Overview of “How to Reduce Shop Vac Noise by 50%” by Wood Crafting Place

Straightforward video shows how to inexpensively fabricate a shop vacuum muffler. Step-by-step instructions with verification using a sound level meter. The video author refers to sound as “quieter” and states about 50% reduction, but it is actually even better than he states! But, exactly how much quieter is it? 

A decrease of 15 decibels is achieved which results in an amazing 97% reduction in noise energy that is perceived by the human ear to be about 35% as loud as the non-muffled sound. Every 10 decibels is an order of magnitude (10X) level of energy; however, every 10 decibels only sounds about twice (2x) as loud to the average human. Our relative noise comparison spreadsheet is (available to download here) as a useful tool in exploring the energy and “sounds like” (human perception) levels of different noises from simple sound level meter readings in decibels.