Garage shop air filtration recommendations

[juststartingout]

Thanks for all the replies folks!

 

[Birdhunter]

I rely on dust collection at the point of origin more than trying to clear it out of the air.

All my Festool products excel in dust collection when attached to a really good vac.

My large machines are all hooked to two 2HP cyclone dust collectors.

If I were working in a garage, I'd find a way to put the cyclone units outside the garage, but shielded from the weather. I'd also install a strong exhaust fan to pull contaminated air out of the garage.

Even with all the dust collection, I wear a mask when working with some woods because of their reputation as causing serious health problems.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Anyone have the shop fox version?

 

[Hunter]

It is well reviewed but I went with the comparable JET because it used standard filter sizes which meant that I could get replacements more easily and upgrade to higher quality filters if I decided to later...

 

[Gary in Texas]

I have two of those listed above, the Jet and JDS (Air-TechHP) with them set up to circulate the air.  I've had the Jet going on 10 years, and recently the board on it malfunctioned and as a result, only has low speed, which is still plenty.  The Jet, to me, is a slight bit quiter than the JDS at all three speeds.  I don't think it makes much difference which brand you buy, as long as you have something to help clean the air in your workshop.

 

[gstuartw]

I was all set to go with a air cleaner but after reading discussions on several sites decided to go collecting at the source. Though I'm spending a lot more money I believe I'm doing what's right for my lungs. This was important enough of a decision that I used the money intended for a mini-split hvac system for the dust collection.

I'm about to start installing my equipment in my nearly completed shop and first install is a Clearvue 1800 cyclone dust collector. 5 hp motor spinning a 16" impeller to pull through 6" ducts all the way to each stationary machine where it will reduce to 4". For hand held (Festool) and Kapex I'll be using my CT36. I'll have the option of venting directly outdoors or into a closet contained set of filters.

 

[grbmds]

Dust collection at the source is definitely a very significant part of dust collection. I would suggest that you consider, in the the future, even a lower priced air cleaner to hang from the ceiling or, as others have suggested, even a fan with a good filter bag secured. There is still dust which escapes when using a dust collector. Unfortunately, it sometimes is the finest dust which escapes and is unnoticed. That is the dust which does the most harm. In my workshop I collect at the source with an older cyclone collector for my planer and jointer (which produce larger chips) and a Festool or Fein vac (with HEPA filters) for smaller tools like the router, sander, Domino, and I have a ceiling mounted air cleaner on a timed switch which I run during and after the period I'm in the shop working. I usually even wear a dust mask of some sort, especially for sanding (but other things also). I know that all sounds like overkill, but the dust you can't see is the dust that causes the most harm. I feel it's important to collect all of it that I can and, using what I've described, I don't find much dust anywhere in the shop after working.

 

[Hunter]

Everything I've read leads me to agree.  I have good DC (cyclonic and filtered), but I also have an air cleaner and wear a mask when making dust and/or spray.  I've personally known and also read about too many people not able to enjoy the later parts of their life due to dust (rock, wood, dirt, mining, whatever) exposure not to.

Even with good DC and good practices you will walk into a shop and "smell that nice wood smell".  It took a bit but I've come around to realize that nice smell is really the sign of a problem, if you can smell it then you are breathing in the particles.  Run a good air cleaner for a couple hours and the air smells and "feels" lighter and cleaner... and that's a good thing.  Mark Spagnolo (Wood Whisperer) did a good show on DC talking about just this, and Bill Pentz pretty much wrote the book on it (http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/).

Good luck,
  Hunter

 

[jacko9]

I rely on dust collection at the point of origin more than trying to clear it out of the air.

All my Festool products excel in dust collection when attached to a really good vac.

My large machines are all hooked to two 2HP cyclone dust collectors.

If I were working in a garage, I'd find a way to put the cyclone units outside the garage, but shielded from the weather. I'd also install a strong exhaust fan to pull contaminated air out of the garage.

Even with all the dust collection, I wear a mask when working with some woods because of their reputation as causing serious health problems.

+1

I agree with collecting the dust at the point of origin as the most efficient solution.

Jack

 

[Jonhilgen]

Well, I broke down and got the Shop Fox one because of its size, it is small enough to now take up a permanent spot in my backseat.  I'm doing a large closet install (in a small room!) so I'll try to provide some feedback as to how it works.

Like using festool, this raised some eyebrows on site, and the homeowners really appreciated me running it.

Jon