Woodworking Noise and Neighbors?

[mekyoung]

I recently moved into a new neighborhood, and was wondering how many of you live in close proximity to your neighbors? Have you had any complaints about noise from running your WW tools?

Maybe I'm just paranoid, but while routing some rails and stiles for some drawers for a vanity in our bath yesterday, I started wondering how much noise I was making. For some reason I started thinking about being the new guy in the neighborhood, and I'm driving everyone nuts with all the noise I'm making. Although I'm not sure I am making any more noise that the guy mowing his lawn at 8am. I don't know, so just thought I would see if anyone else was in a similar situation and what sort of things you may have down to quiet things down, if any.

[Pop Paw]

Welcome to the forum...living in close proximity to neighbors usually isn't a problem if you make a small item out of wood to give them as a gift. ie. recipe book holder, simple utility shelf, small planter box,etc.

David


You can either be squirrel food or the seed of a mighty tree. - Paul Richey

[Pop Paw]

Oooops I just contributed to a thread in the wrong section[:I]Sorry Guys!

David


You can either be squirrel food or the seed of a mighty tree. - Paul Richey

[Scottydont]

Ditto with David. We moved in here 2 years ago. First of all, I invited all my neighbors over for a barbeque right after we moved in (my Jack Daniels Q-sauce is a killer!) Yum Yum! I gave my neighbor closest to my shop a hand turned pen, told him about my addiction (oops, hobby) and told him that if the noise was bothersome at anytime to please let me know. I soon heard from the other neighbors. Not about the noise but "where is my pen"? Been on good terms ever since.

Scott Muth
The Daddydidit Woodshop
Edmonds WA

Having fun building my woodshop with the help of my BT3Central buddies!

[Ryan F]

For most people I don’t think the noise will bother them at normal hours of the day. Don't start planning oak at 1 o’clock in the morning and I think you will be fine. I agree give up a picture frame or two the neighbors and no one will ever complain.

Ryan Flaherty
http://home.kc.rr.com/myworkshop/Workshop.html

[DUD]

I have a shop that is back far enough that it doesn't bother the neighbors beside me, and I don't worry about those behind me. They have 2 dogs that sleep all day and bark all nite, but I am not rude about it, I don't plane at nite. Bill

If You can't be good for nothing, do it for free!

[leehljp]

I live in a neighborhood that you wouldn't believe. (crowded Japan neighborhood). On days off and holidays, I do not start any saws, routers or other noisy tools before 9:00 AM, nor do I use any noisy tools after 8:00 PM. If I have some planing to do but not in a hurry for, I usually wait for a windy day, and that masks the noise. Even mildly windy days help cut the noise.

I often plan things to cut the pieces earlier and do the build up, hand sanding, finishing or painting later at night.

Hank

[Bruce Cohen]

I live in a Town House complex. 16 houses connected on both sides in a cul-de-sac resulting in about 3/4 of a circle. We all have one-car garages built into our houses and they all face into the nside of the circle, along with the front doors of each house.

I don't start anything noisy until after 11:00 AM on the weekends and 9:30 during the week, and always stop by 5:00 PM. Also, I usually have the garage door opened, unless it's below freezing.

I have in the 21 years I've been living here had anyone complain about the noise. In fact, most of my neighbors stop in to chat or to see what I'm making.

i always offer to help them with what there doing or to answer their questions, and that's always worked for me. No one has everr complained about the noise, although I've gotten som negative critiques about the design of some of my stuff.[)]

Bruce

[mekyoung]

Thanks Everyone for the replies. I might have to set up my lathe and turn out some pens to pass around. I have been waiting till about 10am to get started and don't run anything after aout 6pm or so. I'm just the parnoid type, and thought I would see what kind of experiences others here have had working close to your neighbors.

Thanks again to everyone here, for all the great info that gets posted.

[SillyGoose]

I have one neighbor that will complain about the sun coming up in the morning, that is the only problem I've had, I do try to keep an eve on the time. Also I had my husband run some tools while I stood outside with the garage door closed just to see how loud it really was so I knew what I could use late at night.

Go Buckeyes!

[Stick]

quote:Originally posted by mekyoung

I recently moved into a new neighborhood, and was wondering how many of you live in close proximity to your neighbors? Have you had any complaints about noise from running your WW tools?

I'm really fortunate, my nearest neighbour is over 4 miles away. My shop is about 200 yards from the house and is really well insulated. I'm a shiftworker, so I do most of my work in the middle of the night. I would go batty if I lived in a city and had to consider neighbours. I feel for ya!

[Craig]

I live on a farm... at 2 in the morning the only things I disturb is cows. Through the daylight hours, my nearest neighbors disturb me with requests for furniture repairs, the "can ya make me one of those" questions, and the ever present "can I borrow this or that".

So, there is no good solution, just compromises.