Post by h***@ccanoemail.caOn Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:56:48 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
Post by Jim WilkinsI built a fairly effective generator sound-reducing enclosure from 2'
x 4' fireproof acoustic ceiling tiles, rimmed with sheet metal |_|
strips to keep the edges from crumbling. It's assembled with thumb
screws and U spring nuts.
https://www.lowes.com/pl/Spring-nuts-Nuts-Fasteners-Hardware/4294710807
The side facing away from the street is open to let cooling air in and
the exhaust out. I tried muffling the exhaust with fiberglass pipe
insulation and found that most of the noise comes from the engine
block.
Over the years, I've thought about a makeshift sound barrier -
- usually I talk myself out of it when I start to consider all the
fire/wind/rain/snow possibilities ...
I have heard that engine noise is a major factor -
- not just exhaust noise.
John T.
The Home Depot ceiling tiles I used resist a propane torch flame quite
well. I have some corrugated galvy roofing to cover it from rain or
snow though it hasn't been tested. A weighted tarp would probably
work.
At first I taped the tiles' edges with aluminum foil duct tape, which
didn't stick well enough to be a permanent solution but it protected
them from shredding while I fitted and pop-riveted the sheet steel
channel |_| sections, which were cut and folded from a scrapped
above-ground pool.
I used a shear and brake, but thin sheet steel can be bent neatly
without a brake by clamping it between planks along the bend line and
hammering on a block of wood placed against the free side to spread
the force and sharpen the bend along the bend line.