DIY Room treatment panels

As many of you know, I’ve been hinting at a big acoustics project recently, so before we unveil the results, I thought I’d share part of the process as a DIY tip on how we created some of the components used in the project.

Like all acoustics projects, it starts with some acoustically absorbent material. In this case it’s primarily 2” Owens Corning 705 fiberglass panels in a 2’ x 4’ size.

I obtained a couple of cases of that as well as case of 1” 705.

What this thread is about is the process of converting the raw fiberglass into usable, easy to handle components that would go into a larger project.

Design

Our goal was to provide reasonable bass absorption through use of high-density fiberglass that will be mounted about 3” from the wall behind it. We also desired to have some reasonable high frequency absorption as well, so we covered the front of the panels with 1/8” cotton batting.

To make the panels easy to manage and install, we decided to fully cover them in muslin cloth to make it easy to move around and put into place.

Nothing to cosmic. Just basic cloth wrapped OC 705 with a facing of cotton batting for additional HF absorption.

Note: some of the pieces will be slices from the larger 2x4 peices as we need custom sizes (and another reason to cover cut edges).

Process

Following is my dear Wife’s description of the process of assembly, as she is the one with the dedicated sewing room and the skills to do something with it.
First, a list of materials used:

• Light muslin:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2555&PRODID=prd14829

• Fusible 1/8th inch cotton bating:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3603&PRODID=prd12628

• Fusible web tape:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat483848&PRODID=prd2975

• Electric scissors (very useful, not absolutely necessary, but a great toy to have):
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-...d_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1215177848&sr=8-1

• Rubber gloves

• Iron

• Music

Turn on the music, you’re going to be at this a while for a big project like ours.

Heat up the iron.

Cut your muslin. If buying the bolt of 108” wide muslin, and covering 48” tall fiberglass panels like we did, then unroll the bolt but don’t open the fabric, cut the width of the panel plus twice the thickness plus a few extra inches through all layers. Open it up and lay it on your work surface.

Cut the cotton batting to the size of the panel, lay it on top of the muslin. This batting is wrinkly, let the wrinkles be.

Handling the fiberglass with gloves, lay it onto the batting.

Wrap the rest of your muslin around the panel. Remove gloves, you won’t be touching the fiberglass again for this piece.

Cut off excess cloth with these decadently fun electric scissors. Leave an overlap of muslin for fusing onto the back of the panel, not the sides.

Using the fusible tape and the iron, secure the muslin edges.

Turn the panel over and iron the front that has the fusible cotton batting, and in the process flatten out the wrinkles in the batting.

Start your next panel.

I’d say it takes about 20 minutes per panel, regardless of panel thickness or width.

Be sure to measure the panel after it’s been wrapped, to determine its final fit in the wood work. The dimension changes more than you’d think just from being wrapped in thin muslin. These panels are stiff and have no give, so don’t count on squishing them into place if the wood frame is too tight.

Advice: if you feel like taking on such a project, lay down a while till the feeling passes.

Liz

Here is a picture of the assembly of one of the smaller pieces showing all the components that go into it:

A picture of the fusible Cotton batting layered over the OC 705

And here is our fearless quality control specialist guarding the highly prized finsished product.

Note how many panels this effort requires and the number of custom sizes. Wonder what it's all for?

I'm thinking of making a few of these myself, to replace acoustic foam I've got in the corners.

JonFo, what is the 'spec' of this fibreglass? It might be described differently here in the UK, but it can't be far off.
Last time I checked in a DIY store I only found 'itchy' soft fibreglass, or insulation made out of plastic bottles - not sure what the acoustic properties are though.

JohnA,

The specs for the fiberglass are found by following the OC 705 links in this great comprehensive list of acoustical materials:
http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?p=760

You could use other things, as long as they have similar acoustical properties.



Also, here is a source of supplies and finsihed acoustical products in the UK:
http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/absorbers.htm

Just wrap this one up, here is the thread that described the deployment of these treatments.

And little Pic never hurt either

Hey John, how about an update picture of the whole room?

I'd love to see the new environment! As always- inspiring work! -Boxeater.

boxeater said:

I'd love to see the new environment! As always- inspiring work! -Boxeater.

Click to expand...

You did follow the link in the psot above, right? it has many shots of the new treatments.

as for updated whole room shots, I'm trying to borrow a freinds D-SLR with a wideangle lens and some lights to get some really good pics.

Soon...

Are there any safety issues regarding leakage of fibres through the cloth.

Not what I was expecting when you were working on something, but very very nice! :bowdown:

jon,

beautiful work as always! Looks extremely professional and wife approved!