Burlap for absorption panels...

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:18 am

...but is there something else!?

I built some absorption panels with Roxul Rockboard, wood and burlap. They work great for my utilitarian studio... BUT I want to make panels for the room where my family watches tv, and my wife will not allow burlap on the walls. What other fabrics could be used for sound absorption panels?

Thanks in advance,

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:25 am

I think anything that is porous enough should work. Air tight stuff won't work.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:36 am

She can have a choice of Jute (An interesting fibrous plant extract thats fabled for the downfall of Bangladesh) or Hessian (A nasty cheap harsh material hobos make clothes from) or Burlap (What cheap bags are made from).

It's all in how you sell it.
Explain that Jute is the major crop in Bangladesh and that WW I and II and all the little squabbles in between were built on sandbags made from Bangladeshi Jute, with the advent of peace and synthetics the arse dropped out of the Jute market and Bangladesh's pretty much only export and the biggest industry in the country became the biggest drain on its economy (the government decided to prop up the only money earning sector... you do the math) ... I digress, the point is buying Jute saves a Bangladeshi.

You may only need the spiel if she knows Jute/Burlap/Hessian are one.

Got nothing.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:14 pm

Tell her she needs to be able to hold it over he mouth and breath through it. Then send her to the fabric store. Note that some material meant for drapes will be fire resistant. You will need to treat anything that is not fire resistant. Also, there are lots of acoustical fabrics that are designed for the job and are fire resistant. Not cheap, but about the same price as good drapery fabric. Available at several retailers on line.

Burlap is something that works acoustically and costs less than half of the better looking fabrics, but show her the alternative, work up the price, and see if she thinks it is worth it.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:54 pm

Thanks all! Superior answers.

I'll go to JoAnne's fabric store and start breathing through some fabrics. I can't wait to see the look of horror on all the seamstresses' faces when I'm putting my mouth on their precious materials. LOL

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:57 pm

Do your breathing outward... Should go without saying. But I said it anyway. Razz

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:34 pm

So maybe for your family room, instead of using those panels like you made for your studio, why not go to Home Depot, Lows or, a carpet place. Get yourself a decorative small throw rug/rugs and stick it on your wall/walls. Let her pick out the one she likes. It'll kill frequencies from the midrange up. Maybe that will make her happy?

Wall to wall, we got it all.
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:56 am

I fitted the first few panels I did (48" x 24" x 6") with black Double Georgette that I bought at a boutique fabrics store. It's apparently wedding dress material, and it looks super classy (albeit on the sheer side, so make sure you get a dark color that won't expose the material underneath).

The raw fabric cost me around 10 bucks a panel (ouch), but a quick internet search produced this site which sells it for about 40% cheaper if you're willing to buy the 25-yard bolt (which will fit approximately 12 panels).

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:25 am

Wow, 48"x24"x6"? 6 inches deep? The most I did was 4"deep, and that was for a double-stack for a bass trap. Did you have 6 inches of absorption material in there?

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:04 pm

I used 6 one-inch-thick panels, but the actual dimensions are compressed to about 5 1/2" in places.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:41 pm

Would muslin be any good?

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:30 pm

Leave your religion out of this.

I like the Emperor's clothes.
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:12 am

RemyRAD wrote:

Leave your religion out of this.

LOL

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