Sound proofing a sink. How to?
 

Given a stainless steel sink in a campervan, with no soundproofing at all, as I have come to take for granted in my kitchen sink, I find doing the dishes incredibly noisy.

Most times that doesn't matter, but if I am near others I cannot wash the dishes without a really loud clanking noise ... since I am an early riser THAT would be unacceptable at hours that suit me.

I was wondering if sssfers had any bright ideas.

So far I've thought of something like polyfilla which I use to fill holes in the cottage and wondered about spreading it on the underside / outside.

Access is tricky but not impossible.

Maybe just gluing a soft fabric of some kind ... do it in patchwork and layer it .. maybe even the kind of mesh silicon which is sold as drawer linings?

I know I could experiment first, but it's going to be a major job and I am hoping that someone might know of just the way to tackle it and get it right the first time.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Get some contact adhesive and a sheet of foam rubber as thick as will fit the space. Stick it on the undersurface of the sink.

I'd need to see photos of how your sink is fitted.. but most are only held down by a few clamps. Of course, there is also the plumbing.. However.. one may be able to reach in and earth out the resonance with some contact adhesive and cushioning mountings.

sounds good to me.
nice and flexible too.
In fact the space is so tiny that maybe just forcing a heap up into it would do the job and I'd only need to glue ther bottom horizontal surface.
I have to be careful of electrical stuff ... the plumbing shouldn't ba any problem, but not so sure about the electricals.

I think you can get a spray on foam stuff, that expands after spraying.

Probably do the job, check a hardware place.

the wiring can be left outside the soundproofing via a couple of holes.. for inspection and repairs..

No More Gaps.. but I hesitate to make a mess that is difficult to clean up if needed.

oh that might be like the tyre filler stuff?

I'll go and ask.
Taa
I know it is a silly thing but it is the kind of sound that travels around (say) a caravan park.
Having snored all night, adding that would be cause for a verdict of justifiable homicide I reckon.

I'm guessing the unit was constructed in its entirety and then installed ... it's such a tight fit ... still nothing ventured.

Thanks to you both.

oh that's it, that's the stuff I've been using to "squirt" into gaps ... but couldn't imagine if it would "spread" figured it might just stick to whatever it touched .. had visions of being permanently stuck in the van attached to the underside of the sink.

there is a good article here about soundproofing.

http://kereta.info/how-to-sound-proo...and-materials/

paparoo painted the inside shell of one of our performance vehicles to cut the noise.

he used a black bitumen type substance. he's not answering atm but i will find out what it is.

my thoughts are you can just put it on the metal itself and it will not break down or interfere with anything else. rather than trying to fill a space with a material that will break down.

13mm bradflex/armaflex thermal or acoustic sheets can be wrapped and held in place with cable ties - making it adjustable and removeable. There's also a tape that can be wound around. I'm not certain about the actual brand names any more. The thermal sheets have some acoustic properties and are cheaper than the specific acoustic labelled products.

It's designed as pipe or duct thermal/acoustic insulation and can be bought in pipe rounds as well as sheets. Most major plumbing supply stores carry it. At 13mm thick it mightn't fit into the constrained space you have, but I think it might be worth a look at.

oooh, I can see that it will pay me to not rush in, but do some reading. Thanks joey.

Right!

I can see I am going to have to learn my way around hardware stores http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png


bbl

I don't think you are looking at "no more gaps" I think thats just an acrylic putty sort of stuff, I would go to either a car panel beating shop or a place that supplies them, they have sheets of sound deadener they stick to the inside of car doors. The expanding foam is expanda foam or similar names, the cheapest foam stuff can be bought at Bu*****s. Its very messy to use though, if you get it in the wrong spots it leaves a very sticky mess until its set, that includes your hands, wear disposable gloves.
As an afterthought I think supercheap auto have spray on deadener in cans.

can easily be as exciting as finding rare terrestial orchids. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.png

Most kitchen sinks come soundproofed with some pieces of bitumin type material stuck on.

This basically damps the ringing sound when you hit the sink with dishes.

You can buy similar stuff at places like Jaycar and car accessory shops.

Like this:

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AX3687

Might be cheaper somewhere else.

the standard soundproofing is usually not fitted .. mostly it is just mountings..

I hate kitchen sinks..
my hearing is weird shit and kitchen sinks ruin any conversation I'm attempting to listen to.. no matter how far away the sink is.

There is a simple answer.. get a shower mat.. you know the ones with the suction caps?

cut to fit the inner surface of the sink. edit: can be moulded to fit all exposed surfaces.

Take it out and clean it or throw it away, start again.. whenever the needs arise.

Way back in the olden days ( http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png ) one of my mother's aunts was terribly houseproud and able to indulge herself as she chose.

She used a plastic bowl in her beautiful stainless steel sink so it wouldn't get scratched and used a thin "rubber" mat thing on the draining board for the same reason.

paparoo simply called it body deadener .. available from crash repairs or he says Stratco hardware carry a similar product for water sealing around pipe joins etc.

but i see you have other options too now http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

Heh.. at the dugout.. I share with a couple of other watchmakers.. one set up a S/S kitchy sink on a couple of 44's and just puts a bucket under the drain.. filled by hot water from the billy..
The other watchmaker never uses the sink without a plastic dish in which he washes.. then waters the garden with the dregs..

Me, rinse most of it under the rainwater tank and chuck my tomato seeds there too.