Texatdurango
Member
Dont misunderstand me, but this harmless hobby is starting to cost more money and trouble than I can afford.
I am seriously considering just using the 20 or so pen kits I have left and getting rid of all my pen making stuff. :-(
Geeze, just get a dust mask and use it! If you turn a pen or two now and then and you generate a little pile of shavings and a little dust in the air, buy and use a good dust mask while turning and enjoy yourself. You can buy some pretty decent masks for $10 or less! If after working in your shop for an hour, you look up and can't see the opposite wall for all the dust in the air......... then of course do something more than a face mask.
In my opinion, recommending to go out and spend thousands of dollars on dust collection systems, whole shop air filters, etc is just overkill if all you are going to do is a little light turning on the lathe now and then! Let's keep things in perspective guys!
I guess if someone asked how to cut a 2x4 in half, one might answer "get a hand saw and a few saw horses or use a C-clamp to hold it to a table", while another might answer "you need to be in a well light area with skid resistant floor covering using an industrial grade 220v, 12" table saw
ducted to a dust collection system. The area must have an adequate overhead whole shop air filter and of course you need to wear safety glasses, ear protection and a resporator that includes a full face shield, and let's not forget the steel toe safety shoes in case the cutoff falls on your foot!
I'm sure a case can be built around each example or anything in-between and that's where common sense comes in to play!
I'm off my soapbox now, gotta go walk the dog. I't a little breezy so I'd better get my resporator and face shield on, GOD only know what's blowing around in the front yard today!