[BigJim]

Ok embarrassing, yes. But I am a college student who is inexperienced in construction.

I'm trying to build a make-shift sound-booth. I've got foam boards, and insulation.

I'm going to use the foam boards to "sandwich" the insulation, such that the insulation goes between the foam boards.

I want to secure the sandwich. I bought rope but realized that knots and rope don't really keep the insulation inside the sandwich.

I want to use a belt that can tighten and secure the sandwich. But I don't know where to buy one.

I'm looking for inexpensive materials... like a hook that tightens attached to a rope, or something like that. Basically something you can "pull tight" and secure.

Thanks for your help!

How about something like this.

 

[justincoolj]

It looks good, but it looks expensive...

 

[AGWhitehouse]

Sounds like strapping it together is going to crush the insulation in the middle. I'm assuming it's fiberglass batts...

They make nuts/bolts that have flanges on both sides. The nut is actually a hollow tube that has threading on the inside and a flange to catch the material. Kind of like the attachments for chair seats. Cheap and effective.

Remember that sounds is a vibratory type of wave and to most effectively stop it is to put thick, dense materials in its path.

 

[justincoolj]

actually! crushing the insulation isn't an issue . I'm not using fiberglass because it's dangerous to the health and it's also probably expensive.

I scouraged around craigslist and took rubber mats that people were giving away for free or for a low price. So there's rubber mats in between two foamboads, and also a corkboard in between the rubber mats.

So strapping the sandwich together won't hurt the sound-proof properties (hopefully)!

 

[BigJim]

It looks good, but it looks expensive...

They aren't expensive, if you have a Harbor Freight close by they are really cheap there.

 

[justincoolj]

They aren't expensive, if you have a Harbor Freight close by they are really cheap there.

what are they called? there's a HF, 30 mins away from me

 

[Jackofall1]

For each fastening point, 2 pcs of 4" x 4" 1/2" plywood with 2 holes drilled into them at same centers, 2 heavy duty long zip ties. Lay your sandwich out put plywood on each side drll through push zip ties through plywood and sandwich, tighten zip ties.

Mark

 

[BigJim]

For each fastening point, 2 pcs of 4" x 4" 1/2" plywood with 2 holes drilled into them at same centers, 2 heavy duty long zip ties. Lay your sandwich out put plywood on each side drll through push zip ties through plywood and sandwich, tighten zip ties.

Mark

That is a good idea, and Harbor Freight has the zip ties also. The ratchet straps are usually 4 or 5 to a pack, if you wish to go that way.

 

[justincoolj]

Thanks for the help everyone! I think I will go with jiju's ratchet straps. I would like to avoid drilling through the sandwich, since it would pretty much allow for sound to pass through the drill holes.

The ratchet straps are 4 for 9 dollars. I figure it would take two ratchet straps to secure one sandwich.

I also found these http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Home depot sells those clamps for 99 cents each. It might take four of those clamps to secure one sandwich

I will try both, since they come out to be almost the same price

Thanks everyone again!

 

[joed]

The rachets will create pressure from edge to edge crushing the foam boards into a tube. Duct tape would be equally effective and not exert the crushing force. You need something to go through the foam exerting pressure side to side to clamp it into a flat sandwich.

If the cork is thick enough or has a wood backer then screws with large washers from each side would be my choice.