reflection point duties and has a higher bottom end absorbtion from about 300Hz down per density inch than either mineral wool or 703.
 
There are 'way too many names for the same thing, depending on which part of the world you're in - and several similar products as far as end result. In most UK influenced countries, EVERYTHING like this is called "wool" of some kind - there's fiberglass wool (703 and similar), rockwool, mineral wool, slag wool, and in Ireland these days there's actual SHEEP wool being used, which (IIRC) has nearly identical properties as the others acoustically. Now they're recycling blue jeans and charging $2.50 a square foot 'cause it's "green"...

Kinda like another product most studios end using lots of - sheet rock, gypsum board, gyprock, wallboard, plasterboard, drywall, all different names for the same stuff...

Guess the Tower of Babel hasn't been vanquished by the 'net just yet... Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top