Dealing with Dust that the Sanders Don't Capture

[panelchat]

read Bill Pentz on the subject.

my small shop approach after reading his material is this:

you basically need HEPA level filtration all around:

festool extractor:
full unit sealed HEPA filtration (if you have an older unit, i think you might need to install a HEPA element. new ones come with it)

mask- this one or better- this one's easy to wear for hours:
http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogIdentifier=2&partNumber=422413&langid=-1&nAID=17588969&KPID=422413

ambient air filtration, choose the best filter element:
http://austinair.com/products/healthmate-series/
totally inappropriate for industrial use, but then again after festool filtration... you're not dealing with industrial dust levels anymore

Festool extractor/cleanup kit for all vacuuming/shop cleanup:
http://www.festoolproducts.com/Festool-497697-Compact-Cleaning-Set-in-T-Loc-Systa-p/497697.htm

the JDS type units are great but they don't have full unit HEPA filtration and actually keep superfine dust in the air longer, increasing the lung and sinus hazard (see B Pentz...)

you can go further by sanding outside, and eliminating open shelving and storage that collects any dust on horizontal surfaces. all dust will go onto work surfaces or the floor, to be HEPA vacuumed later. put everything in cabinets or drawers. Ikea comes in handy for this.

finally, neti pot style sinus irrigation.

This conclusion IS subjective, i have not used a dust meter. But the results have been very good, and all things considered, very cheap.

I might sound crazy but ive lost thousands of $$$ in med bills and time from sinus problems and don't even want to know how much damage I've done to the lungs!!

 

[promark747]

Is it better to hang an air cleaner from the ceiling or put it lower toward the ground?

 

[Sparktrician]

Is it better to hang an air cleaner from the ceiling or put it lower toward the ground?

Dust is circulating in free air before gravity carries it closer to the floor, so it seems that suspended might be the better option (and you're not tripping over it). 

 

[Stone Message]

Is it better to hang an air cleaner from the ceiling or put it lower toward the ground?

This may appear to beg the question as it were but one should strive to extract dust before it gets into the atmosphere. That is the principle reason why Festool have beaten the competition when it comes to dust extraction from their tools.

If there is unavoidable dust getting into the atmosphere then it needs to be dealt with as close to the source as possible. It may be that the dust high in the air has come from the blade of a saw at waist height or from a hand sanding operation on a bench top. A dust hood or downdraft table may be a better solution for these examples.

The motors of the various tools can make the problem worse because the fans in them cause dust to be disturbed and re-circulated.

Where there is no other way to keep dust out of the atmosphere then a workshop air filter is required. A (subjective) judgement needs to be made on its placement - take a look at the dust sources and the dust disturbers (like the fans mentioned above) and, if possible, try and visualise the main circulatory routes of the dust. Then place the filter machine in the path remembering that it is the human who needs to benefit from the clean air coming out not the cupboard in the far corner of the workshop! A bright light (or sunlight) can help you to see the movement of dust.

The guaranteed fool proof option in a dusty workshop is to wear a respirator. Every workshop should have at least one respirator as it is essential to wear one during workshop clean-ups. Regular clean-ups are important as it can get rid of the source of re-circulated dust.

Peter

 

[RKA]

Many thanks for all the thoughts.  Not surprisingly, this is probably something I should have thought out prior to buying the tools, but here we are.  I already purchased a ceiling mounted air filtration unit 6 months ago, so I may as well mount it and use it, but it's becoming clear, that will not be enough (assumes I'm using Festools and their dust extractors as well).  The notion of larger floor standing equipment is on hold for now.  That would require a chip collector which is likely to be a dust spreader/disturber as well.  Let's see if I can manage the dust from the hand held power tools first.  I'm going to get a handful of those disposable 3M masks with the vents.  I have some without the vents and hate them.  Hopefully the vented versions will be more comfortable for use.  These come in handy for general tasks around the house, even though I don't think will solve my woodworking dust concerns.  Lots of other good thoughts and ideas, many of which I will employ and see how it goes.