Hearing protection

[Slowpoke Slim]

When outside mowing or using saws or blowers I wear a pair of 3M muffs with AM FM radio. The tractor has a cab so it is really quiet. Been noticing that to much coffee has been making my ears ring and am replacing 2 cups a day with non-caffeinated tea.

I'm not sure, but it sounds like you're drinking your coffee wrong.

You know you're not supposed to pour it into your ear, right?

:laughing:

I've been "mostly deaf" for over 20 years. Lost my hearing in the service. Human speech is about the most difficult thing to decipher. Some frequencies I can hear ok, and some are completely gone. And in any machine background noise, or noisy places like restaurants, sports bars, etc, I'm pretty much deaf. I do like the quietness of my cab tractor, especially when brush hogging.

 

[EddieWalker]

For most everything, I use squishy foam ear plugs. I buy them in a big bag from Lowes or Home Depot and keep the bag in my truck. I always have a pair in my front pocket, my jacket pockets and in a bowl in my workshop. For really loud things like grinding metal or target practice, I wear those squishy ones AND the plastic covered ear muff style ones. For just operating the tractor, I just wear the squishy ones.

 

[mcfarmall]

I keep my ear canals clean with my truck key or a small screwdriver and Q-Tips after the shower. When I'm in any high noise environment I use the tapered corded orange roll-up earplugs that I get free from work. Due to my immaculately clean canals, I can reuse them over and over until they won't expand anymore then get a new pair. "Safety begins at work and continues at home" is my motto.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I use the 3M 105 ear muffs. Have 5 of them, one in the tractor, 2 in the shop, 2 in the garage. If I am working somewhere I locate a pair nearby. Never any excuse not to put them on. After decades of loud noise at a time when nobody was concerned about hearing loss, I try to protect what little hearing remains.

 

[JimRB]

I have a 100 pair box of Howard Leight Laser Lite ear plugs on the fridge. I usually have a few fresh pairs in the car and truck. Maybe some used but clean ones in the garage toolbox. Ear muffs in the basement shop. The Lase Lites have been the most comfortable for me. I have found them at Walgreens in small quantities. Helpful when camping with a few hundred bicyclists. There always seems to be snorers or inconsiderate people who get up at 4:00 AM and start talking in load voices. I prefer to get up after the frost has melted off my rain fly. I prefer ear plugs for chainsaw, tractor, weedwacker, and lawn work. Muffs are ok in the conditioned shop.

 

[Oaktree]

When outside mowing or using saws or blowers I wear a pair of 3M muffs with AM FM radio.

Seems to me you're just trading one loud source for another. I personally find a radio in headphones distracting when I'm operating power tools/equipment.
I've had good luck with Tasco Golden Eagle earmuffs. They may not block as much sound as some others, but they have a metal headband which has stood up well. Seems most of them have plastic ones...I'm lucky to get 6 months out of those before they break. Maybe I just have a big head.
Don't like the foam in-ear ones...not very comfortable and always feel like they're going to fall out. Do keep a few around for emergencies.

 

[newbury]

Seems to me you're just trading one loud source for another. I personally find a radio in headphones distracting when I'm operating power tools/equipment.<snip>

As I wrote before I usually put earbuds in my ear protection muffs to listen to radio etc. My muffs lower the ambient noise so I only need a moderate volume on the buds.

 

[Doofy]

I don't listen to loud music anymore, even with headphones or muffs on. I enjoy the soft music to lessen the drone of the engine or motor. I think it just makes the work more enjoyable. For just putzing around in the yard without a need for hearing protection, the wife got me bone conduction headphones that are Bluetooth and that leave your ears open for normal sounds and hearing. They work great for folks with hearing aids too.

 

[Gcorron]

My mother, and her father went deaf. It could be congenital but long ago I decided if I could do something about it, I would. 45 years ago, no one in the construction industry issued ear plugs, or much of any other safety equipment for that matter. I used to go buy my own. It was always the foam type plugs in those days because they were less noticeable and got me a lot less unwanted 'attention' as a young apprentice.

