Weight and Vibration Question

[newbagger]

I have a question about weight and vibration. My drum is mounted to my garage wall studs (via 2x6 stringers). I put a 50 lb bag of sand on the drum, which worked very well at first, but after a few days the siding on the back side of the studs started vibrating against the studs. Somebody told me that 20 lbs was a better weight to use. So.........do you think 50 lbs is too much and that I would get less vibration with 20 lbs? I thought I'd get some opinions before I duct tape up another bag of sand. Thanks for any help with this.

[crapshoot]

I don't know what the optimal weight should be, but the question I have is, did the siding vibrate before you put the weight on? I assume from your description, that the situation is similar to many garages where the studs are exposed and you are saying that the exterior siding is vibrating against the studs holding up the platform. I'm not sure how the stringers are involved....if you get a chance, a pic would be great.

You may want to take the weight of and see if it still vibrates. If it still vibrates you probably have a loose spot between the siding or a loose stud. It's been a while since my physics and engineering classes, but assuming and 8' stud with a 24"-30" extension (platform) and 50 lbs. of weight might be creating a lot of torque/leverage that is exploiting a weakness in the structure at that point.

Like I said, I am just guestimating, but my inner experimenter says drop the weight to 20# and see if the same pattern surfaces. If it starts quiet and then starts vibrating, repeat the process with no weight. It's either a loose stud or you need to put in a couple of screws to secure the siding.

Was that long winded enough?

Need more coffee

[newbagger]

Weight and Vibration

Thanks Crapshoot. That is a very good reply to my question. The studs are exposed. I started out with a 17 lb bag of cat food. There was no vibration, but the sound of the bag hitting the drum was not a tight sound. When I changed to the 50 lb sandbag, it had the "tighter", more solid sound I was looking for, and there was no vibration at first. But a couple days later the rattling/vibration started.

I suspect you are right, that the extra weight is exploiting a weakness in the structure (siding not adequately secured to studs?). I'll try a lighter weight, and if that doesn't work, I'll try some screws through the siding and hope my wife doesn't notice them. Thanks again.

[Dutchman]

What you might try is mounting a piece of 3/4" plywood instead of the stringers . This will reinforce the area of the wall in question.

[newbagger]

Thanks, Dutchman. This gives me one more thing to try.

[Tim]

Somebody told me that 20 lbs was a better weight to use. So.........do you think 50 lbs is too much and that I would get less vibration with 20 lbs? I thought I'd get some opinions before I duct tape up another bag of sand. Thanks for any help with this.

I'm "construction challenged" so I can't comment on how you've got it connected to the wall, but I will say that in my experience more weight has always been better. My main platform has 80 Lbs on it, second platform has 50 lbs on it.

[newbagger]

Thanks for the input, Tim.