Replies

1. 
   jeffreysherow | Nov 04, 2003 11:55pm | #1

   I'm an amateur also and was feeling not so good every time I left the shop on the weekend and my son, who has asthma, would end up coughing because I was apparently bringing the dust in from the garage. 

   Went and did some reading.  Turns out OSHA classifies those tiny particles that you can not see as a carcinogen.

   Went out and bought a 2hp dust collector with hoses, gates, 1 micron bag and such and the delta air cleaner that get 95+% of the 1 micron bad stuff.  Total of about $650 on all of it.

   When I finish woodworking I don't feel sick and don't blow dust out of my nose all night long and my son doesn't have coughing fits.  Spend the money and stay alive long enough to see the pieces you build develop a patina.

2. 
   GHR | Nov 05, 2003 01:19am | #2

   Particles under 1 (whatever unit is is) are more dangerous than the particles above that size. While a dirty nose and productive cough will clear out the larger partilces, they and all dust/chip collectors will miss the smaller particles.

   Use a dust/chip collector to remove the large particles.

   Use air flow (forced or natural) to provide clean air.

1. 
   Elcoholic | Nov 05, 2003 03:05am | #3

   I wish we had a pulmonary specialist or an Industrial Hygenist on this forum.  I've read:

   >5 ëin is no problem because they're too big to get to the lung

   <1 ëin is no problem because they're small enough to be evacuated by the cillia

   1 - 5 ëin are the problem because they get lodged in the lungs

   Of course none of this addresses irritant or toxic issues, just particulate size.

    John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

3. 
   robert1 | Nov 05, 2003 04:30am | #4

   Every machine or hand power tool needs its own dust collection. With a good dust mask and with opening the garage doors while working, the dust in my shop is negligable.

   I have a 2-stage dust collector and one day while I was using my band saw, the sunlight in my shop highlighted a steady stream of dust emanating from my 5 micron dust bag. I removed the dust bag and fitted a 4 inch hose through my shop's window and ventilate ALL the dust outside. My dust problem is history!

4. 
   PlaneWood | Nov 05, 2003 07:23am | #5

   Well, rosewood dust did a number on me.  About like poison ivy on the skin.

   So, now I have EVERY tool hooked up to the DC and it grabs all the small stuff that was causing me problems.  The rest is taken care of by nitrile AND latex gloves, a large shop apron, long sleeves, long pants, and a dust mask.   I still get a rash occasionally when I ignore my usual procedures.  Something I'm doing less and less frequently.  I've learned not to scratch my nose while working!!!!!!!

   I'm talking about dermatitis.  No telling what it was doing to my lungs.

   Oh yeah, my wife doesn't b---- about me bring dust in to the house now.  And, my shop is clean!!!!!!!!

   ps - my DC sets outside.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood