Replies

1. 
   andyfew322 | Nov 29, 2008 09:31pm | #1

   hmm, you migh want to whip out the leaf blower, turn on that dust collector and an aif filter, oh and dont forget your dust mask

    

    

   m/ (>.<) m/
   http://www.cocoboloboy.co.nr

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Nov 29, 2008 09:55pm | #2

   sure, I have tried that and basically, it moves the dust around and though it helps, it's too much to handle.
   thanks for the suggestion though,
   peace
   joe

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Nov 29, 2008 10:32pm | #3

   joe, ya need a pair of air cleaners to keep it clean,  then take on the clean up of every nook, bench, light fixture, rail, tool, under every tool etc. I use a shop vac with a HEPA filter. Use that round brush type head on structures and do the floor last with a wide skinney brush as you move down the shop. No brooms they just stir it up.

   I have 1,100 also, 24x48 and it stays pretty clean with two JDS 750er air cleaners one on each side creating a race track type circulation. One takes the air from the coal stove, lathe area and blows clean at the work benches. The second picks up from the big saws and sanding  area and blows clean  at the mechanical bench, drill presses, sharpening sink and WC.

   In the cool evenings or winter the coal/wood stove heat rise actually floats the super fines up to the 750 and helps circulate the heat more evenly.

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Nov 30, 2008 03:16am | #4

   Well - thanks - I had hoped for a quicker solution! but I think you're right, it will take a bit more money and a lot more elbow grease to accomplish what is my goal. I'll begin - tomorrow :o-)
   joe

2. 
   mapleman | Dec 01, 2008 04:27am | #10

   I have tried that and basically, it moves the dust around and though it helps, it's too much to handle.

   Joe,

   As mentioned previously, you need a big door to evacuate the dust, but also what helps is a large (as you can find) fan blowing the dust outside. I have a 48 X 48 box fan, I routinely crank up the compressor to about 100 PSI and blow away. Wear a good dust mask. The large fan will move a good bit of air and take most of the dust outside. Having a dust filter like the JDS is a big help as well - after you finish blowing out the shop you can leave the fan run for 10 minutes and then close up the doors and turn on the JDS. This works wonders for me in a 1200 sq ft shop.

    

   Best of luck,

   Lee

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Dec 01, 2008 05:05am | #11

   thank you Lee - it's pretty cold here now but when I can get a good day, the rental place is down the road and $50 isn't bad for a more environmentally friendly work space.

1. 
   RalphBarker | Dec 02, 2008 11:28pm | #12

   The open door, crank up the leaf blower approach is fairly efficient. But, remember that your neighbors will then be getting the dust. If any of them are well armed, that might not be the best approach. ;-)I just use the old shop-vac as I go method, concentrating more on the area near the door into the house, so as to minimize walked-in dust.

2. 
   dovetailjoe | Dec 03, 2008 02:05am | #14

   Thank you so much. I have decided not to do the leaf blower technique because after using it a couple of times, it seems that all I did was to stir up things and blow it all around! So the last two days have been wiping down all surfaces and overhead lights/dust collection pipes/tops of all the jars and cans. It can't hurt and if I'm better at source containment, it should not be such an issue in the future.
   thanks again
   joe

3. 
   suburbanhomesteader | Dec 03, 2008 06:17pm | #15

   I've been dealing with the same issue.  I have a very good 5 hp dust collector/extractor with a collection drum and filter bag outside the shop.  I also have an air cleaner and I open door and windows and run a fan whenever the weather permits.  Nevertheless, the fine dust still builds up.  I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to clean it.  My usual regiment is to open the door and windows, turn on the fan and air cleaner, then vacuum everywhere I can.  Next, I blow everything off with compressed air, wait a little while, then vacuum again.  I keep alternating between vacuuming and blowing until the shop is clean.  How do I know?  I close everything up and let the air settle.  Then I wipe a finger on the jointer bed and see if it comes up clean. 

   I find that if I don't do this regularly, then I can "taste" the dust in the shop even if I'm not generating any new dust. 

   I've wondered about some sort of electrostatic filter/collector to get the ambient dust while it's still airborne.  All the systems I've seen for the small woodshop have been homemade, but I'm having a hard time finding good information on how exactly to make one. 

4. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 03, 2008 06:25pm | #17

   it should not be such an issue in the future.  thanks again  ... LOL

   Where there is wood being cut THERE WILL BE DUST! My hord of Pasnga-Panga told me to NEVER use it again! Beautiful wood but NASTY dust everywhere!

   And then again there is a graden hose!

   Edited 12/3/2008 10:26 am by WillGeorge

5. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 03, 2008 06:18pm | #16

   The open door, crank up the leaf blower approach is fairly efficient. But, remember that your neighbors will then be getting the dust. If any of them are well armed, that might not be the best approach. ;-)

    

   I do that and will offer a free carwash!

2. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 30, 2008 06:31pm | #5

   hmm, you might want to whip out the leaf blower..

   I works but you need a big door to blow out the stuff. And may take several days to let the old dust settle down before the next sweep! .. AFTER ALL the free dust is away.. YOU have to hand wipe every object!

