TomH
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2006
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After some experimentation and getting tired of ordering new foams for my IM716s, I settled on the following method for easily and quickly making new foams for the 716s and ER4P/S earphones.
1) Select a favorite foam earplug - I chose 3M 1100 for their durability and availability.
2) Cut to length and trim to desired shape - I cut to match the length of the stock foamies for the particular earphone.
3) Flatten the earplug lengthwise to make a uniform disc (aids in centering the needed hole)
4) Punch through the center with a brad or fine finishing nail, twisting to break the foam skin on the far side.
5) Slide the small end of a sharply pointed chopstick or similar tapered rod through behind the brad or nail, all the way through the earplug.
6) Repeat with the second earplug, and push both far enough onto the chopstick to expand the hole through the earplugs to about 2X the size of the tubing or core that you have already removed from a worn out or sacrificial pair of OEM foamies. Careful not to expand the earplugs so much they tear. The 3M plugs easily expand to about 1/4" without tearing.
7) Place the stretched earplugs on the chopstick into a freezer for a couple of hours or less (20-30 minutes has been sufficient). Just get them good and cold.
8) Remove the Chopstick with foamies from the freezer and within 3-5 minutes slide off the earplugs one at a time and place the tubing/cores inside the expanded hole, holding in place until the earplugs warm up and expand to capture the tubing/core and return to original shape.
No glue needed, no water needed. These polymers stiffen at low temperatures, which is what buys you enough time to slide them over the tubing/cores while they warm up. I've had perfect results with the IM716 cores. I'd characterize the fit, comfort and sound of the 3M based foamies as equal or superior to the OEM foamies, and much more durable.
And I found a good use for chopsticks with a fine point.
1) Select a favorite foam earplug - I chose 3M 1100 for their durability and availability.
2) Cut to length and trim to desired shape - I cut to match the length of the stock foamies for the particular earphone.
3) Flatten the earplug lengthwise to make a uniform disc (aids in centering the needed hole)
4) Punch through the center with a brad or fine finishing nail, twisting to break the foam skin on the far side.
5) Slide the small end of a sharply pointed chopstick or similar tapered rod through behind the brad or nail, all the way through the earplug.
6) Repeat with the second earplug, and push both far enough onto the chopstick to expand the hole through the earplugs to about 2X the size of the tubing or core that you have already removed from a worn out or sacrificial pair of OEM foamies. Careful not to expand the earplugs so much they tear. The 3M plugs easily expand to about 1/4" without tearing.
7) Place the stretched earplugs on the chopstick into a freezer for a couple of hours or less (20-30 minutes has been sufficient). Just get them good and cold.
8) Remove the Chopstick with foamies from the freezer and within 3-5 minutes slide off the earplugs one at a time and place the tubing/cores inside the expanded hole, holding in place until the earplugs warm up and expand to capture the tubing/core and return to original shape.
No glue needed, no water needed. These polymers stiffen at low temperatures, which is what buys you enough time to slide them over the tubing/cores while they warm up. I've had perfect results with the IM716 cores. I'd characterize the fit, comfort and sound of the 3M based foamies as equal or superior to the OEM foamies, and much more durable.
And I found a good use for chopsticks with a fine point.
