Respirators & Air Filtration

[curiousgeorge]

Dusty,
IMHO, if your shop is more or less open air all the time, all you need to add is a good exhaust fan to draw the dust away as well as keep you cooler. I figure if a DC isn't filtering to at least .5 micron or less they are only chip collectors, not dust collectors. A .5 micron DC is a good start towards clean shop air but you need to go one step further with an air filtration system of .1 microns or less to really protect your lungs. My reasoning being that it's hard to hook up a DC to a ros or other small dust producing tools and a shop vac (unless hepa filtered) just doesn't cut it for filtration.

Just my opinion and I'm sticking to it. :D

[charlese]

Hi Joe (seajay), I noticed you joined the Forum a couple of months after some good discussions about using Shop Vacs for dust collection. Here is one of the threads discussing that issue. http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=1750

Recommend you read all three pages of it. Chris (crispitude) has done a bit of research into how to improve dust collection using a shop vacuum. I think you have to use the blower capabilities of the vac. Chris would know! What I know is, - if you use a shop vac suction side, the filter quickly gets plugged up Air movement slows dramatically and the machine blows out most, if not all of the dust back into the air.

[charlese]

I work under cover in a very open space. I have a 20' overhead door on one side and three open windows on another side.

Will all of these solutions that are being discussed here work equally well in my wide open shop or are they designed more to handle the air in a closed area like a basement shop?

I have a DC3300 and I use it constantly but I am not certain that it is really doing anything to further improve my air quality. Can it be better than the open air in any specific locale?:confused:

Good questions, Dusty!

First one - I think a floor fan with a furnace filter, might help clean your air a bit. You can try it, and if it catches more dust/dirt than sawdust , you might be having a problem with open windows and door, more than sawdust. You might have a conundrum between open windows/door or closed and an A/C/

Second one - Open air in my locale is real good on some days it can't be improved. On other days it is real bad. I suppose it is similar to your area. What do you call those dust storms over there? A Haboob?

[regnar]

The clearview cyclone for a rigid shop vac is exactly what I will be making. According to Bill's sites and plans you could build it for around 40 dollars give and take a few.

If you read through this page http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/CyclonePlan.cfm you will understand how to use the Spread Sheet under L for the sheet metal layout. Now I have already done most of the planning and what it comes down to is a 6" and 3" ac duct line along with a small sheet of metal for the cone. I will post my results in a few weeks but I have a feeling it will be the same as the clearviews just you cant watch it go down into the bucket. Here is the link for the Spreadsheet plan http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/CycloneSpreadsheetAC080120.xls

[john]

As can be seen by the previous posts, we use a variety of dust protection devices. Besides a dust collector, the least anyone should use is a low cost dust mask. I use ones with an exhale valve that allows me to breath without fogging up my glasses.

I have a bigger, better one, but rarely use it.:o

Just my $0.02

John

[dusty]

regnar,

Are you by chance a Ranger from the 75th?

[timster68]

I asked Doctor who was treating my allergies what would be good in the shop when working with Cedar since that is supposed to be fairly toxic. He stated 2 simple box fans - one in a window blowing out and another blowing toward the window. Not exactly what I was hoping for but an interesting answer nonetheless.

[regnar]

I use to be...... Now I am a Coastie. It allows me to spend more time with my family and my wife doesnt worry about phone calls or a set of Bravos coming to the door.