What if I cant find any Rigid Fiberglass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mr. torture
  • Start date Start date
I agree that the 703 is probably a better product than the foam stuff but do I really need to build 5" thick gobo's? I dont know.
Will foam be enough for my application? I dont know that either.
I will be recording guitar and vocals in my room, Bass and sequenced drums are direct.
The microtraps are really nice but at $1689.00 for a kit plus shipping costs, It is just not an option.
I will keep looking but for now I will be picking up some foam so I can start making music.
Thanks for all your help.
 
You probably don't need 5" deep slot resonators.

I built mine as kindofan "experiment." And you know what? IT WORKS!

What else do you know about your room? What frequencies are you having problems with?

Have you read this?

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

Use the ModeCalc to determine what frequencies are causing problems.

Also, take a look at the NRC ratings for O/C 703 & 705, and the info from Auralex. Most rooms will have modes below 500Hz. A typical bedroom will have modes below 250Hz. As you can see from the table, foam does a great job at 4KHz. But it really doesn't help much below 500Hz.

So if you foam your room, you're gonna suck the high end out and not address the problem frequencies.
 
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c7sus said:
....I'll tell you the one product from Auralex that really cracks me up: The little piece of foam they sell with a slit it in so you can put it behind your mic capsule. Like an inch of foam is gonna do ANYTHING sonically to keep reflections off the back of a capsule....
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Well, I gotta admit...that one really sounds like a scam.

But nonetheless, even if I wanted to use 703 or similar, I still wouldn't be able to get it HERE IN HAWAII for any better price than equivalent (performance wise) thickness of foam, simply because none of the insulation places here stock any of the stuff, and to bring in a carton or two is cost prohibitive due to minimum ocean freight charges. In fact, there's a member of this board (I think) who lives here and ordered a box of 703 and had to pay some outrageous sum for it.

Yes, things change quite a bit when you have to ship things over 2500 miles of water. :D


THAT to me illustrates how lame Auralex really is as a company, and how desperate they are to sell shit to folks that don't know any better.
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Nah, it's just the natural result of the upper levels of the corporation being populated with MBA's who never spent a single day in a studio, home or otherwise!
 
Like you I couln't find any. But then I came across a distributer who turned me on to semi rigid vJohnson manville duct insulation. It came 1 1/2" and 2". It is designed specially for sound absorbtion in duct work. I could have bought the spinglass but was more expensive. Thier whole warehouse was full of the duct insulation. So don't give up its out there. I remeber looking for at least Three to four weeks until I found my insulation. You'll find yours!

Rrright,

Casenpoint
 
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Yea,
Oops,
Missed the island thing there!

But hell, if I can find it in the swamp....

well, then again....

Good luck nevertheless
 
They're using the stuff in HI too. It's the industry standard.

You can damned sure bet your ass they're not insulating ducts in hotels with Auralex!
 
c7sus said:
They're using the stuff in HI too. It's the industry standard.

You can damned sure bet your ass they're not insulating ducts in hotels with Auralex!
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ROFL!

Good point. But I think the point you're missing is that HVAC contractors (who do bring the stuff in by the pallet load) are not always willing to sell a few sheets to the man on the street. I think this is what Mr. Torture is finding out.

Until recently, I was an estimator for a local refrigeration contractor (no, not quite the same as a/c), and when ordering materials for a job, I would order just what I needed to complete the job. There wasn't a lot of overage, or stuff to keep in stock. You hurt profitability if you do. On top of that, there are certain differences when selling to consumers vs. selling business to business. ( an example of this is the three day period consumers have in which to change their mind when signing a contract to buy, say, a vacuum cleaner. When businesses sign a contract, it's binding as soon as the pen lifts from the contract!)

So you are correct when you say that the stuff is used all over Hawaii. However it's not readily accessable to the home recordist. And yes, I did call around. I even have a friend who works for one of the biggest HVAC contractors, and he was the one who confirmed that they buy stuff the same way I did. As an estimator, you're not doing your job if you end up with excess materials.

So in that regard, foam is just as viable as fiberglass, you just have to use more, and be careful in placement.

Maybe that clears it up?
 
"What if I cant find any Rigid Fiberglass?"

