Now you've got me thinking about dust extraction.

[johnny.t.]

I have been relying on one of those twin filter masks when sanding for lung protection and the double doors open but to be truthful there is a layer of fine sawdust on everything in my workshop and just getting stuff off the shelves can cause dust to be in the air and therefore being breathed in
So in the interests of not dieing too soon I guess I should get some dust extraction sorted. I see from the other thread the camvac is popular but what of the other makes/types out there? Such as the woodstar DC04? Its a bit cheaper than the camvac and having already splashed out on a Sorby spiralling tool this week(it was a bargain at £79.99) cheaper sounds good,unless theres a good reason to go for a camvac?

Advice please!!

JT

 

[wizer]

You really need the dust extraction more than tools JT. I honestly think you need a Camvac or similar type machine, aswell as an air filter.

 

[matt]

I only have a Trend T30AF which is no good for a lathe so my comments are based purely on what I have read in the other threads...

If it were me using it just for a lathe, then I think I'd go for a chip extractor (HVLP) but I'd house it outside in another shed. I'd try to make sure the shed did not billow nasty dust everywhere though - I'd want to try and find a way of using moisture to tame the dust.

For me this solution moves big air so sucks dust and chips etc and the lack of >0.5 micron filtering is not a problem because the exhaust is outside. So, in theory, better than a >0.5 vacuum inside the workshop.

But... a lathe is only part of my requirement. I need to use a smaller hose for hand tools and similar. This kinda kills the chip extractor (HVLP) as a one stop solution for me.

So now I'm left considering Camvacs etc...

 

[wizer]

I actually use a chip extractor at the moment for sanding. But AFAIK a Camvac will be much better at sucking up the fine dust. The chip extractor basically has a cloth filter sitting on top of it which is not rated for fine dust. You won't be running an extractor whilst turning, so I don't think a chip extractor it the best option tbh.

 

[CHJ]

......If it were me using it just for a lathe, then I think I'd go for a chip extractor (HVLP) but I'd house it outside in another shed. I'd try to make sure the shed did not billow nasty dust everywhere though - I'd want to try and find a way of using moisture to tame the dust.
...

I have my axminster 1200 fitted with a very coarse home made filter bag to increase air flow in an outside shed.
This has a vent at ground level and so far we have never had any problems with nuisance dust, visitors are warned not to stand directly in front of vent area as a precaution but most fine dust ends up clinging to machine via static or the shed inner surfaces , cobwebs are a great accessory, just need to give the shed a brush out whenever the collection bag is emptied.

As an aside, whenever the machine is out of it's home for a bag change and the wind is blowing in a suitable direction not to cause problems, it is run for a few minutes without the collection bag fitted, it's astounding how much dust is cleared out of the machine nooks and crannies and filter bag.

 

[matt]

I actually use a chip extractor at the moment for sanding. But AFAIK a Camvac will be much better at sucking up the fine dust. The chip extractor basically has a cloth filter sitting on top of it which is not rated for fine dust. You won't be running an extractor whilst turning, so I don't think a chip extractor it the best option tbh.

My take on it is that the chip extractor is better at sucking up the dust (and chips) because it gulps in very large volumes, it's just not very good at keeping hold of the dust - exhausting it back in to the air. If you were to situate the chip extractor outside the workshop then you'd have the best solution. The only downside is that the vacuum cannot be restricted in any way so no good for hand tools etc.

 

[Jonzjob]

I have the earlier version of this http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... 794272.htm and at 1 micron is great for sanding. I also have the tool hose to go with it.

For the workshop in general I have this beasty and it is great! http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Jet- ... -21187.htm . I normally run it on minimum speed for 4 hours and it clears the air really well. In the summer here all of the windows are open and a fan is blowing air past me too, when I ain't in the pool that is :twisted:

I'm also going to get a pos pressure face mask in the very near future. I see that there has been quite a lot of discussion on them and I'll read back over that! I find that even using the vac for sanding I have to rinse my face around my eyes after any heavy sanding or power sanding. Maybe using the larger hose on the vac would be part of the answer to that?

 

[Bodrighy]

At our club there are 2 jet extractors on the ceiling and both are going whilst there are up to 10 lathes in operation. Very little dust around, loads of chips, we sweep up at the end of the night but the dust just disappears. I have the same chip extractor as Chas and when cleaning it out the bag (I have the original one) on the top is a completely different colour it is so impregnated with dust. I guess a lot dpends on your finances but also on the size of your workshop. If I fitted all the gear mentioned into mine I wouldn't have room for a mini lathe . I need to put some kind of extension on it and sort it out that way.

Pete

 

[johnny.t.]

Thanks for the help but I'm still confused as hell as to which type to get :lol:

I don't mind popping a wooden home for an extractor on the back of my workshop and indeed would probably do this with whichever type to get it out of the way. The choice is I guess small camvac type or larger type along the lines of what Matt suggests.

