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Flexmaster vs JPL Acoustic Duct

post #1 of 19
4/5/10 at 11:27am
Thread Starter 
I can't find anyone local that carries the Flexmaster Acoustical ducting. I did find someone local that has a competitor's product - J P Lamborn Co.

JPL Acoustic Duct



I've read the datasheets but can't tell for sure if this is equivalent to the Flexmaster product. I had planned to go pick this up today.

Any ideas? Does this seem like an ok replacement?
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post #2 of 19
4/5/10 at 11:28am
Use it.
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post #3 of 19
4/5/10 at 11:32am
Thread Starter 
Wow - fast, easy, accurate. Bam! Thanks Ted. I think I just found the Easy Button.
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post #4 of 19
4/5/10 at 11:34am
An easy button... Hmmm...
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post #5 of 19
4/5/10 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
Does $4/ft sound right for 6" R8? I have no idea and don't want to get taken since I'm getting 175 ft.
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post #6 of 19
4/5/10 at 12:26pm
That sounds quite high
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post #7 of 19
4/5/10 at 12:56pm
The garden variety flex duct is more like $1 ft. $4 does sound high. If price is an issue I would use garden variety for ducts not entering and leaving the theater and save your money for upgrades on the ducts serving the theater area.
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post #8 of 19
4/5/10 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Ted and Big. I thought it sounded high but wasn't sure. The Flexmaster dealer in Denver doesn't sell the acoustical flex and referred me to this other company. The rep I'm dealing with is going to call for exact pricing as he hadn't sold this specific product before and he didn't trust what showed in their system.

Big - for the runs that don't enter the theater I would still like some attenuation so we don't get that room to room transfer via the ducts. This is just for voices, TVs, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Do you think the HD flex stuff would be enough in those cases? I was thinking that by inserting a section of flex the sound wouldn't get to the trunks and back out another run as easily. If I could save a bit there by going with the standard flex I'm sure I could find somewhere else to apply that money.
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post #9 of 19
4/5/10 at 1:32pm
Audixium, I bought two 25' cartons of the Flexmaster 6M from their local rep (who I found off of their site) last year mid April (time flies). They charged me $55 per 25' carton. He suggested that it would ship right from their TX plant.
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post #10 of 19
4/5/10 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotto View Post

Audixium, I bought two 25' cartons of the Flexmaster 6M from their local rep (who I found off of their site) last year mid April (time flies). They charged me $55 per 25' carton. He suggested that it would ship right from their TX plant.

At that price I'd get the whole 175 feet of Flexmaster. Do you remember how much the shipping was? I think I'm going to call back.
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post #11 of 19
4/5/10 at 1:40pm
Thread Starter 
And what thermal rating?

R4.2
R6
R8

And I assumed to replace a 6" diameter section I could just use 6" diameter Flex...is that right or do I need to upsize to 8"?
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post #12 of 19
4/5/10 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audixium View Post

At that price I'd get the whole 175 feet of Flexmaster. Do you remember how much the shipping was? I think I'm going to call back.

I looked at my email trail with the rep again and believe it or not, the price included shipping. I have my original .pdf invoice as well indicating 2x $55 plus tax.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audixium View Post

And what thermal rating?

R4.2
R6
R8

And I assumed to replace a 6" diameter section I could just use 6" diameter Flex...is that right or do I need to upsize to 8"?

I don't see that the thermal rating was specified as part of the order. Was probably R6 but that's just a guess. I don't recall even noticing that but may have and disregarded since I was stuffing insulation around it anyway.

I'm don't have a good suggestion on whether you should get 6 or 8 inch diameter but can tell you that you will restrict your airflow and you should weigh that vs. just keeping your rigid duct that is outside your HT. I was ignorant on that and regret replacing my rigid with the flex when I really didn't need to, for 3 runs that went across the HT running in the joist cavity ABOVE my DD/GG ceiling feeding the floor above. Something to think about vs. just running amok with it.
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post #13 of 19
4/6/10 at 6:11am
Yes, if the duct will feed the theater (supply or return), then flex is in order. If ducts are simply up in the ceiling joists and do not feed the theater, then no need to replace rigid with flex.

There are times when the use of flex (and the increased resistance) will require a small booster fan.
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post #14 of 19
4/6/10 at 6:31am
Thread Starter 
Ok, so it sounds like:

1) Flex only needed for runs entering/exiting the theater (and my studio room).
2) Existing rigid ducts don't need any sections replaced since they will be outside the "envelope".
3) R value isn't much of an issue - anything would be fine.
4) Something along the lines of $2.20/ft is a normal charge for 6" diameter including delivery.

Thanks guys - I think I'm set now. I'm just waiting to hear back from the local Flexmaster rep. Then I'll call the other guy back about the pricing for the JPL Acoustic Duct to compare.
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post #15 of 19
4/6/10 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
Just wanted to update this thread for future lurkers.

My guy called back about the JPL Acoustic Duct. He will sell 25ft bags to me for $35 each. Based on the replies here I decided not to change out any existing rigid ducting. So I went with 100ft (4 bags).

Even better was that the $35 rate was for their lowest R value rating (R4). My guy called back and said that the manufacturer's plant would have to actually make a batch based on my order and instead they would prefer to give me the R8 at the same price. He said it just has more insulation, increasing the external diameter.

I hope that the additional insulation might have some additional sound attenuation affect over the lowest R value product. Who knows if this will perform on par with Flexmaster. But since Ted says to use it I'm going to proceed.

Thanks everyone for chiming in!

-Erik
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post #16 of 19
4/6/10 at 12:55pm
Good news. Is he selling you direct or through a local outlet?
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post #17 of 19
4/6/10 at 1:04pm
Thread Starter 
The company I'm buying from direct is Hercules Industries (Roy). They are a supplier for HVAC contractors. They are buying the special order item (via P.O.) from a JPL manufacturing plant that happens to be in Denver. So I'll be able to pick it up at the plant.
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post #18 of 19
4/6/10 at 7:54pm
Sounds like a good deal on the JPL Did your Flexmaster guy ever get you a price...just curious.
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post #19 of 19
4/10/10 at 6:36am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotto View Post

Sounds like a good deal on the JPL Did your Flexmaster guy ever get you a price...just curious.

It seems like a good deal to me too. The Flexmaster guy never got back to me. Maybe they are used to gigantic orders and don't want gnats like me taking up precious air space.
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