Dust collection questions

makenchips · #1 12-27-2005, 04:46 PM

I was fortunate enough to recieve a power carver for Christmas and have some concerns about dust collection.

My workshop is very small and in the house. I am very concerned about using a power carver in the house as I have tried using a dremel in the past and was cleaning up forever after the fine dust that was created. I do not have an external garage or workshop where I could set up shop with the big dust collection systems. Any ideas? Any good small dust collection units that someone can recommend that captures all the dust? I have limited space and my wife is very allergic to small particulates. I have seen a couple units such as the one with the lapboard and a bag and the tabletop unit but wanted to know how really good they are for the price and do they really work at getting all the dust or just some?

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 12-27-2005, 04:56 PM

I think if your wife is very allegeric, you are going to have to make other arrangements! How about one of those small storage buildings in back and use it for a carving area? Simple enough to put an exhaust fan and a small filter in it....and you have your own work space without having to put everything up and take it out again when you carve.....that way you can have a messy shop like the rest of us LOL

Kenny_S · #3 12-27-2005, 06:14 PM

I hae the bench top dual fans from grizzly www.grizzly.com. But it only filters about 95% . I even put another filter on the back but it doesn't get it all. I like it but with your wife being that allergic to dust, I would find a way to carve else where.

decoycarve · #4 12-27-2005, 06:16 PM

First off you will never get all the dust. The lap dust collector is a pretty good unit. You will need it to filter down to 5 microns. Its the dust that you cant see that is the worst for you. I have about $1200 worth of dust collection equipment in my shop and still have a lot of dust. There was a thread about respirators a while back ago that was pretty good. Do a search on dust and quite a bit will come up.
Goody

rick-in-seattle · #5 12-27-2005, 08:43 PM

You could return it and buy hand carving tools.
I haven't found anyone allergic to breathing woodchips.

squbrigg · #6 12-27-2005, 09:10 PM

I don't have the final answer regarding dust, I don't think anyone has come up with a perfect filtering unit yet, for a reasonable price. I just invested in a Razortip dust filter and find it works well. It doesn't get all the dust, but a heck of a lot more effective than no filter at all, and a lot better than just cleaning up afterwards with a shop vac. Perhaps one of those big industrial hoods for above fat fryers or steam cooking vats would work, suck all the dust out and blow it to the neighbours yard!

Bob

Paul_Guraedy · #7 12-28-2005, 07:32 AM

I agree totally with Goody! You will never get all of the dust. I have taken over our sun porch for my carving area. Except for relief, almost every piece I carve has some power work on it. I sometimes use a full face mask (depending on wood type) that pulls air in from above and blows it across the face. But, this protects me only and would not work for your wife (I know I could never convince my wife to wear one in the rest of the house).

I have one of the "desk top" type filtration units with three fans. Depending on the type of burr being used, this unit will stop from nearly all to most of the particulates. But, if using a fine bit or sanding drum, I find a fine patina over everything on the porch after doing a lot of sanding.

What I have tried that is working reasonably well, is to shut the door to the rest of the house (this area does not share HVAC) while I am using power. When I am through with the power tools, I wait a few minutes and then go over the room with my shop vacuum.

Now, this appears to be working. My wife did ask me to go outside, around the house, and back in the front door rather than opening the adjoining door when I was sanding some cedar. Then asked me to limit my trips for coffee. She said there was more dust clinging to me than there was in the room. But, then she says that also applies to wood chips. They have some sort of magnetic attraction to carvers!

Seriously, I have a son who had some pretty bad allergies when young (still has a few in his 30's). A few of these involved airborne particulates. If he lived at home, I would follow Rick's advice and forego power carving! Your only hope is to have a detached area for this activity.

Maybe you could save up your power carving pieces and do them in the summer. Just for the pleasure of being outside, I move my power tools onto an open porch during the warm weather. Caution: if you have humidity that even resembles Arkansas, don't leave your gouges, knives, etc. out there overnight.

makenchips · #8 12-28-2005, 08:59 PM

Thanks Paul, for your response. I feel somewhat better with your answer. I will just work in the attached garage once I clean it out and seal up everything that is stored there from dust as best I can, just wish the furnace was not in there. It seems to me it might suck up some of the dust if it comes on. I will have to look into either the desk model dust collecter like the one you have or the lap type unit. I was just trying to see what other people are doing to limit the dust. Sending the unit back is not an option. My wife and I agreed.

What type of respirator are you using?

Donna_T · #9 12-28-2005, 10:50 PM

One additional suggestion:
Like you, I don't have a shop. When using power, I go out in the attached garage where I have a 4 ft. shop bench in front of a window. I put my dust box on it, but I also have a small 12" box window fan that I put on exhaust right behind it--blowing right out the window. This combination helps get even more dust out of the garage. I still use a good respirator.

If the weather is really good outside, I have a cup hook just outside the garage back door and I hang my Foredom there and get some of the "hogging" done outside where the wind can keep some of the dust moving away from me. I still use the respirator.

If you're getting a dust box, get one with more than one fan if you can. The more fans, to a degree, the more dust it pulls out of the air. I've never been able to use power in the house--just not practical and I certainly don't want the dust all over and in everything. It's kinda like plaster dust.

Donna T

Paul_Guraedy · #10 12-29-2005, 08:06 AM

I have not been using a respirator. Having a beard has presented a problem with masks for dust protection. Years ago I purchased a Racal Airlite which is a full face mask that brings in air from overhead, filters it, and keeps positive pressure around your face (no dust in the eyes). Does a good job as far as dust is concerned; but, does nothing for fumes. I guess this is why they discontinued it. Mine is still working; but, will have to go in the garbage when it quits on me.

I would like to hear from any of you bearded types as to what you are using that is light, comfortable and makes a good seal. I need to find a replacement before my Racal gives up the ghost.