On a different thread I was asked by @140mower how loud my lathe is and at the time I said it wasn't that loud compared to a belt drive. So now being as how I am sorta deaf in one ear I went in search of a more definitive answer. I downloaded a noise app called NIOSH SLM and went thru the speeds on the lathe and the belt drive milling machine. Then for comparison I checked the Shop-Vac, table saw, compressor and wood dust sucker. I took all the readings from where I would normally stand and at about ear level and here is what I found:
Shop-Vac 10 gallon 4.5pk hp - 90dbdb
Compressor - CH 25 gallon 5hp twin cylinder - 86.5db
Table saw - General Int 10" contractor saw - 85db
Dust Vac - General Int 1hp - 75db
I wear Peltor ear defenders for the shop-vacs, table saw and the tractor but haven't found them needed for the lathe, yet. Most of my work with the lathe is under 900 rpm so the whine isn't an issue and I don't spend hours at a time on the machine.
@140mower - there are some numbers for you to work with for comparison to your lathe, I hope it helps in your decision making.
SM1120 Lathe | KBC830 Milling Machine | ||
RPM | DB | RPM | DB |
36 | 66 | 270 | 63.5 |
50 | 71 | 420 | 64.5 |
72 | 70 | 490 | 63 |
100 | 76.5 (gear noise) | 700 | 65 |
144 | 72 | 950 | 65 |
200 | 76 | 1110 | 67 |
315 | 70 | 1420 | 67.5 |
450 | 75 | 1720 | 68.5 |
630 | 75.3 | 2060 | 69.5 |
900 | 90 (high pitch whine) | 3200 | 75 |
1200 | 78 | ||
1800 | 81 |
Shop-Vac 10 gallon 4.5pk hp - 90dbdb
Compressor - CH 25 gallon 5hp twin cylinder - 86.5db
Table saw - General Int 10" contractor saw - 85db
Dust Vac - General Int 1hp - 75db
I wear Peltor ear defenders for the shop-vacs, table saw and the tractor but haven't found them needed for the lathe, yet. Most of my work with the lathe is under 900 rpm so the whine isn't an issue and I don't spend hours at a time on the machine.
@140mower - there are some numbers for you to work with for comparison to your lathe, I hope it helps in your decision making.