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Nov 30, 2008 09:36pm | #6

   brutal! what a way to spend a couple of weekends - but the alternative is not better! thanks

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Nov 30, 2008 11:02pm | #8

   Face it, even if you got it perfectly clean today, it wouldn't be perfectly clean tomorrow.  Ask your wife about such things.  So why clean at all?  No, I don't mean that.  But all our ideas of what is clean are different.  I spend a lot of time cleaning but I clean with a broom and I usually don't wipe things down.  I haven't installed a dust collector yet and just now am putting the touches on an air cleaner to be hung up later.  Although it is nice to have a spotless workplace I do think it is imperative to have clean air through the use of a dust collector and air cleaner or outside with a gentle breeze.  BTW some of the posters, in the past, have debunked the need of the air cleaner.

   Edited 11/30/2008 3:04 pm ET by Tinkerer3

3. 
   oldusty | Nov 30, 2008 10:42pm | #7

            Joe ,

     Try a vacuum with the right nozzle in all the hard to get to spots and a shot of air will help . Then dust and sweep .

               dusty ,I sand therefore I am

4. 
   BG | Dec 01, 2008 01:36am | #9

   dovetailjoe,
   I'm in the same boat, was hoping this thread would provide a solution other than the obvious....sigh!

5. 
   mufti | Dec 02, 2008 11:37pm | #13

   You could spray the surfaces with a fine mist of WD40 which then is wiped off taking the dust with it. Some years back I used a plant sprayer and water which worked, but it was a hot summer.

6. 
   gerrynocab1948 | Dec 04, 2008 05:47am | #18

   Hi Joe.

   I had the same problem even with adequate  fine dust collection system, dust still collected on everything. I would clean the shop one day and the next it was back again. It drove me mad and I was sick of continually cleaning electric motors.

   This system works but it would largely depends on where your workshop is situated ie how close are your neighbours and whether it would cause any local problems.

   I purchase a relatively cheap secondhand 36 inch industrial fan. The fan is on wheels and easy to move about.  I am sure you could fly a plane with this thing, but it has to be powerful for my system to work.

   THE FIRST CLEAN TOOK ME THREE DAYS TO CLEAN THE SHOP OUT, DUST HAD ACCUMULATED FOR YEARS ON SHELFS, JOISTS, LIGHT FITTINGS, WOOD STOCKS, ETC ETC.

   Now I remove the dust build up once a week, but a normal sweeping of the shop is required before you begin.

   Place fan ground level pointing outward to single door and open door ( pointing away from any where fine dust can be harmful)

   Charge compressor and fit fine nozzle air gun to hose.

   Don dust suit, mask and goggles , turn on fan full power and starting from the furthest point away from the open door, systematically  blast every thing in sight.

   The fan forms a vortex and every particle you lift into the air is sucked out of your shop,

   I have now got this down to a fine art and it takes me only 30 minutes to complete the process.  IT WORKS FOR ME and I no longer have the problem.

   BEFORE I AM ATTACKED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE KNOTS COMMUNITY. I HAVE STATED THIS SYSTEM CAN ONLY BE USED IN THE RIGHT LOCATION. THE MOST MODERN  FINE FILTRATION SYSTEMS USED IN INDUSTRY, BELCH MILLIONS OF HARMFUL PARTICLES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE DAILY. I AM REFERRING TO A RELATIVELY SMALL SHOP AND FINE DUST REMOVAL , ONCE A WEEK.

   Joe I hope you find this helpful.

   Regards Gerry

   P.s close all other openings, doors windows etc, before starting fan

   EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE A SHED ( and the right to keep it clean) Joe watch this space

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Dec 04, 2008 05:55am | #19

   Thanks Gary - I like the idea, I have an out building that fronts onto a street and I can certainly try it for a start. I have just finished 5 days of cleaning, several shop vac filter cleanings, wiping everything down and now I'll find a big fan. thanks.
   peace
   joe

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Dec 04, 2008 05:13pm | #22

   I have a cyclone.. over-head air filter.. 5 Shop-vacs and blow out the shop with an electric leaf blower about every 4 hours with two large doors open and work with a 36" fan behind me in warmer months facing out the open doors. That should do it..... no?

   NO... you ain't gonna get it all and I have accepted that fact. A 120 mph leaf blower pointed directly at some dust from 6" away won't get it off I have found. So... welcome to reality...  ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..

   Sarge..

   Edited 12/4/2008 9:14 am ET by SARGEgrinder47

7. 
   waljay | Dec 04, 2008 03:45pm | #20

   Dovetailjoe:  I know that cleaning up is the worst part of woodworking but dust is a big problem so at the end of the day, just discipline yourself to run your shopvac over all the machines and benches.  Takes only a short time but if your shop is located in your basement or garage, wood dust will find its way into just about every area in your living area.  The ONEIDA is a great machine.  FEIN and FESTOOL make great shopvacs.  Treat yourself to a Christmas present.

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Dec 04, 2008 04:03pm | #21

   well, I did - got the Festool C-22 delivered on Tuesday! merry christmas

8. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 05, 2008 03:07am | #23

   I remember reading a few years back about a unit that negatively charged the ions in the dust(or someting like that anyway) and it made all the dust fall to the floor and stay there.they even blew a massive cloud of dust with compressed air and vigorous sweeping with the doors all shut and came back 15 minutes later .there was no ambient dust in the air. clear as could be.Anyone have any info on this? seems like it would be great if it worked like they said.