General Woodworking

[Joe Blade]

I'd be interested in hearing some discussion how you deal with dust and whether or not you have concerns about it.  My ploblem is with dust that can't be captured.  I have a DC connected to my stationary machines and an overhead air cleaner (which I admit I seldom use because it sounds like a freight train).  I do a lot of contour sanding using a pneumatic drum.  I also frequently "carve" using a 36 grit right angle sander and finish sand using a flexible shaft and small pneumatic drums.  All of these tools whip up a dust storm.  I've tried paper masks but they fog my glasses and are very uncomfortable.  Cartridge masks are not much better.  I have a Trend apparatus which flows filtered air across your face behind a face shield.  The plexiglas shield distorts vision and quickly collects a layer of dust further obscuring vision.  Has anyone found a mask or apparatus they can tolerate for extended periods?  Is anyone concerned about the health issues?  I don't want to spend whatever time I have left tethered to an O2 tank.  Joe

[Jon439]

First, stop thinking woodworking, and start thinking "Centers for Disease Control." In the bio labs the workers have the hazardous materials behind glass that they reach under while working. The air flows away from the worker and towards a vacuum. Basically it's a lighted table top booth connected to a dust collector. Depending on the size of your projects you could probably make one out of 1/4" plywood and a piece of 1/8" plexiglas. Adjust the size of the opening where you stick your arms to maximize air flow away from you.

[Beaver Creek Woodworks]

What about a downdraft sanding table? That maybe even what Jon is suggesting.  I had a under powered one in my old shop, and have plans for a much larger one in my new one.  My plan is to build a cabinet with a furnace blower mounted in it.  The top will be 1/4" peg board or something similar.  Theory is the dust will be pulled down and away instead of becoming airborne.

---

Basically it's a lighted table top booth connected to a dust collector.

[MSWOODcraft]

Being a guy with both facial hair and glasses, breathing apparatus always cause issues.  Especially with evacuating air behind my glasses and fogging them up.

Except.... I found a dust mask that's not only comfortable but it works with my goatee and does not evacuate air behind my glasses.   And it doesn't cost an arm and a leg, either.

LEE VALLEY DUST MASK

I've been using this thing for about six months and can report that I'm a very happy camper.     Granted, you sound like Darth Vader when you wear it, due to the flap gasket (Luke... I AM your father......).  And that can be fun when nobody's looking, too.

It's no subsitute whatsoever for a charcoal respirator, so don't rely on it if you're spraying.  This thing's just for airborn dust.

[nortana]

I agree with beaver creek. I have a down draft table with a mid size furnace blower. I used 3/4" particle board with 5/16" holes drilled about 1" apart on a work surface about 20"x30" with 2 sets of 3 furnace filters just below the drilled grate. It works great.

I have a dust particulate monitor and with the air this thing sucks in and blows out, my shop air is cleaned  constantly. And when I'm sanding on it...........sanding dust don't stand a chance. It goes straight down into the filters.

[Allan Johanson]

A downdraft table is a fantastic solution to taming dust problems in a shop, but it may not do much when you bring out a right angle grinder and go at it.  The enclosed cabinet in the first response would be great here.  Or go outside....

Cheers,

[JL North GA]

I have a 3M half face respirator that I use for finishing on occasion.  I have found that it works quite well when I'm using my angle grinder with 24 and 36 grit sandpaper to grind seats.

The downdraft table and dust hood also would work very nicely.  I used to use fume hoods in dealing with hazardous chemicals all of the time.  I could see a real benefit in building a small one.  Here are examples of the one's that are used in laboratories.  http://www.fishersci.com/wps/portal/SEARCHRESULTS?top=Scientific_Hoods+and+Enclosures_Fume+Hoods&?ca...

[handyman john]

I'd like to add this, a sanding booth (suggested above) is a great idea but instead of using a "window" use those soft plastic flaps like you'd see in a warehouse. They are stiff enough to CLOSE and flexible enough to allow access. Its more like a sand-blasting booth/box and the only trick is to get air flow from BEHIND YOU to control the dust.

I used to control dust in a basement shop by placing the planer in from of a window with a box fan blowing OUT and I'd open the window opposite me to bring fresh air IN from the back. Didn't have a lot of dust to contend with using that system. I don't know how the neighbors felt about the dust but they were well over 100 yards away and I never heard a complaint.

[Joe Blade]

Thanks for all the good suggestions.  I am going to begin by trying Matt's Lee Valley mask.  Joe

[jandsjacobson99]

I would seriously consider trying to modify your tool for some amount of dust collection.  Look at where the majority of the dust is coming off of the tool and create a dust shroud that you can hook up to your vacuum.  You may find that the majority of the time you use your tool a certain way that would allow this, and the rest of the time you could remove it. 

Downdraft table would also be essential.  You can build a dedicated one from a furnace blower, or hook it up to your dust collector if it's big enough. 

I would not just continue on without dealing with the issue (which it sounds like you are not doing).  The possibility that it will cause health problems down the road is just too great.