Custom molded ear plugs

Have you tried them out yet? How well do they work? My problems with earplugs is I work 7 days a week and my ears get sore. The yellow E.A.R. FoamPlugs seem to block noise the best but are almost useless if you take them out and try to reinsert, I use the skull screws most of the time because they are easy to take out or part way out then reinsert but they tend to slowly work their way out without me realizing it until I’ve been listening to a progressively louder and louder saw. So I’m very interested in yours, let us know how you like them after some in field use.
 
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They are amazing! I think they are rated at 30 db reduction. They kind of cork screw into my ear canal and are very in there. Foam ear plugs never seemed to work for me, they always popped out or didn’t actually cut the noise well. The ear doctor mentioned I just had narrow ear canals and she thought there would be no way the foam plugs would ever work.
Mid career here and still learning!
 
Those kind of ear plugs are supposed to be very good these days. I know a lot of people are starting to use them for going to loud concerts and they are designed to just reduce the overall noise level evenly but especially the most damaging frequencies, without harming the quality of the sound/performance. My brother had some made for going to metal shows and said they are great.

I personally use these style of 3M, because I like to easily take them in and out as needed and they fit my ears pretty well. I'd be curious how your custom ones work for 'all day use' in terms of knocking down the chainsaw noise but still allowing easy communication and awareness of quieter sounds.

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I’ve never used them for any tree work but I’ve had them for around twenty years for skeet shooting. They work excellent. There’s a guy here in Rochester, ny who used to go to shoots and make them for people.
 
I like the soft, bell shaped foam earplugs, 33 dBA NRR. I find the cylindrical yellow plugs uncomfortable for extended wear.

For anyone who's not familiar with foam earplugs, if you reach around your head with the other hand and tug the top of your ear up and back, it straightens the outer portion of your ear canal for easier insertion.
 
I use ear plugs called Spark Plugs 34 db reduction. I can't hear shit when I have those in, normal speaking voice forget it. They roll up tight and are slow to reform so you can get them way in your ear. When I pull them out they look like a corkscrew before the relax.

OP if you asked you audiologist for the molds you can order dental impression material and cast your own. The plug material is likely polyvinyl siloxane which is a two part compound that comes in a self mixing caulk gun.
 
chiselbit said:
Have you tried them out yet? How well do they work? My problems with earplugs is I work 7 days a week and my ears get sore. The yellow E.A.R. FoamPlugs seem to block noise the best but are almost useless if you take them out and try to reinsert, I use the skull screws most of the time because they are easy to take out or part way out then reinsert but they tend to slowly work their way out without me realizing it until I’ve been listening to a progressively louder and louder saw. So I’m very interested in yours, let us know how you like them after some in field use.
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I use Purafit earplugs - bright green foam, they work great, and I’ve reused them daily for a week straight with good result.

I’ve looked into custom molded plugs, but I like the Purafits too much. They’re cheap, can be pitched or lost, and work well.
 
ConeCollector said:
I’ll be out falling with the big saws all day tomorrow and working around equipment, I’ll give a review after a full 10 hour day.
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Well...after a full day of heavy use I really like my new ear plugs. I was wearing them under my pfanner ear muffs and after a full day the constant pressure of the muffs pushing on the plugs, it was moderately uncomfortable. I could still hear my senna just fine and didn’t feel any loss of awareness from the extra noise reduction. I think this will be my set up from now on while I’m running larger saws. Probably not necessary for the smaller saws.
 
You could trim the foam in the ear muff if you had to, Ive done it before on a set that had extra thick foam that put too much pressure on the earplug. Figured between the remaining foam and the earplugs there was still enough hearing protection. That was on a petzl helmet though,I’ve never owned a Phanner.
 
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