mp3 welding hoods

[garybdavis]

I have to agree with the custom molded ear plugs. I got my ears done at a motorcycle show. The company was "Now Hear This" and the lady who did my ears has years of experience doing ear plugs.

I had three sets made: regular ear plugs that I use in the shop, ear plugs with speaker transducers installed with a mono plug that I use for my intercom/scanner when going on motorcycle rides or to NASCAR races, and ear plugs that accept my Sure E3 MP3 ear bud speakers. I use these anytime I listen to my MP3 player.

If you get a good, custom ear mold set, they provide as much hearing protection as the best fit you can get from foam plugs - even with speakers installed in them. But, you must have someone that knows what they are doing. I had my first set of custom ear buds done at a race shop and they were $175 of crap.

The lady who did such a good job on mine was Marilyn at www.plugup.com. She is an audioologist and knows her stuff.

Custom ear molds are a bit expensive, but like all of our tools, the higher quality stuff just costs more. Once you damage your hearing, it won't come back, so money well spent in my oppinion.

[fun4now]

garybdavis, those look good. i knoiw the ones that came with my new MP3 player are garbage and they have 3 diferent ruber options you can interchange with the speaker to make them fit. fit, yea right i picked up a pair at the $ store for $1.08 and they are a better fit. go figure.

[dabar39]

headphones at work

I'm not too keen on having any kind of head phones on when I'm working. Yes, I do have a radio playing while I work, but I would also like to hear whats going on around me at all times. If I've got a set of headphones blasting in my ear how am I going to hear the other guys screaming in agony when he sets himself on fire or drops an axle on his foot, or some other kind of emergency??? Dave

[weld_13]

I like the earphones under the earmuffs so the grinder doesn't drown out the music

[fun4now]

dabar39, just do what i do when i'm driveing. only use one ear to listen and leve the other one open to here around you.

[wireburner]

I play my radio while I `am working if you can`t hear turn it up!

[alotascot]

I use head band ear phones under my helmet. The wire goes down my back and into the player in my pants pocket. One of those small clamp type paper clips holds the wire to my shirt collar on the back which stops the wire from falling around the front when I bend over.

I've tried lots of brands and most are uncomfortable after a couple of hours. The plastic band that connects the speakers presses behind the ears. I've now settled on "KOSS SPORTA-PRO" which don't have that problem because they have a foam pad just above the ears to hold them in place. They also allow in just about all outside noise which may or may not be good for you depending on your situation.

[albertawelder]

At work i turn up the radio louder than anyone else, but you have to be able to hear people around you...anything can happen. After the guy behind you almost breaks the valve off the acetylene cylinder, you dont want to lift up your lid and realize you are the only guy in the shop because everyone else got the [email protected] out of there before it went off like a toprpedo. Don't listen to earphone/earplug music in the shop or in the field even in your garage for that matter...you won't hear your wife yelling that the house is on fire. Just crank the boom-box.

[Blackbird455]

Question?

Those of you that use a portable mp3 player while welding-

Will HF start damage them? I had to retire a grinder last week that I assume was damaged by my welder, I'd hate for it to kill my mp3 player too.

[c wagner]

Those of you that use a portable mp3 player while welding-

Will HF start damage them?

It doesn't seem to. Lots of guys use them at work tigging aluminum all day and so far so good.

[Blackbird455]

10-Roger-4 , consider me rockin when weldin from now on.

[johnsnowkornar]

Custom fit ear plugs come with all sorts of goodies! I've used custom plugs for almost ten years, and have never had a complaint. I've used vented plugs and solid plugs. A friend of mine is a DJ, and he had a set made with the earphones built in so he could mix songs without hearing the background music, he can't imagine not using them at a large gig now days. Here in Canada, custom fit ear plugs cost about $65.00 / pair, I don't know what they cost with built inbut I can say they would be worth every penny.

Headphones are perfect for sound engineers or audiophiles. The company also focuses on giving users comfortable headphones, and each pair comes with soft ear paddings to improve your comfort.