Synopsis: Charles W. Calmbacher, an environmental, health, and safety consultant and woodworker, explains the benefits of wearing dust protection. You’ll learn why wood dust can be harmful. Calmbacher says disposable masks have improved, and he demonstrates the proper, and improper, ways to wear a mask. Air-purifying cartridge respirators come in three styles, and he says that powered air-purifying respirators are comfortable. It’s important to pick the right filter for the right job, and they are made for a variety of applications. Calmbacher also decodes the standards abbreviations on respirators and explains what they mean.

From Fine Woodworking #127

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Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor

The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.

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Rockler Dust Right 650 CFM

While all five of the smaller units will collect chips efficiently when deployed properly, the 3/4-hp Rockler was just a bit more powerful in our suction test.

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Shop Fox W1826

The thick, felted bag on this Shop Fox is a plus and a minus. On one hand, it makes the unit much less expensive than collectors with canister filters, and also lighter and easier to hang on the wall. Without a separate plastic bag to catch chips, however, they stay in the felt bag, and the shortish zipper on the bottom makes it tough to shake them out. Otherwise, the W1826 is an excellent value.

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