Anyone ever tried lead?

[Parrotnut]

Hi all, (first post )

First of all: Thanks to you all for this great site.
I've been lurking here for a couple of days and I learned a lot about quieting and cooling computers.

While reading the forums I see all kind of materials for suspending HDD's and fans but, did anybody tried making a HDD bay, for example, out of lead?
This stuff is heavy and soft so I think it won't vibrate easy and transport the vibrations to the case, its quite easy to bend the way you like, and it's not making any sound of its own

Its just an idea I get while I was at work today and saw this stuff.

(hard for me to explain, because english is not my native language)

[qviri]

Pardon me for being ignorant, but isn't lead toxic? All these stories about Roman emperors spring to mind...

[QuietOC]

This stuff is heavy and soft so I think it won't vibrate easy and transport the vibrations to the case, its quite easy to bend the way you like, and it's not making any sound of its own

Its just an idea I get while I was at work today and saw this stuff.

(hard for me to explain, because english is not my native language)

Lead doesn't actually transfer heat all that well (which is actually convenient when soldering with it.) And besides being somewhat soft and very heavy, it probably isn't the greatest at sound deadening.

[Qwertyiopisme]

Lead as vibration-damping if a harddisk is screwed into it will not help much, that it is soft and can be bent by hand does not make it absorb sounds (the steel used in cheap cases can be nearly as soft if properly treated). You could probably use it as mass dampening though, if you have some gummy form of adhesive between the lead and the case that will convert the vibrations to heat.

However for practical reasons you can just as well use steel or vinyl. That will also be cheaper and less toxic (although as far as I know it is only toxic when ingested in some form, such as touching lead and later on touching ones mouth.

[Mr Evil]

Pardon me for being ignorant, but isn't lead toxic? All these stories about Roman emperors spring to mind...

It is very toxic, but it's not so bad if you take care handling it, e.g. Don't handle it too much and wash your hands afterwards; don't use it near food; don't breath in lead dust if you're cutting it; don't let children have it!

There are alternatives if safety is a worry, such as this heavy sheet... stuff. I don't know if it's any good or not.

[Parrotnut]

Thanks for the replys,

I have to admit that I never thought about the toxic

Well, it was just an idea I had

[Howard]

Bismuth is safe and is almost as dense.

[m0002a]

Lead makes an excellent sound barrier, although by itself is not a particularly good sound absorber.

Several companies are now making lead lined sheetrock for residential or commercial construction to provide a superior noise barrier. Here is one such company:
http://www.maycoindustries.com/sheetrock.htm

If used properly, and out of reach of children or pets, then it should be safe.

[jaganath]

Bismuth is safe and is almost as dense.

And where exactly does one obtain non-trivial amounts of bismuth? For some reason they seem to have run out at my local convenience store.


Lead is fine to use in the mass method of sound reduction, ie more mass = more sound reduction. However it's not particularly good at isolating vibration, where a material like closed-cell foam is more appropriate.

And frankly, if you're having to look at extreme solutions like wrapping your PC in lead you need to re-examine your choice of components.

[mkygod]

I don't think lead is a good idea unless:

1. you live near a nuclear power plant or toxic radioactive dump
2. think that the aliens are downloading porn from your computer
3. you are Lex luthor and trying to spring a trap on Superman.

[Erssa]

I don't think lead is a good idea unless:

1. you live near a nuclear power plant or toxic radioactive dump
2. think that the aliens are downloading porn from your computer
3. you are Lex luthor and trying to spring a trap on Superman.

These were the first things that came to my mind also.

[stupid]

Thanks for the replys,

I have to admit that I never thought about the toxic

Well, it was just an idea I had

Lead only toxic if inhaled or injested. As long you don't intend to lick the lead block you should be fine.

Yes, lead paint has been banned for a long time because of the danger to children, but only when they eat the paint chips.

[GOATMAN!!!]

Actually lead can also be absorbed through the pores in your skin. However this is usually only the case if you wash your hands with hot water. After touching lead, allways wash your hands with cold water and soap.

For bizmuth, try a shooting supplies store. Bizmuth is used by shotgun hunters these days in place of lead which in (at least here in Australia) is illegal to hunt with.