Treat rockwool with viagra.
 
Try ordering mineral wool from auralex or through your local music store! They'll fly it over and that will cost extra whereener you are. It will sure be better than sucking out the highs and walking into a 12 inch bass trap thats made of styrofoam. Imagine walking along and then BAM! right into a big pill.

Throw up some blankets. There are other ways to do it. Velum blankets are quite dense maybe you could cut them to size set them one on to of the other and line the inside of the trap. Then strech and cover it with material of your choice.
 
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Capt Dunsel said:
( an example of this is the three day period consumers have in which to change their mind when signing a contract to buy, say, a vacuum cleaner. When businesses sign a contract, it's binding as soon as the pen lifts from the contract!)
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The 3day right to recend law only applies to consumers that DON'T come to you. Like the door to door vac sales. Otherwise ppl would drive back the new car back to the dealership the nextday after the "power close" with their reciept.

The main reason is they don't make any money on small sales so its not worth the effort. It's like going to the big shit dealer with the best weed around asking for a dimebag! ."I' chew don't want a Z then get out ma face!"

Ron
 
You gotta link to the big-shit dealer with the best weed?:D
 
I'm curious if you guys who can't find it have called up Owens Corning directly and asked for the local distributor? You don't buy it from contractors you buy it from the same guys they buy it from. There will be a minimum order but at least here in Phoenix it was only $50.
 
Ok I found some !!!
A small place in the yellow pages, about the 15th place I called
They were really freindly and said I could buy as little or much as I wanted and they have it in stock!!
I am heading up there friday!!
Thanks for all your help guy's!!
 
TexRoadkill said:
I'm curious if you guys who can't find it have called up Owens Corning directly and asked for the local distributor? You don't buy it from contractors you buy it from the same guys they buy it from. There will be a minimum order but at least here in Phoenix it was only $50.
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Yes.

That's how I found out I'd have to order a whole carton, and pay for the shipping to bring it in.

Of course, this was before I found out about fiberglass particles being carcinogenic, which is another reason why I went the foam route.

And yes, I know about wrapping it in fabric. I just don't want to take any chances since my 'studio' is in my living room.
 
I must have gotten lucky. I looked up insulation/HVAC companies in the yellow pages. The first place I called stocked OC and Roxul and was about 5 miles from my house. I got a van-full of OC 705 for $.26/sq ft and was outta there.
 
curtiswyant said:
I must have gotten lucky. I looked up insulation/HVAC companies in the yellow pages. The first place I called stocked OC and Roxul and was about 5 miles from my house. I got a van-full of OC 705 for $.26/sq ft and was outta there.
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Now that's a good deal!
 
Capt Dunsel said:
...Of course, this was before I found out about fiberglass particles being carcinogenic, which is another reason why I went the foam route.
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Don't forget to off-gass the new stuff.:D :D

Kidding aside now, how bad is the risk with fiberglass? Does it fall into a similar situation as asbestos where if it's covered or not shook loose?
 
mixsit said:
Kidding aside now, how bad is the risk with fiberglass? Does it fall into a similar situation as asbestos where if it's covered or not shook loose?
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From what I've heard and read, fiberglass is not quite as bad as asbestos, but it's close. Of course, the majority of folks (or so it seems) use fiberglass with no problems, so it's a toss up.

For me personally, I don't like to tempt fate. Even though the possibility of fiberglass particles becoming airborne is extremely remote, it could happen. And if foam can do what I need it to (and it did!) and it's about the same cost-wise due to where I live, then it's a no brainer for me.

But that's just me.

I personally know a semi-pro home studio that has put out a couple of local award winning CD's in the past 3 years, and guess what he's got in his control (bed)room? Yup - FOAM!

There's more than one way to skin a cat! :D
 
I didn't worry about the risks when I built the bass traps, although I did wear a respirator and keep the shop exhaust fan running when I was handling it.

The absobers were another story. Before covering them up with the burlap front I applied some spray adhesive (Bordens) to the fiberglass and then applied sheets of saran wrap.

I don't plan on bumping into the absorbers and disturbing the fiberglass, but I think my grandchildren have other ideas.

Seemed like a good compromise.
 
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