Dust control and breathing mask?

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Rcd567

Rcd567

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
240
Location
Glenwood, Iowa, USA.
Hi,
Not sure where I should put this, so I'll ask here. For starters, I'm just getting started in this hobby and funds are limited. My lathe is set up out in my garage which is heated. I also wear glasses and going without them is not an option. I also wear a face shield when I turn. I really don't have anything for dust control and have tried the desposable masks, but when I put one on, my glasses get all fogged up from my breathing.

What do you all recommend? From economical dust control to a decent way to wear a mask w/o the glasses fogging over thing. I can't be the only one wearing glasses as most of us middle (older) aged folks do.

HELP!

ps...I turned a small bowl yesterday and when I was done I looked like a Wooly Mammoth. I was blowing black stuff out of my nose and coughing up black stuff for a couple hours after that. I'll repeat...HELP!
 
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For an economical dust collector you can try what I do. I use my shop vac. I took a 1 gallon milk conmtainer and cut the bottom half off. I then attached the top of the container to my shop vac hose. It was a perfect fit, it stays there all by itself. Then attach it to a board or your lathe stand. I turn it on when ever I am sanding or making very fine cuts with my tools or putting on a CA finish to eliminate the fumes. I don't use it when I am making big chips (bowls) as it doesn't have enough power. I know this will not eliminate as much as a real dust collector but it made a huge difference. I no longer get a nose full of black stuff and I no longer cough for hours after I'm done sanding or putting on a CA finish.
 
i use a 3M-8511 niosh approved particulate mask. it has a moldable nose area (no glasses fogging) and a valve for exhaling. i have used these for years when building boats and doing power carving. i buy them from jamestown distributors but i'm sure there are other places. no more blowing noses for hours. they work exceptionaly well with western red cedar which dusts like crazy...bear
 
Understand the limited funds. Thought I would throw this out as something you might want to think about.

You may want to consider purchasing a two stage dust collector. I see them on Craig's list and on sale at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. sometimes under $150. I have a dust hood attached by 4" hose to the dust collector that fits over the lathe and the combination works great. The dust collector is on wheels so I can move it around to the specific tools (i.e., sander, scroll, band saw, table saw, etc) when needed. The only time I use a canister respirator now is if I'm sanding spalted wood or working with mixing resins. Although this is an investment upfront, it will pay for itself more ways than one. The one I purchased was a discontinued model and I think I paid $100 for it brand new. Good respirator's and canisters are not cheap and depending on what you do, you could be replacing the canisters more than one would think.

Just a thought
 
I use a cheap dust collector from Harbor Freight. I also use the square disposable masks from Harbor Freight. I also wear glasses and have little to none fogging.
 
The first thing to do is to remove the dust from the work space. That means a dust collector, preferably with a fine filter. Second is to remove dust from the air - that's the ambient air filtration system. Third is to protect your lungs while the first two do their jobs.

If you rely on a mask because you can't afford the first two, the mask has to go on before you enter the shop, and not come off until after you leave. It should stay on until you blow off (or pull off) the dusty clothes.

Also, you have to figure out how to keep the dust out of the house, and not just to keep Momma happy.
 
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I've been thinking on this a bit, and wonder if a 20 inch box fan, with a 20 inch ALLERGEN GRADE furnace filter attached to it (probably using a simple box to separate them, seems that I recall reading that help improve the air flow) would work effectively as a general room air cleaner?

You would still need a real dust collector for the workstation, but I think that this would go a long way in keeping the dust down. (especially since it seems that all the small portable dust collectors seem to have 30 micron bags)

Inquiring minds want to know

Steve
 
I think most people that make something with a box fan double or even triple the filters on the fan. There is also a way to make a homemade air filter with a big blower motor and a case around it with a furnace filter.
 
I know you said funds are limited - but your lungs are also limited!

Craigslist is your friend - I picked up a like new Jet Air Filtration system (with remote control) for $75 and a Grizzley 3 hp dual bag dust collector along with about 75' of hose for $250. Look for the deals - they are out there.

In the mean time try a Dust B Gone mask. They are washable and really work well - although they are about $40.

Protect those lungs or your family will be selling your equipment.

Florida Don
 
I use a Rigid vacuum and a cyclone for dust removal. I also use a Triton filtration hood. Since I am an asthmatic I feel that my lungs need all the help they can get.
 
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