Dust, dust and more dust

[stable]

Hello,

First time here and looking for some expirianced peoples advice.

Been an amazing couple of years for me working from nothing but a 12 ft x 12ft wet windy shed to now just taken premersis of about 60ft x 40ft.

I build speakers, and as yet have no extraction system. My lungs are sore and i'm constantly worried about them but having no expiriance of working for anyone else in this trade, being self taught in carpentry have no idea what I need.

Basically I have 4 or 5 bays that I use for the building process. Cutting, routing, assembly, finishing, painting. These are along the length of the unit each being about 10ft x 15ft.

I imagine a system where I have a extractor 'unit' at one end of the workshop and a hose running along the wall with ports along it that I can plug into.

Any suggestions of parts / systems I can build or buy to help me would be great.

And as always price is a major constraint.

Thanks people,

Tom

 

[jimi43]

If your lungs are hurting I would stop right now and get your shop sorted or as an interim solution get a really good mask with filters for the jobs you are doing!

I assume you are making the carcasses out of MDF and if so you are heading for trouble if you don't protect yourself.

If you are spraying and even if you are using acrylic paint...you need to stop the paint particles being breathed in. Nitrocellulose is lethal if you are using that!

Lung damage is permanent and you need to protect yourself now. Dust extraction is only part of the solution and filters are needed also for production work...these are not cheap. You cannot put too high a value on your health mate...

Get a mask tomorrow then read up the many threads here on dust/paint extraction, filtration and protection.

Jim

 

[kasandrich]

As above, limit the damage now, but yes you could build a system as you have described with gates and ducting from a dust extractor.

See this Axminster page.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/category-Ext ... 812554.htm

 

[big soft moose]

what they said - tho you could also get a face mask like the jsp power cap or trend airshield

yes all this stuffs expensive - but its tax deductable, and its not as expensive as dying young, or having to retire through ill health!

 

[head clansman]

hi tom


http://headclansmanblog.blogspot.com/20 ... x5000.html


take a look here, hope this may help a little . hc

 

[OPJ]

I agree with all that's been said, with regards to taking precautions immediately.

HC's link is great and should tell you all you need to know about building a plumbed-in system. Something like the Record Power DX5000 would be ideal for your needs - or, perhaps even better would be one of the Camvac machines, as you can "reduce" (redirect) the noise output from the extractor.

Either of these would give you the suction and filtration required for sawing and routing fine MDF. You should also be able to reduce the hose diameter enough to use it with power tools. Don't got for a top bag (one on top of the other) extractor as the filtration isn't fine enough and also, you cannot reduce the hose diameter without losing airflow (although, they are a lot quieter). You would only want one of these if you were doing a lot of planing and thicknessing; producing large chips and shavings from solid timber (the others would fill up too quickly, for this).

Another consideration might be to partition off a section of your workshop and use that area exclusively for finishing. It's not hard to build a couple of stud walls, even fire-rated ones, and it would help to deal with some of those fumes while also keeping your finishes away from any very fine dust left hanging around in the atmosphere. You would need to add some kind of extractor for this, which releases the fumes outside and would also probably have to give some consideration to light fittings and any sockets (ie. they should be 'sealed/enclosed' to reduce fire risk).

 

[jimi43]

(ie. they should be 'sealed/enclosed' to reduce fire risk).

Absolutely...and in the case of nitrocellulose which I use...serious explosion risk!!

:lol:

Jim

 

[head clansman]

hi tom

Sorry I couldn't get back to you earlier but the broad band service in my area has been down all day just come back on a few moments ago .

These speakers I take it are made from MDF , MDF dust is just about as lethal as dust comes, at the very min you should have a face mask on the entire time your in your shop because of the airborne dust that you will still be breathing long after you have finish machining . As other have mentioned section off a part temp till you can afford to get a proper extraction system fitted and always have a face mask on in that section , mdf was the reason why i decided to build my extraction system in the first place .

I believe it can lead to serious respiratory breathing problem ,so the sooner you get it done the better. hc

 

[BHENRY1]

I am selling my dust extractor if you are still lookig for one - pm me - its a EB 240v, works really well.

 

[joiner_sim]

If you are becoming a more industrial operation, and looking to employ people in the future, you may want a real dust extraction solution.

http://www.airplants.co.uk/

Air plants offer real solutions and they will test your extraction systems in accordance with the H & S regulations. "The Unit Dust Filter Solution" maybe what you're looking for, as only a small setup.

 

[Mike.C]

Martin (Headclansman) system is ideal for most workshops. IMHO after much reading the best and safest system will include:

A powered face mask as BSM has already mentioned

A workshop Air Filter to suit the size of your workshop

A plumbed in system with an extractor/extractors that will deal with both chips and very fine dust, and which are situated in a building/shed/lean too outside of your workshop.

Cheers

Mike