In the intervening years, I have had about every type hearing protection you can imagine. I can endorse any type that you like, they all help. I have several types of muffs that I will wear when it's cool, but I just don't like sweating into my ear cups in the summer!!

Realistically, the foam type plugs will reduce much more noise than the muffs, IF they are installed correctly. You don't just shove them in your ears. I now use the orange ones that I buy from Amazon, keep 2 cans around in each shop, but I do wear them out before discarding, yeah, I'm cheap.......what of it??

For an 8 hour time weighted average, plugs work best and I find them much more comfortable over long periods as well. I don't like the radio ear muffs, by the time I turn the radio up enough to hear it clearly, I may as well just listen to the equipment!

I always use hearing protection for shooting (not hunting, you may need your ears!) and still use the plugs. 45 years after entering construction I still have pretty phenomenal hearing.

But High Frequency hearing is pretty much gone for all of us around the time you strike your 40's. The TV news had a story on a few years ago about a noise generated in some stores to keep the teenagers from lounging about. I could not hear it at all, my son came in from another room and asked what that terrible screech was!!! Go figure.

Protect your ears, someone may say something important one day!

George

 

[void777]

I'm with Doofy 3m am-fm radio.

 

[dragoneggs]

Got a pair of these for xmas. Actually did get two... one for my wife. For the shooting range mainly but looking forward to how effective they are in the shop and on the tractor. I have a plain old pair of Peltor muffs but these have electronic noise canceling along with mic and audio input jack. Haven't had a chance to try them outside the living room yet. Only wish would be that it had bluetooth ability.

Amazon.com : Walker's Razor Slim Electronic Muff, Black : Sports & Outdoors

 

[goeduck]

I have a pair of Peltor 85s, a pair of Peltor 105s and a Stihl face screen with integrated ear muffs. I do not know the dB rating of the Stihl set. I tend to favor the 85s when I am on my tractors so that I can still hear the equipment a little better than the 105s. Countless times I have heard what I think is an abnormal sound, rip off my ear muffs, throttle down only to find a plane overhead, an ultra lite or someone wanting my attention. You can still hear abnormal noises as long as you are in tune with your machine. My Kubotas are a little easier to hear over than my Masseys. For chainsaw I use the Stihl integrated unit. Wood splitter, lawn mower, etc. the 105s. I find I lose the foam in ear style, but I do believe they work well if installed correctly.

 

[dougtrr2]

I wear leightning earmuffs unless it is cold enough to need a hat. Then I use the foam earplugs. I am very conscientious and wear them all the time on the tractor, chainsawing or in my workshop. I even wear them if I vacuum for the wife (I hate the sound of vacuum cleaners). I also bought child size earmuffs for the grandkids. If they are around grandpa and he is wearing his they have to wear theirs. One granddaughter calls them her ear puffs.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Einthewoods]

Thanks all for the input. I ordered some of the 3m over the head muffs and will see how I like them.

Between the whine of the hst and the sound of the back blade or fel scrapping ice, I suspect they'll help quite a bit.

 

[Texasmark]

I use soft foam earplugs (with a plastic cord tying them together)....you can pull them out and the cord lets them lie on your chest ready to go back in when needed. Sometimes I just tuck the ends under my shirt and have them available on a job incase I need them. Bought a box of 100 online for about $25 bucks years ago.

Then I have the 30dB pair of real, strap over the head, cupped plastic/foam I bought at Home Depot for about 25 bucks which work really good. On really tough jobs I use both.

