Disposable Ear Plug question

[JohnKSa]

These disposable ear plugs that are sold in bulk quantity. is there any reason why they can't just be cleaned and reused? I get that they're not that expensive but why throw something away if it can be cleaned and reused?

If you take them out and they are in good condition, clean and they expand back to full size, I don't see what it would hurt if you reuse them once or maybe twice. If they need washing or won't expand back to full-size then throw them away. Even top quality foam plugs can be had for less than 20cents a pair.

 

[dogtown tom]

Not really.

Ear plugs with an NRR of 22 plus muffs with an NRR of 22 only gets you to an NRR of 27. You can get ear plugs with an NRR of 29 or even 33.

.
High pressure impulses eventually deteriorate hearing, so some damage is always being done.

Yes, really.
Do the math on ear plugs with an NRR of 29, 33, 87, whatever number.....with ear muffs. Yes, really, the NRR will be higher than with plugs alone.

 

[JohnKSa]

You guys are both right, but talking past each other.

Lysanderxii saying is that the NRR of different types of plugs varies so much that there are SOME plugs (with very low NRR figures) that when combined with muffs, will have a lower combined NRR than OTHER plugs (with very high NRR figures) when combined with the same muffs.

e.g.
NRR 22 plugs plus NRR 22 muffs could provide less protection than NRR 33 plugs plus those same NRR 22 muffs.

You are correct that when you add a given set of muffs to a given type of plugs, the resulting combined protection will always be higher than if those muffs or those plugs were used by themselves.

 

[dogtown tom]

You guys are both right, but talking past each other....

It's because we are wearing too much earpro or didn't wear enough.

 

[Simple Shooter]

Check the trash cans at the range and you can usually find plenty of lightly used plugs. I haven't bought any in years.

 

[Blue Jays]

"…trash cans at the range and you can usually find plenty of lightly used plugs…"

COMEDY GOLD! I agree with you this thread is hilarious in terms of the extraordinary lengths people will go to avoid spending a measly $5.00 to protect such a valuable sense. The wonderful thing about hearing is we can effortlessly make such easy and meaningful steps to preserve it.

 

[jmorris]

I have some I have used many, many times. Keep your ears clean and store them so they can’t get dirty.

I use 35 mm film containers because they seal well and with a piece of string, I can loop it around just about anything to keep them handy and not misplace the cap.



Digital cameras make having them around pretty uncommon these days but the folks must still be running the injection molding machines because they are cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/AKIRO-Canist...rds=35mm+film+canisters&qid=1676293197&sr=8-4

Shove them into a pocket by themselves on your range bag and they don’t stay clean for long. Loop the string attached to the container and lid around the strap anchor on my range bag and they stay clean and I don’t have to go digging for them when I get there, same with sunscreen.

 

[trackskippy]

Thanks for the link. Ive used those for the same purpose for a long time. Sold my last Canon SLR off decades ago, and with it, the reason and source of the canisters.

Work for other gun related thigs too.

 

[lysanderxiii]

You guys are both right, but talking past each other.

Lysanderxii saying is that the NRR of different types of plugs varies so much that there are SOME plugs (with very low NRR figures) that when combined with muffs, will have a lower combined NRR than OTHER plugs (with very high NRR figures) when combined with the same muffs.

e.g.
NRR 22 plugs plus NRR 22 muffs could provide less protection than NRR 33 plugs plus those same NRR 22 muffs.

You are correct that when you add a given set of muffs to a given type of plugs, the resulting combined protection will always be higher than if those muffs or those plugs were used by themselves.

Actually, NRR 22 plugs and 22 NRR muff are less effective that just NRR 33 plugs.

Doubling adds 5 to the highest rating. 22 + 5 = 27 < 33

The rating does matter.

 

[rust collector]

The ratings are not without controversy. They vary depending upon the frequency of the offending din, are based upon presumptions that are not verified, and there are different systems for rating ear protection. If we can agree that higher noise reduction rating and multiple barriers are better, perhaps we can choke this gnat down and get on with discussing different uses for these little nerf bullet. I can't wait.

 

[lysanderxiii]

The point I'm trying to make is some ear plugs are pretty bad at stopping damaging noise, however you want to rate them. Just because you put muffs over crappy ear plugs does not necessarily means the combination is better than a good set of ear plugs.

Get good well fitting ear plugs (the yellow foamys are actually very good if worn properly), and wear over-ear protection as extra protection.

Oh, and as to the rating - it's just a number, it does not necessarily equate to db reduction. But, it does tell you what is better in a relative sense, in that the higher the number the better the protection.

 

[dogtown tom]

The ratings are not without controversy. ....

No doubt.
If you want controversy about sound reduction visit a silencer forum. You'll find in pretty short order that testing protocols aren't standardized across the industry, not all equipment can accurately measure a gunshot nor is the point of measurement (shooters ear, muzzle, downrange).

Most commercial sound meters are great at measuring decibels of a workplace such as a machine shop or crowd noise at a rock concert or indoor sporting event.
Only a very few, very expensive sound meters can accurately measure the rise time and duration of a gunshot. Your cell phone app isn't one of them.

