Hello

I am planning on making some acoustic panels however, I am challenging myself to build them for under £150

There are going to be three 1200mm x 600mm x 50mm panels and two 600mm x 600mm x 50mm panels

What fabric do you suggest using for the panels, I was going to use camira, however it took me way over my budget and what with being in lockdown in the UK I am not going out so having to take delivery fees into account.

Preferably something that is acoustically transparent, yet won't let any rock wool fibres out

 

Something porous, like rough linnen. It allows sound to pass through to actually get absorbed. Don't use standard cotton like you'd find on curtains, it reflects more high frequencies. This kind of linnen is btw also used by GIK acoustics.

 

Just looked on the Camira website and it says that it is 100% polypropylene, 220gsm

Should I just go buy some of that fabric?

 

I made Eight 2'x4' Panels. The material I used that was recommended by few local recording studios was Burlap. Not the most attractive but very effective.

 

Would 5m of camira be enough for three 1200mm x 600mm x 50mm panels and two 600mm x 600mm x 50mm panels

 

You should check this out :
How to Make High Performance Sound Absorption Panels for $5 - YouTube

 

camira is way too expensive lol. Don't waste your money, just because GIK uses it.

Any fabric where you can breath through (open weave) easy is good. My fabric was 3 euro per meter (1.50m wide). Trust me, there's a ton of fabrics out there that you can use. Go to a local market, put fabric in front of you mouth, blow through and feel with your hand on the other side if air passes trough easy.

Rockwool, cheap fabric with open weave, some wood and that's all you need.

 

Last edited: Jan 15, 2021

Would this stuff be ok or not? https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/680...=shop_home_feat_2&frs=1&variation0=1036053303

 

Ask the seller if it's an open weave or not, can air pass through easy?

This is still expensive tho.

 

Why don't you just use pure white or grey Basotect foam? You can stick it with strips to a custom made picture frame or passepartout.
They are acoustically transparent and except the foam the construction is very inexpensive and easy to build. Basotect is very stable, so you don't need to tighten anything using a staple gun and fabric.

Years ago I built mine exactly like this. 6 panels, 35 each, including everything.

 

Last edited: Jan 15, 2021

go to ikea and buy some open weave blanket throws, its actually cheaper than buying the same fabric.... https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/blankets-throws-20528/

 

Muslin at that budget