walkie talkie earmuffs?

[Satamax]

Hi everybody. 

I'd like some communicating ear protection for the sawmill, for when i work with a friend. 

I'm aware of 3M/peltor stuff, but that's out of my price range. 

Does anything else exist ? 

Thanks a lot guys. 

[btulloh]

These are cheap and plentiful here. Can hook them to a set of 3m muffs and it's a pretty inexpensive solution. I don't know if they're legal over there though. 

https://midlandusa.com/products/x-talker-t295vp4-gmrs-two-way-radio

[JoshNZ]

I've been meaning to get a couple of pairs of Bose hands free head phones, noise cancelling. Bit pricey but my dad uses a pair on the orchard mulcher, it's about the loudest work you can do on an orchard, tractor screaming at 90% of full RPM and wood smashing up behind it, he can still take phone calls and the recipient's have said it's like talking to him while he's driving in a car.

I'm sure there are apps to connect you pair to pair via wifi, or you could essentially call each other over WhatsApp/Skype or something at that point as it is just a hands free link to your phone.

Our hand signals are getting better but I think comms would make the job a lot more fun!

[Satamax]

These are cheap and plentiful here. Can hook them to a set of 3m muffs and it's a pretty inexpensive solution. I don't know if they're legal over there though.

https://midlandusa.com/products/x-talker-t295vp4-gmrs-two-way-radio

Thanks a lot Btulloh.
Well, i was more thinking of something like this! But it's dear! https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/v000139378/

I've been meaning to get a couple of pairs of Bose hands free head phones, noise cancelling. Bit pricey but my dad uses a pair on the orchard mulcher, it's about the loudest work you can do on an orchard, tractor screaming at 90% of full RPM and wood smashing up behind it, he can still take phone calls and the recipient's have said it's like talking to him while he's driving in a car.

I'm sure there are apps to connect you pair to pair via wifi, or you could essentially call each other over WhatsApp/Skype or something at that point as it is just a hands free link to your phone.

Our hand signals are getting better but I think comms would make the job a lot more fun!

Thanks JoshNZ. Well, cheaper. But still expensive. I'll have to dig.

[Satamax]

Well, if it is not a con. I've done a good deal i think!

Casques anti bruit 3Mâ,,¢Â PELTORâ,,¢ LiteCom | eBay 280€ for a new pair of litecom headsets. That's nice.

[jimbarry]

We bought a couple sets of Sena TuffTalk M series for use around the sawmill land firewood processor. Pretty good range. I can be out at the firewood processor about 1000ft from the house, with a few trees in between, and my wife can be anywhere in the house with a headset on and we can clearly speak to each other. The house has a steel roof too. Now, if I sit in the cab of the skidsteer (fitted with a forestry mesh cage), she would have to be within 10 feet. Can answer phone with the tap of a button on the headset. Listen to regional radio stations up to 3-4 hours away. Play music from a device (haven't tried that).  Only downside is that even with the foam sound deadening thing over the mic, it does pick up background noise like the firewood processor or chainsaw and transfers that to anyone else who is listening in. Which is annoying if you are trying to listen to the radio.  I would think that if a third person was in on the connection, the two could not carry on a conversation if the third was running a chainsaw (unless they switched over to a private channel).

[btulloh]

The Sena that jimbarry linked to is nice.  So is the 3M. Looks like either would work well. Yeah, a bit pricey, but they are both real solutions. As always you get what you pay for.  The radios in the link link I posted along with the basic peltor muffs with the jack to plug into would run about $100 per person. Would be a bit fiddly but would work. The 3m or Sena stuff would run $600-750 per person but provide a real solution and convenience. In the long run, the extra money spent would be well worth it.  

[Satamax]

Btulloh, just got a pair of Peltor litecom 3 on ebay, bnib, for 280. Will see if it is not a con.  Anyway, i's ebay, and paid via paypal. Should be safe enough.

Never thought i would find that at this type of price. But it appeared right on time.

[btulloh]

Very good find. Looking forward to seeing your report. 

[charles mann]

Coming from 6 yrs as a cannon crew member on a tracked artillery gun and 20 yrs as chinook mech/crew member, hearing protection is very important. Just wish i would have used at times or had better ear pro. For me now, price will never be a consideration for not buying it bc iv lost enough hearing and my health cant afford to loose anymore. 
I always double up using foamy inserts and heavy duty ear muffs, but im also working 99.9% of the time, by myself away from work, so comms arent an issue but when i do have help, a game plan is always gone over before cranking up the loud equipment, and i go over hand signal prior with ground help if using my wheeled crane. 

We use the 3M units at work, esp if the maint crew will have their hand full and cant use hand signals. Between the crane and other airfield operations going on, yelling isnt an option. 

[Satamax]

crew will have their hand full and cant use hand signals. Between the crane and other airfield operations going on, yelling isnt an option.

Exactly my case on sawmill and crane work.When you're stabilizing a 2 ton load, often both hands are needed.

[bushhog920]

A little off subject but I have a $1000 Bose aviation headset with ANR. You would never believe the difference ANR makes. when you turn it on it's like hitting the mute button for your engine you just have to experience it for yourself to believe it. Point is don't rule out expensive products that make life enjoyable I don't ever want to go back to mechanical muffs again for flying.

[charles mann]

A little off subject but I have a $1000 Bose aviation headset with ANR. You would never believe the difference ANR makes. when you turn it on it's like hitting the mute button for your engine you just have to experience it for yourself to believe it. Point is don't rule out expensive products that make life enjoyable I don't ever want to go back to mechanical muffs again for flying.

I tried them expensive things when i was getting my rotorcraft add on and saw no difference between them and my CEPs with my D/Cs or flight helmet. 

[Satamax]

Well, received my Christmas present. 

They function. Seem clean. No scratches etc. So the BNIB might be true. 

Haven't tried thoses with a friend yet. Nor done a real life test. It'll come soon enough. 



 

 

  

[charles mann]

Hopefully they work great for you and you get your monies worth. Once the hearing is gone, most of us cant afford to buy more and i wish the mil would have provided us cannon fodders with better protection, but whats done is done. I can only preserve what i have now. 

[Satamax]

Hopefully they work great for you and you get your monies worth. Once the hearing is gone, most of us cant afford to buy more and i wish the mil would have provided us cannon fodders with better protection, but whats done is done. I can only preserve what i have now.

Well, will see. But what i notice, is the volume of the voice is a bit low. Myself, hearing wise, it's not too bad, if i do'nt understand, i have to blame it on the thickness of my skull, and what's inside ;D

[Marty]

While working on the sawmill with Magicman, my Dad. My sons and I have been using the foam earplugs. But, we needed ear protection and communication ability while operating our Boring Machines and Cable Plows. The over the ear muffs tend to be too hot down here in the South. I have outfitted both my sons with wireless noise cancelling earbuds. They both really like them and use them. And we are able to communicate with our cell phones. 

[Satamax]

Real life test tonight. We lifted my truck and snowplow with the crane, to change a wheel. It's a bit loud inside the helmet when i speak. But was well worth it.