Replies

1. 
   MaxYak | Jul 13, 2007 05:45am | #1

   Fine wood dust + oxygen + spark can be explosive, at least in theory.  I don't know whether that's a real danger in practice.

       Mike

   To the man with a hammer, all the world is a nail.
2. 
   nikkiwood | Jul 13, 2007 07:11am | #2

   You will get nuisance shocks, but the static electricity generated is not enough to be dangerous -- either to you or as a fire hazard.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

3. 
   BruceS | Jul 13, 2007 04:19pm | #3

   I'll add to the shock hazard only.  The explosion hazard has been proven to be a myth.  Though like shop vacs, you can get get a good zap if conditions are just right.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

4. 
   forestgirl | Jul 13, 2007 05:56pm | #4

   Ditto to those who say "shock only."  My DC sits next to my bandsaw, which I lay my hand on before reaching for the DC (if the DC's been running).  Now that I have a remote switch for the DC, I don't have to worry about it much.  Well, except the hose that goes to the planer, which I seem to touch carelessly once in awhile.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   miller | Jul 13, 2007 07:18pm | #5

   That is sort of what I thought, but I wanted to make sure since I am new at this.  Thank you all for taking the time to respond.

5. 
   cowtown | Jan 30, 2008 10:19am | #6

   depends what you call a nuisance shock.

   Seems to me (not an expert) that the finer the dust, the greater the shock. I blew off the idea of accepting nuisance shocks when my shop vac generated enuf static discharge when sucking up MDF dust to blast through the sole of my shoes.

   Or there's my anecodatal story about bending over to move an (ungrounded) length of dust sucker hose and my face was the closest ground to all the really fine dust accummulated on the outside of the hose. My hand was resting on the grounded table saw. 3 hrs in emerg trying to flush the stuff out of my eyes.

   Ground the sucker.

   Just my perspective.

   Eric

6. 
   Mackwood | Jan 30, 2008 10:22pm | #7

   My DC system is built entirely from 4" plastic sewer pipe with plastic flex pipes going to the various machines.  I was told to run a copper wire INSIDE the pipes to prevent static build up but I ran it on the outside because I was lazy and couldn't see the difference.  It's just zip tied or duct taped to the plumbing every two feet or so and I used alligator clips where there needed to be a disconnect.  This seems to work great as I NEVER get a shock of any kind and the dust that collects on the outside of the "tubes" does not stick.  It may do nothing for all I know as I have never been without it.  This could easily be retro-fitted to almost any system if desired.

   I have heard that in DC systems under 10HP the "explosion factor'" is not really present in practice. 

   Regards,

   Mack

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, S--T IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"