Noise Complaint!!

[Bill DeShivs]

You could spray the sides of your anvil with automotive undercoating.

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

Have someone go in shed and do some pounding, you go outside to see how loud it really is. It has been mentioned but a simple fence would be a simple solution.

 

[Don Hanson III]

The original post says she is 300yds. away. To me that's pretty good ways. No way your hammering would bother me at that distance. Huh?

That is a looooong way and really should Not be a problem.

But I like the sound of an anvil ring anyway.

 

[From Tennessee]

I sure would like to hear how you resolve this? Good luck. I have a gunsmithing operation and firearms dealership and "was" very rural which isnt the case now. I finally stopped doing any significant shooting to maintain peace but its by choice. Good luck man. I feel for ya.

 

[RyanW]

I can see both sides of the issue, no question you have done more than you are required by law. As stated by others you need to decide how far you are willing to go to make your neighbor happy. My guess is she doesn't have much to do but listen to what is going on and complain. I think she probably feels you are forging much more than you actually do because she gets all worked up. I imagine if you take your schedule and a copy of the bylaws (as Count stated) over to her on paper she will agree to the times. If she is not agreeable do what is legal and she can deal with it. Maybe bring over some Tea and biscuts as well.

I think even if you insulate the walls, if you have an open door facing her house you will not help much of the noise reaching her. My initial thought was some type of sound wall, similar to the ones then put on the side of freeways to protect houses from traffic noise. RailRoad ties or just a board fences would work great. I also think Count had a great suggestion to keep a log of your hours just in case it does become a law enforcement issue.

 

[Greg Obach]

yessir, that is it ... exactly !

thanks Nathan for the pic ... very nice shop by the way

Greg, kind of like this?

The chain, the magnet, and the bed of silicone the anvil is sitting in really help dampen things down. I still need hearing protection, but the noise is a dull metallic clank vs. a high pitched ring as it was before.

I'm curious how this situation turned out in the end. I'm moving my shop into a third car garage (detached from the main house) in a residential neighborhood soon. The shop is finished out with standard code-built walls. I'm not terribly worried about the grinders' noise, but the anvil concerns me for when I finally get time to forge. I'll for sure have to make sure to forge during the day.

--nathan

 

[meako]

Hi -have you considered planting some fast growing bushes with thick dense foliage as a barrier?
not sure of your location climate wise but have a snoop around the hood and you will soon see what grows best.
could be a cheap way to solve your neighbourly woes.
She must have ears like a deer .
cheers.

 

[Poop Fungus]

i dunno bout you ..but.. i aint paying a 20 yr mortage to do what my neighbor says (unless they start paying the bills)
if youre obeying the law=whats the problem.. cant please everyone.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I think he has worked it out since last year ( this is an old thread).

 

[ohen cepel]

Hay bales in the right location (away from fire of course) will help with the sound some also.

I think getting a copy of the law and keeping a log as suggested is the way to go. Then, if/when the police show up you can speak to the law, show them that you have stayed in the hours of the law and you should be good. They will likely write it off as an old lady who just isn't happy.

I also try to not anger the neighbors. However, we also have rights on our own property.

 

[P. McKinley]

I think he has worked it out since last year ( this is an old thread).

Yup. All is well in L-bourg.

Poop-Fungus(**shudder** inspiring name there) - Law is one thing. Getting along with the neighbors is another.

 

[jdm61]

You live in Venice, CA, so you have to be courteous. You buy a house in the wilds of Canada that is 200-300 yards away from your nearest neighbor so that you don't have to be so courteous.

Wether or not you are within your rights according to law, it is still a neighborly courtesy to see what you can do to reduce the sound (anvil dampening, soundproofing the walls, etc. And once the work is done, give the lady or son a tour or even offer them a small blacksmith trinket like a keychain or something.

Letting them know that you are trying to be a courteous neighbor when it comes to the racket can only lead to good things.

And by the way, those sound dampeners can do wonders for YOUR hearing, too. I've lost a great deal of my hearing due to an unhealthy obsession with the electric guitar.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I remember when this thread came out. I didn't have much to contribute at the time. I have since had to deal with some noise problems and I do have something to contribute

Sempatech Acoustical wallcovering

My shop is very small. I have a bunch of stuff including machining centers running in a small space. Every tool change generates a lot of air noise. Belt noise, pump noise air compressor clickity clack clack clack oh my god it is freekin loud in there. I started needing ear plugs just to work in my shop. I went to ebay and looked for acoustical foam. I got a lot of this Sempatech Acoustical wallcovering for cheep and used it in strategic locations and man you wouldn't believe the difference it makes. I just looked on ebay and there isn't any of this particular flavor, but there is lots of this kind of stuff.

Insulation, straw, bed liner etc is all well and good, but a little bit of real acoustical sound damping material is astonishingly effective, easy and inexpensive (if you can find it on the fleabay).

 

[Poop Fungus]

yeah, well, "getting along with neighbors" and being told what to do/how to live (on your property) is two dif. things too, aye

 

[Storm Crow]

I read the first page and last page of the thread, so forgive me if there is some overlap.

First off, sounds like you were being pretty thoughtful about scheduling your noise-making in the first place.

Second, reducing the noise of an anvil is often done by reducing the amount of vibration. The tighter you can tie the anvil down to whatever base you're using, the quieter it'll be. I have two 150 lb. Peter Wright anvils, one sitting loose and one secured to its base. The difference in ring is amazing. Also, the protruding bits (horn and heel) are going to generate the most vibration, so concentrate your efforts there. A magnet under ther heel and a chain wrapped around the horn will cut down a lot more noise than either being put on the waist.

 

[12345678910]

Buy two 100lb rare earth magnets and place one under the horn near the tip and the other under the heel near the back. These are the areas that make most of the ringing we hear. My 128lb anvil rang painful loud without ear plugs before I did this but now all I get is a dull thud.

Yes it's a necrothread, but it looks like it's going to run again a while.

This is really good info.

I saw a video that demo's this and it's really surprising the difference it makes.
I suppose that the horn and heel act as vibrating tuning forks.