In short, measuring sound at the shooters ear with a sound meter used for jet engines or concerts isn't the least bit valuable. In fact it may give a false sense of safety.

 

[daniel craig]

I've repurposed the foam for other things but still keep them at a 1 time use thing.

 

[CapnMac]

I can loop it around just about anything to keep them handy and not misplace the cap.

Digital cameras make having them around pretty uncommon these days but the folks must still be running the injection molding machines because they are cheap.

Back in olden times, when Surplus Stores still were common, you could get these fr cheap:

They were like US$1-1.50 with the unused Medium vinyl plugs {with an NRR around 9 [the ones in the picture are the 3m lawsuit ones]).
Back in the 80s, you couldn't be "high speed" unless you had the case looped through the 2n buttonhole of your BDU blouse.

In the 70s, the case looked like this (not that anyone used them much):

Not water resistant, and like to fall off you uniform on opening.

 

[jmorris]

That last one is what gave me the idea.

 

[PWC]

In the 70s, the case looked like this (not that anyone used them much):
View attachment 1133734
Not water resistant, and like to fall off you uniform on opening.

Still gpt'm...goes thru neck button hole. Refill with yellow EAR's. Water proof from rain; never had occasion to hold them under water.

 

[tws3b2]

I bought a six pack of plugs back in uh uh uh. Years ago. Still using them. Just drop them back in my bag. They'll stay there forever.
Wha -whaed you say??

 

[herrwalther]

[the ones in the picture are the 3m lawsuit ones]).

Incorrect. The faulty ear plugs provided to the military by 3M were the double sided Combat Arms ear plugs. The yellow side had a small hole in the end allowing some noise to enter, like voices. While the other had more sound isolation. Both sides did not provide the advertised NRR rating and caused hearing damage to military members. I still have mine and will never throw them away. Just in case I need to "prove" my hearing was damaged by them, which it was.

https://www.consumernotice.org/drugs-and-devices/3m-combat-arms-earplugs/

I had the blue ones in the little case, but lost them on a flight line somewhere between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan.

 

[scott511]

Incorrect. The faulty ear plugs provided to the military by 3M were the double sided Combat Arms ear plugs. The yellow side had a small hole in the end allowing some noise to enter, like voices. While the other had more sound isolation. Both sides did not provide the advertised NRR rating and caused hearing damage to military members. I still have mine and will never throw them away. Just in case I need to "prove" my hearing was damaged by them, which it was.



https://www.consumernotice.org/drugs-and-devices/3m-combat-arms-earplugs/



I had the blue ones in the little case, but lost them on a flight line somewhere between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan.

They weren't found during a FOD walk?

 

[daniel craig]

Incorrect. The faulty ear plugs provided to the military by 3M were the double sided Combat Arms ear plugs. The yellow side had a small hole in the end allowing some noise to enter, like voices. While the other had more sound isolation. Both sides did not provide the advertised NRR rating and caused hearing damage to military members. I still have mine and will never throw them away. Just in case I need to "prove" my hearing was damaged by them, which it was.

https://www.consumernotice.org/drugs-and-devices/3m-combat-arms-earplugs/

I had the blue ones in the little case, but lost them on a flight line somewhere between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan.

I got issued these and loved them. Too bad I lost them.

 

[rust collector]

Just for general information, a link to the plugs that were involved in the settlement with 3M: https://www.drugwatch.com/3m-combat-arms-earplugs/ Out of production, but not necessarily eliminated from various resellers.

Here is a link to the combat arms earplugs shown above: https://brigadeqm.com/3mtm-combat-armstm-earplug-cae-foliage-green-1

 

[EMC45]

These were issued to us in the Seabees when you got to battalion. It would fasten to your belt loop to the left of your belt buckle. Inspection item. You also would get fitted with ear plugs at the audio cliinc. I was in 96-01


The Army folks we worked/trained with had the square box holder and they put it on the shirt (blouse) lapel through the buttn hole.

 

[hso]

Industry testing standards tests are performed by the manufacturer or the manufacturer contracts a testing lab...or they fake it. That's why it is so important to purchase hearing protection equipment from the large hearing pro manufacturers since they get audited from time to time by large users.

https://blog.ansi.org/2017/08/measuring-noise-reduction-hearing-protective-ansi-epa/#gref

https://webstore.ansi.org/standards...97.1080439049.1676503814-623805589.1676503813
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/part-211/subpart-B
http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/m...Revisions to Hearing Protection Standard - EN​

 

[ExtremeSquared]

You can get a bag full of silicone plugs on aliexpress for fairly cheap. They probably don't give you cancer. I usually bring some to give away.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

You can wash the foam ear plugs in the washer with your other clothes.

If you do, I recommend getting one of those zip-up wash bags that women use for panty hose and stockings. Keeps them all together, for one. You can get them at Walmart or Target, and often come in a pack of different sizes.

Like anything else, if you notice they're degrading over several washings, start tossing them.

Use detergent and no bleach. Toss the bag on top of the dryer and leave them to air dry when they're done. A hot dryer may further shorten their lifespan.