Replies

1. 
   jackiechan | Apr 28, 2005 07:53am | #1

   Tom,

   Even though you have a small shop, a true dust collector for the machinery is highly recommended.  The small ones from Penn State Industries work very well and won't break the bank (http://www.pennstateindustries.com). 

   That being said - I would also recommend an ambient air scrubber to be used in conjunction with the dust collector.  I've posted my plans for building an air scrubber here on Knots in the past.http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=19259.1 A bonus is that you can build a powerful system for very little money (if you can scrounge the parts - you may only have to pay for the filters and pre-filter.)

   I have built a number of these units and are used daily in my shop.  Even with the high performance of these air scrubbers, they should be used only in conjunction with a proper dust collection set up, good ventilation, and a good respirator where appropriate. 

   If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! 

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 28, 2005 10:20am | #2

   I'll suggest if you have to make a choice for now, get the dust collector.  I got my JDS air filter first, because it came along "new in box" at less than $100 (auction), but it when it comes to table saw dust, the DC is what you need.

   What has helped the most with the contractors saw is an overhead dust guard (I bought one, but there are plans to make your own).  This enables you to suck the dust right off the blade before it gets propelled into the shop.  Collection at the bottom can be problematic, but with a DC and a little modification under and in back of the saw, you can get pretty good results.  BTW, it's not just your table saw that spews.

   As far as the filters go, you should be able to use regular heater filters.  My JDS air filter uses a slightly weird size, but I found one that was close, and made it fit.  The best of the Filtrete (3M) line claims to go down to 1micron with good effectiveness.  That's for your pre-filter.  I haven't seen any numbers on the bag filter that's inside the units.  The pre-filter should last a month or two pretty easily unless you're putting in more than hobby-time.  The bag filters are supposed to last 18 months or more.  They run ~$45 for my model.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   GRW | Apr 28, 2005 01:29pm | #3

   Tom,

   I have the Jet 1 micron system. It cost about $230. It has a prefilter and a fine 1 micron filter. Jet makes a washable prefilter that cost me $10 more than the regular disposable filter. My local retailer told me that no-one wants to tell you about the washable filter. They want to sell you a new filter every few months. By if you ask for the washable filter, they will order one for you. I'm happy with my unit after 3 years of use.(I've only had the washable filter a couple of months)

1. 
   Tomknixx | Apr 28, 2005 06:32pm | #4

   This advice is very helpful.  Thanks also for the posts.  I know that I have to spend some quality time with the table saw after my current project is done.  I would be interested in any tried and true plans for table saw dust collection modifications.  I have a bench top Tradesman (starter saw) with legs for a contractor like appearance.  My wife is definitely tired of dusting shoes and baby strollers every time she needs to use them. 

   Thanks - Tom

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 28, 2005 07:38pm | #5

   Here's the overhead guard design from Gordon Sampson of the old Badger Pond forum.  Stick a counterweight on the end of the long horizontal bar and it's remarkably like the PSI unit I use.  If you're interested in building Dan's air scrubber, you have a good chance of getting a free or cheap blower from a local furnace company.  They end up just junking them when they replace furnaces from what I hear.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Apr 28, 2005 09:21pm | #6

   Air cleaners have a place in the wood shop but not for health reasons. Here are some thoughts I have on the subject of air cleaners and health. They run in the face of many users but I know of no one in the industrial health field who disagrees.

   It has always been my contention that there are NO HEALTH BENEFITS to an air cleaner. Here in the US, OSHA agrees that they do not remove enough of the dust in a short enough period to have any health benefits. No manufacturer of air cleaners makes any health claims, nor does anyone in the health industry AFAIK. The only place I see health claims is in places like this and those are from folks who purchased them under the impression that they do have health benefits. "The filters get dirty, so they must be doing something" is the frequent justification. If the filters are getting dirty, SO ARE YOUR LUNGS. Fix or improve your dust collection.

   Robert Witter, Chief Engineer at Oneida Air Systems says: "Overhead cleaners can only lower ambient dust levels AFTER the source of emission is shut down, and they take several hours to do this. This is why they are not used in industry."

   In addition, most air cleaners are installed in a manner that places the operator directly in the air flow between the dust producing operation and the intake of the air cleaner. I don't know how many articles I have seen that say to install an overhead air filter "over the dust producing machine". This makes no sense and certainly not healthful. This placement guarantees that the operator's nose is between the dust producer and the air intake. At the very least, the air cleaner should be placed where exhaust is upstream of the operator and the dust producer is downstream of the operator.
   While no one will argue that isolating your lungs from dust has healthful benefits, the only surefire way to do it is to either have very efficient dust collection at the source of the dust or to wear a properly fitted NIOSH (in the US) rated respirator. Rubber band dust masks do not meet NIOSH requirements.

   In other words, air cleaners are great for cleaning up the shop air before you begin finishing. But, they have little value while dust is being produced.

   The recent classification of wood dust as a carcinogen also reported that the biggest producer of dangerous wood dust was sanding operations. Particularly, using hand operated sanding machines and manual sanding. This being the case, the best investment is in a good, downdraft sanding table. They are easily built and double as an air cleaner if left running after you leave the shop.

   Howie.........
1. 
   tms | Apr 29, 2005 01:47am | #7

   Hey Howie,Well said!I've been preaching along those lines for some time, but after the last big debate here, on this subject, I've tired of argueing with folks who think their air filter is the best thing they've done for themselves.My position on dust and noise is, that they are both, best removed at the source first.Tom