Looking on ebay there are lots I'm looking particulary at

this SIP or this woodstar

I'm fairly clueless here so I'm asking which one do you think would be better? or do you know of something much more fit for purpose. This would be mainly for the lathe although eventually rigging up some ducting that could be easily connected when needed to take in the bandsaw, bench sander etc would be a good idea.

Cheers JT

 

[devonwoody]

I have got three dust extractors in my double garage, two are connected upto three machines and the Jet air filter.

I still have huge amouts of dust laying everywhere.
I put on my respirator and get the blower out but even then I can find dust after.

The only way is to work in the open, thinking of getting a gazebo, they are only around £50 in DIY stores. :wink:

 

[wabbitpoo]

There's been several threads on this subject now in the last few days. As far as I can see, the summary of them is as follows:

1. Get a positive pressure mask
2. Get A.N. Other machine to suck up as much dust as it can near the lathe when sanding especially. If that can be vented outside, so much the better.
3. Don't try to collect shavings cos they go everywhere anyway - just sweep up every day.
4. If you have the budget, get a ceiling extractor as well.


That it, in a nutshell?

 

[johnny.t.]

There's been several threads on this subject now in the last few days. As far as I can see, the summary of them is as follows:

1. Get a positive pressure mask
2. Get A.N. Other machine to suck up as much dust as it can near the lathe when sanding especially. If that can be vented outside, so much the better.
3. Don't try to collect shavings cos they go everywhere anyway - just sweep up every day.
4. If you have the budget, get a ceiling extractor as well.


That it, in a nutshell?

That not what I'm asking though, I'm asking about which of the two machines would be best.

 

[loz]

There's been several threads on this subject now in the last few days. As far as I can see, the summary of them is as follows:

1. Get a positive pressure mask
2. Get A.N. Other machine to suck up as much dust as it can near the lathe when sanding especially. If that can be vented outside, so much the better.
3. Don't try to collect shavings cos they go everywhere anyway - just sweep up every day.
4. If you have the budget, get a ceiling extractor as well.


That it, in a nutshell?

That not what I'm asking though, I'm asking about which of the two machines would be best.

Hi Johnny,

If your housing the thing in the workshop with you then get a sub micron filtered machine cause you will be breathing in its exhaust.

Im not sure if 500 cubic foot per minute is more or less than 53 litres per second though for airflow ???

.. so im not really helping !

 

[CHJ]

Thanks for the help but I'm still confused as hell as to which type to get :lol:

Cheers JT

Is this not any help? from the safety sticky.

 

[johnny.t.]

Sorry I'm being stupid, I don't have to flex much mathmatical muscle in my day job :lol:

The little woodstar extracts 3180 litres of air per min,the SIP by my calculations(which could be wrong) moves 14158 litres per min. So the SIP moves over 4 times the amount of air, no contest :roll:

I would't mind someone checking my calculations but if they are correct I'll buy the SIP and build it a home on the outside of the shed.

JT

 

[loz]

Sorry I'm being stupid, I don't have to flex much mathmatical muscle in my day job :lol:

The little woodstar extracts 3180 litres of air per min,the SIP by my calculations(which could be wrong) moves 14158 litres per min. So the SIP moves over 4 times the amount of air, no contest :roll:

I would't mind someone checking my calculations but if they are correct I'll buy the SIP and build it a home on the outside of the shed.

JT

Seems too simple an argument doesn't it ? -

 

[cambournepete]

I have my axminster 1200 fitted with a very coarse home made filter bag to increase air flow in an outside shed.

Sounds pretty much like my set-up, but I use the standard filter bag.
How much difference to the air flow does your home-made bag make, and what did you use?

 

[wizer]

JT. The chip type extractors are HVLP which stands for High Volume Low Pressure. This means they move a lot more air. The problem with them is if you step them down to connect to power tools such as biscuit joiners or sander, then they loose their efficiency drastically. They are best for shifting lots of material from (in most cases) a 4" hose over not a lot of distance (relatively speaking). So the trick with these is to not have them running very far an to have them unstepped (if that's even a word).

The other type is HPLV which stands for High Pressure Low Volume and as you'd probably guess it's pretty much the opposite of above. Ideal for ducting, connecting to power tools, etc and handle stepping down without a problem. The downside, as Matt was saying above, it that when it's connected to just an open funnel near your spinning work piece for sanding it won't catch quite as much dust as the chip extractor. Personally I think the difference is tiny. If you want a general purpose extractor then I'd go for one of these because you can use it with a planer if you want (I did for a year) and it'll be fine.

I have both and because of the way my workshop is setup, the chip extractor happens to be nearest the lathe. My workshop is an attatched garage with a kitchen at the back, so I don't have the option of housing the extractor outside. I wish I could get the HPLV unit outside because it's so bloody loud.

 

[johnny.t.]

Seems too simple an argument doesn't it ? -

Providing my dodgey calculations are correct :lol: :lol:

 

[wizer]

Thinking further, I could probably setup a little video test on this, as I have both units. If I setup some lights behind the inlet pipe, I should be able to shoot the difference in volume\efficiency?

Worth it?