How to Build Your Own Acoustic Panels

Today I will show you how I am making the

acoustic

panels

that I am going to place in my recording space. Here these are the materials I use for everything I list in the description. They will make two frames, you may need more. adjust as needed let's make a panel the first step is the tools we're going to need a ruler of some kind you can use a power saw but I prefer to use this hand saw for most of my cuts drill a small drill bit to make the pilot holes a screwdriver or a screwdriver bit for the drill a tape measure of course and these sawhorses which have been brilliant for me some gloves for working with the insulation.

I have this electric sander, but sandpaper would work fine on its own. a staple gun and some staples. Next, the actual materials for the

panels

to make a panel. I bought two eight-foot pieces of a common one-by-four, just cheap, light wood. I'll cut them into the frame pieces. There will be two 47 inch pieces for the sides. and two 24 and a half inch pieces for the top and bottom. I also purchased a 10 foot, one inch by three inch board that will be cut into pieces for the back support and the four corners of each panel for the backing.

I used some breathable weed barrier fabric a box of number six deck and fence screws measuring one and five eighths inch long rocks all are rock wool safe and sound insulation these are 2 foot by 4 foot bats 8 They come in a package and to cover the panels I used burlap from a local fabric store and bought enough to make several panels and you can see that it is very breathable allowing sound to travel through the insulation. Okay, let's put together a panel. I'll start by creating the basic framework. take one of the 8 foot 1 by four and measure up to 47 inches and make a mark then on that same piece of wood measure 24 and a half more inches to make another mark and what will be left will be the other 24 and a half inches that you will need to the top and bottom, repeat these measurements with a second 1 by 4 to complete one frame and if you are

build

ing two frames, cut a 1 by 4 into 2 more 47 inch pieces, take the 10 foot 1 by 3 and mark 23 inches twice to make two back pieces, then make marks every 9 inches so you have enough corner pieces to make 2 frames, then make the cuts and now you have the pieces for the printer, then take the 24 and a half inch pieces and make mark 1 centimeter from the cut sides and 2 centimeters from the other sides.

Drill pilot holes at each of those points, then line up the top and bottom pieces with the side pieces and drill the pilot holes you just made to create a perfect design. lined up pilot hole in the side pieces, then drive the screws into the four corners of the frame. Now you have a sturdy basic frame with countersunk screws, no glue needed, then take the corner pieces, cut the ends at 45 degree angles and attach them to the frame by drilling pilot holes and then inserting a screw in the middle of each side, then put the back piece back on, drilling pilot holes, then inserting the screws and

your

frame is complete, then grab some gloves and drop one of the two by four insulation pieces on the right. on the frame, turn the frame over, place a piece of backing to cover the frame and cut and staple the backing placing a staple every two inches for a snug fit and trim any excess, then attach a piece of burlap or whatever. material you are using to cover

your

panels and make sure you have enough material to wrap the ends leaving a couple of inches of overlap to work with, then cut the cover to attach the cover, start at one of the ends of your panel and overlap the first . side and staple in the middle and each corner go to the opposite side, tighten and do the same, then go to each side of your panel and repeat the same process, always remembering to tighten while stabilizing, flip the panel over and make sure you have a good fit tight, turn it over again and start working inserting a staple about every inch until you have gone all the way around the panel for the corners, grab the excess material, pull hard and bend to create a 45 degree angle and pull.

That over the top and bottom corners creates a clean, tight corner, staple down and trim the excess at the back to create some space between the panel and the wall. I used quarter inch bottle corks, simply drilling a hole in the middle and corner of the frame and with that you have a beautiful

acoustic

panel. They hang them on the wall. I used a lag screw to go directly into a stud and then another long screw into a wall anchor so I could space them out as much as possible. Since you needed them a couple of inches from the wall, I drilled a couple of rough holes in the back for the screws and then put the panels in place.

I didn't list the screws in the parts section because you can attach them to the wall as you see fit and you will see once you have placed this on the wall that the cork plugs and the screws that were a little outside the wall created a space between the panel and the wall to create more space to Catch those reflections, that's how I made the acoustic panel I'm using here. Let's put them on the wall if you don't hear audio with any panels on the wall, but let's look at that and now we have a couple of panels on the.

To my ear it sounds like it's making some difference because there are panels right here in front of me so that should definitely help and the rest of this space still needs to be treated which means a lot more work for me but if you have any. There are questions left, it's all in the description, definitely check out the post on my website where I wrote the whole process and ask your questions in the comments. I'll see you next time.