High Quality Chainsaw Bars Husqvarna Toys

What's the Best Ear Protection?

Do you have tinnitus?

  • Yes

    Votes: 26 66.7%
  • No

    Votes: 13 33.3%

  • Total voters
    39

TNTreehugger

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I recently was given the gift of tinnitus (sarcasm) then I got to wondering if any of you guys have it since you are around noisy equipment, like chain saws, a lot.

I used my reciprocal saw yesterday - big mistake - and it set off jackhammers in my head for about 15 minutes after.
Decided not to use it again, or the riding mower, without some serious hearing protection.

So, two questions:
Who else has tinnitus?
What's the best sound-killing ear protection?
 

nbbt

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The best is something you would use ALL the time. I frequently use the foam compression one AND a pair off ear muff one as well.
Loud band events degraded some hearing, however Stress (repeated, work related) did more damage that you might want to believe.
 

nbbt

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With the (Work) stress issue direct ear protection has little positive effect. And it might cause additional issues.
 

old saw fixer

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When I use a chainsaw I usually wear my Protos helmet using the integral ear protection. When using loud equipment and shooting I have a set of David Clark muffs I bought decades ago for shooting. I was able to buy a rehabilitation kit last year to replace the soft parts. The constant ringing doesn't bother me as much as the loss in hearing at the higher frequencies and general deterioration in hearing due to the times that I didn't wear ear protection.
 

farminkarman

I like the red & black ones
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When I run my saws doing actual cutting and not just making a video, I run foam in-ear plugs and then ear muffs. Ported saws are loud enough to warrant double hearing protection even if for relatively short periods of time (more than 2hrs).
 

Loony661

Stock chainsaws suck.
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I use Stanley Low Pressure Foam Earplugs daily as a logger using modified chainsaws and running the log skidder. They are the only type of earplug that I can wear most all day without discomfort. And they protect better than the headset style muffs on the helmets.
 

Lnk

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I recently was given the gift of tinnitus (sarcasm) then I got to wondering if any of you guys have it since you are around noisy equipment, like chain saws, a lot.

I used my reciprocal saw yesterday - big mistake - and it set off jackhammers in my head for about 15 minutes after.
Decided not to use it again, or the riding mower, without some serious hearing protection.

So, two questions:
Who else has tinnitus?
What's the best sound-killing ear protection?
The best hearing protection is the one you actually wear. Every 3 dB is twice the sound level, so pay attention to the attenuation level. -18 dB you wear is better than -25 dB you don't wear.
 

Matt Ellerbee

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C3FBD80B-7EDF-4B87-9F8C-342C27E12163.png
I have been using these for about a year for everything. Mowing, sawing, blowing, tractoring and splitting. I usually charge after 3-4 uses, plenty of battery life.
 

Powerstroke Cowboy

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I cary a set of Milwaukee foam ear plugs with me at all times. If it's really bad I'll even put on ear muffs.

Here is what I use. They claim up to 32 decibel reduction.
Screenshot_20230309_190733_Chrome.jpg
 

Colonel 428

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I double up with plastic plugs and Peltor over the ear muffs running a saw. Usually just the ear muffs running the splitter. I've got tnittis too...
 

srcarr52

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View attachment 368155
I have been using these for about a year for everything. Mowing, sawing, blowing, tractoring and splitting. I usually charge after 3-4 uses, plenty of battery life.

I have their ear plugs with the Aware tech. Pretty great to listen to music but most of the time the outside noise is too much for the Aware portion and all you hear is click, click, click of it clipping the sound so I usually shut that function off.
 

TNTreehugger

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Thanks all for the replies.
So when I look for the expandable plugs, or the muffs, would the 32db be enough to block out the noise from the saw and the mower?
 

TNTreehugger

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Came across this image on ebay... looks like plugs that block 32db wouldn't block out very much??
Oh, never mind... the "32" in the listing is the NRR rating, not the db level?



s-l1600.jpg
 
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TNTreehugger

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I just bought the Howart Leight foam plugs on ebay.
I should have them in a day, or two.
If they aren't good enough, I'll move up the price range to the muffs

s-l500.jpg
 

Lnk

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One of the advantages of the foam inserted ear protection is it is not compromised by wearing glasses. Both is always better.
 

big_eddy

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Do check the NRR of whatever you buy. I upgraded the muffs on my chainsaw helmet from 23 to 27 and it makes a huge difference. Plugs typically have higher rating than muffs, but I find muffs more convenient which means they get used more often. My wood shop has a few pairs of muffs hanging in a convenient location too, for me and helpers.
 
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