 

[plasticglock]

I use a set of noise isolating bluetooth headphones. They are not rated for industry but I think they are perfect for me. I listen to SeriusXM radio through my phone using them. They reduce my stress after riding the tractor for 6-8 hours significantly. I can still hear well enough to tell if I hit something or if anything goes wrong. The best part is if the wife needs to tell me something she can just call me. I can hear her fine and give a hand signal yes or no. She obviously can't hear me because the microphone is out in the noise. But the battery lasts forever in these. For my use they are perfect. Here's a link: Amazon.com: Bluetooth Headphones, Alpatronix HX11 Universal HD Noise Isolating Wireless Stereo Headset with Built-in Mic, Volume/Playback Controls, AptX, CVC 6., BT 4.1 [3+ Hrs. of Playback Time] - Black: Electronics

 

[Doofy]

I use a set of noise isolating bluetooth headphones. They are not rated for industry but I think they are perfect for me. I listen to SeriusXM radio through my phone using them. They reduce my stress after riding the tractor for 6-8 hours significantly. I can still hear well enough to tell if I hit something or if anything goes wrong. The best part is if the wife needs to tell me something she can just call me. I can hear her fine and give a hand signal yes or no. She obviously can't hear me because the microphone is out in the noise. But the battery lasts forever in these. For my use they are perfect. Here's a link: Amazon.com: Bluetooth Headphones, Alpatronix HX11 Universal HD Noise Isolating Wireless Stereo Headset with Built-in Mic, Volume/Playback Controls, AptX, CVC 6., BT 4.1 [3+ Hrs. of Playback Time] - Black: Electronics

Darn! Now, I wish I would have bought my tractor stereo with Bluetooth. Technology just blows my old brain away. My tractor cab is quite but Bluetooth headphones would be great on the backhoe. I could still listen to my tunes but still have hearing protection. I no longer have the volume so high as to melt out my earwax...just a pleasant, lower volume.

 

[slantsix]

I use a set of noise isolating bluetooth headphones. They are not rated for industry but I think they are perfect for me. I listen to SeriusXM radio through my phone using them. They reduce my stress after riding the tractor for 6-8 hours significantly. I can still hear well enough to tell if I hit something or if anything goes wrong. The best part is if the wife needs to tell me something she can just call me. I can hear her fine and give a hand signal yes or no. She obviously can't hear me because the microphone is out in the noise. But the battery lasts forever in these. For my use they are perfect. Here's a link: Amazon.com: Bluetooth Headphones, Alpatronix HX11 Universal HD Noise Isolating Wireless Stereo Headset with Built-in Mic, Volume/Playback Controls, AptX, CVC 6., BT 4.1 [3+ Hrs. of Playback Time] - Black: Electronics

I bought a pair of these and really like them, Bluetooth, AM/FM with actual rated noise protection. Lets me listen to podcasts or football games while mowing and much less comfortable that earbuds under muffs. A rechargeable battery-pack is available, but I like the triple A option, decent life and one less this to remember to charge.

Safety Works Bluetooth Headset for All Devices - Retail Packaging - - Amazon.com

 

[CMV]

I use the squishy foam disposable from work. Company doesn't care if we grab a handful or two for personal use since it's a very low cost safety item. They work pretty well for shooting or chainsaw or other loud stuff. For what they are, they're very good. Compared to the orange foam ones from HF or the older flanged rubber type the Army gave us there is a noticeable difference in sound suppression.

I hate muffs since I'm always wearing a hat - either to keep sun off or to stay warm. I always found them uncomfortable too so if I had them, I'd often neglect them for comfort/convenience. The squishy in-ear type don't bother me at all.

 

[VeRV77]

Hearing protection? How about whole head protection! I own a Yanmar 424 open station tractor and do a lot of work in the woods or around trees. I learned rather by chance just how useful a hardhat like this is:



Not only do I have hearing protection with easy off-and-on convenience, the hat and face shield has saved me multiple times from tree limbs. The face shield is up most of the time, but I drop it down over my safety glasses when I drive into any thicket or area of low branches.

Two days ago it saved me again when doing a pivot maneuver on my backhoe: I went a little too fast and the tractor listed (to use a nautical term) quickly, swinging the ROPS right into the side of my head. Didn't bother me one bit, just a little "thunk" and I kept going. Would have been a nasty headache at best without the hat/muffs.

Finally, the muffs keep my ears warm on cold days. Best $25 bucks I've ever spent. Now I hardly drive my tractor without it.