Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jan 03, 2003 07:23am | #1

   What are you talking about? Do you have dust collection? That is the first step. The ceiling hung air filters do not reduce health hazards from dust. They are only effective for removing dust after the dust producer has been turned off.

   If you don't have effective dust collection, the only thing that will provide any health protection is a NIOSH approved respirator.

1. 
   klink | Jan 03, 2003 09:30am | #2

   I guess I did'nt elaborate enough - sorry.   I have plans for a cyclone dust extraction system and will duct to each piece of equipment including a small hose (near the assembly table) for the routers and sanders.  I'm in the planning stages now for a complete sytem.  I know an ambient air filter will help when all equipment is off.  I see particles (dust) flying around the shop now when I work and know that this is the bad stuff that leads to cancer.  Of course the filter is only a safety measure to help reduce the risk.   I now have a basement shop instead of my former garage shop and dust is a much greater problem.  I enjoy building my own shop equipment so I'm just looking for plans and advice. Thanks for your response.

   Brian

2. 
   fredsmart48 | Jan 03, 2003 09:52am | #3

   Some have taken a 20 inch box fan and duct taped two furnace filter to the suction side of the box fan.   Also a thin foam rubber filter 1 / 8 inch  you can get that in fabric store.   

   You should also get a good dust collector.

3. 
   JeffKurtz | Jan 03, 2003 03:25pm | #4

   Check out this month's Popular Woodworking for a good design using furnace filters and an attic fan.

   Jeff

4. 
   breckenridge | Jan 03, 2003 05:14pm | #5

   An issue of Shopnotes magazine (published by Woodsmith) from several years ago contains plans. Sorry I cannot recall the issue, but a search of their website should bring it up.

   I had a supplier of air filters here in Atlanta look at the plans and he suggested using more effective (and more expensive) filters than the plans suggest. He also said that the plan's call for stacking furnace filters is not effective in improving filtration.

   I recently bought the Jet ceiling mount box for about about $200 and have been impressed by it. I also use a Jet dust collector on the tool.

   Also, when engaged in a dust-making operation, I wear a positive pressure hood/shield from RACAL which has a belt with a fan and filter which supplies me with filtered air and keeps out the dust.

   It is important to protect your lungs. Working in the shipyards in Richmond CA during WWII my father breathed asbestos which killed him 30 years later.

   Joseph Breckenridge

1. 
   timberrattler | Jan 03, 2003 06:46pm | #6

   could anyone recommend a store bought dust collection system.  Also anyone have any input on DustBoy? see there ad in FW.  I like to buy american and if there product is any good I'd buy it.

   thanks

1. 
   BG | Jan 04, 2003 12:06am | #8

   Circlekid,

   While I have no personal experience, Sarge on here spoke very highly about the Penn State system.  He said he had researched them throughly before he made his purchase. 

5. 
   user-247493 | Jan 03, 2003 07:18pm | #7

   I built a really simple air cleaner a few months back and it's working great.  I found a used, 1/4 hp, 12" squirrel cage blower at a "junk" store.  I don't know what the cfm is on it, but I had to use the variable speed pulleys it comes with to throttle it way down or it was too noisy.  I built a plywood box, about 2' square, mounted furnace filters on one side and put the blower inside with its outlet sealed to the outside of the box.  I also put the box on casters, but I'm thinking I'll hang it from the ceiling.  I use two furnace filters, one on top of the other.  The top one is a very cheap fibreglass filter to capture the coarser dust and the inner one is a more expensive "electrostatic" type.  All in all, I think it cost me about a hundred bucks and it works great.  If you can, try and  find a blower with split (variable speed) pulleys.  If I were to run mine wide open it would be like working in a wind tunnel all the time.  These things move a LOT of air.

6. 
   LeeGrinding1 | Jan 04, 2003 08:36am | #9

   Here's one...

   http://www.woodcentral.com/shots/shot112.shtml

   Lee

   Lee Grindinger

   Furniture Carver