Replies

1. 
   BG | Jan 31, 2005 05:11pm | #1

   Donkey,

   I've not come across any specific articles regarding fires in a shop due to dust...but does it really matter? As a founding member of the woodwork chicken club, I believe, if it makes you nervous don't do it.  Build a frame around the boiler / water heater and use filters and/or a seperate pipe with a fresh air feed from the outside (dryer vent pipe).

   Noramlly I don't worry too much about the issue because the furnace is about 15' away.  One day I had some mahogany in the planer and all of a sudden I could not see my hand in front of my face for the dust...I shut down and moved all outside. The point being the dust can kinda sneek up on you and the next thing you know your in possible trouble.

    

2. 
   jako17 | Jan 31, 2005 05:28pm | #2

   Before closing in any gas applience you should be VERY aware of the code requirements regarding ventilation and combustion air .There is a formula for the number of sq.inches of unobstructed  ventilation and combustion supply based on btu. input of the applience.Just using dryer vent may or may not be adequate.Carbon monoxide is a more efficient killer than fire and hey , the real estate is unharmed! ;-)

3. 
   mlbfreestyle | Jan 31, 2005 05:43pm | #3

   There were some posts here two or three weeks back about this issue.  Keep in mind that a specific concentration of dust is required in order for combustion to take place.  You can demonstrate this with some flour and a campfire (or barbeque grill).  Take some ordinary flour and start throwing some at a fire and see how concentrated it has to be for it to go "poof".

   I agree with what one poster said in that it takes a pretty high concentration.  I would suspect that you will have some sort of dust collector running when using power tools anyway.  My guess is that it will be fine.

   I worked for several years in a garage with a wood stove running all the time in the winter.  The combustion chamber was open.  Never had a problem.  I might recommend a bit more caution when talking about flammable finishing compounds; but again, a specific concentration is required in order to intitiate a chain-reaction explosion.

1. 
   Rich14 | Jan 31, 2005 07:57pm | #4

   mlb,I agree. We had a pot-belly, coal-burning stove in a grarge workshop for years. There certainly was a lot of sawdust in the air at times and it had open access to the burning coal. Never had a problem.We also finished many pieces using shellac and varnish. We always had a window cracked for some ventilation during and after brushing.But I would never recommend spraying any finishing material in such an environment.Rich

4. 
   mikkimel | Jan 31, 2005 10:27pm | #5

   i think you are going to hear the same response a lot.  I remember my dad working with the heater going in the basement.  And i've got a gas flame going in my garage and never had a problem.

   of course, it only takes one accident to not make it worth it....

5. 
   gfornelli | Feb 01, 2005 02:12am | #6

   You should be fine. I am a paid firefighter full time, general contractor on the side, and a "fine woodworker" hobbiest. As far as silo explosions, I was tought if you can't see your hand in front of your face, your are in an explosive atmosphere. I've never seen my garage shop that bad!

    

1. 
   Rich14 | Feb 01, 2005 02:21am | #7

   gfornelli,

   I frequently can't see my hand in front of my face . . . Oh, you meant due to dust . . .

   Rich

6. 
   Midnight | Feb 01, 2005 05:04am | #8

   Some of the pdf's available from the link might give some help with this...

   http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/woodindx.htm

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

7. 
   stancalow | Feb 01, 2005 05:10am | #9

   If nothing else, if you have forced air furnace, it can spread the dust throughout the house.  Creating an entirely different (spousal) combustion issue. 

8. 
   SRToolguy | Feb 01, 2005 05:18am | #10

   There are three things that must exist before a fire can occur, fuel, oxygen and heat. Given the fact the you appear to have all three present, I would have to say that, yes it is possible. Is it likely to occur? I don't know for sure but its plausible that it could. My recommendation is simple dust collection and air filtration to eliminate the fuel from the equation and your worries are over.

   Sincerely;

   The Tool Guy

9. 
   DougU | Feb 01, 2005 05:32am | #11

   Donkey

   One of the first jobs I had was working in  a oat mill factory.

   A lot of dust is generated there, sparks are obviously a major concern, millwrights couldn't use steel hammers, had to be a metal that would not create a spark. No electric tools that would create sparks.

   If you got caught with matches or lighters in your pocket  that was it, fired!

   There were never any explosions while I was there but I had heard of some happening in years past, same with other mills in the area.

   I don't think that as a woodworker we create as much dust as what occurred in the oat mill factory but still it should be considered.

   I would be more concerned about chemicals lingering around an open flame in your water heater than I would the dust.

   I've heard of several explosions due to fumes settling around an open flame.

   For the sake of your health I would try to get rid of the dust, regardless of the threat or lack of threat from an explosion.

   Doug