Laziest exhaust muffler ever

I wanted to do an exhaust muffler build without any serious tools, hardware cloth, or loose fill.

Supplies:

2x 5 Gal bucket (on sale at ACE for 2.99 ea)
1x Roll duct tape (if you don't already have this just give up)
12 2" thick 1'x1' acoustic foam pads. (9.99 on amazon per 6 pack)
1 6" ducting collar ($12 amazon)

Total cost $38 + tax

Pretty effective so far, cuts about 15 db off the noise at the exhaust...now I notice the noise of the fan itself so the next project is a box to isolate it.

Steps:

Measure 6" circle on the base of each bucket, cut out circle (I just drilled a hole and used a keyhole saw)
Fill the inside of each bucket with the acoustic foam panels- they will actually put enough pressure on each other to stay in place without any adhesive/mesh.
Continue until they match the rough diameter of the holes at the end of the buckets.
Duct tape the two buckets together
Screw collar/flange onto end of one to attach ducting.
(optional take a piece of acoustic foam and cut out a donut shape for an end piece- no functional value but looks better than the bottom of a bucket)

FYI total active time: ~15 minutes including shopping online + 2 days waiting for parts to show up.

Are you running a carbon filter inside? If so place it outside at the end and that will act as a muffler. Running the fan at about 75% with a speed controller quiets the fan down significantly and in most cases 75% is plenty. Going with an 8" and running it lower will be even quieter without reducing CFM's.

Yea I'm running a carbon filter inside. Noise isn't actually a big issue for me, good fan and I only have to run it at 50% right now. More just wanted to see how cheap I could do a muffler without any serious DIY/work/money.

More of a "I'm high and I want to see if this idea is good or not"

SpawnOfVader said:

Yea I'm running a carbon filter inside. Noise isn't actually a big issue for me, good fan and I only have to run it at 50% right now. More just wanted to see how cheap I could do a muffler without any serious DIY/work/money.

More of a "I'm high and I want to see if this idea is good or not"

Click to expand...

Some impressive ingenuity! High ideas are the best ideas.