I'm hoping to do my SS conversion in stages. Two questions for those who have gone before...

Last weekend I removed the front derailleur and have my chain on my middle ring. Although I could remove my small ring, I had to leave my big ring in place to allow for the chainring bolts to tighten properly.

Would a regular washer allow me to do away with my big ring?

I plan to do away with the rear derailleur one day soon and add spacers to get my rear wheel down to one cog. I must admit I'm concerned about the singulator (or knockoff) that I'll have to buy. My bike (Breezer Storm mtn bike) has vertical dropouts. One of the appeals for me of going SS is the quietness of the drivetrain.

Will the singulator make noise?