Use of Air Filtration Units/Fine Woodworking test

[ondablade]

Just for info. We've been around the houses on this one several times before - the gist of the story being that stand alone recirculating air filter units don't seem to be an effective primary means of air cleaning.

i.e. they will remove some dust from your air and make a lot of sense as an extra, but if you allow dust into the room at a machine as a result of an ineffective dust collection or filtration system, you realistically can't hope to filter it out again fast enough to get particulates down to medically safe/EU stipulated levels - nor even to the less stringent US OSHA or NIOSH limits.

FWW ran an article recently which to seemed to suggest or at least imply otherwise. It's generated considerable kickback - they have in response backtracked on the impression the piece seemed to convey, and issued amended versions of the article: http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/309 ... er-article

This echoes the broad view on the shortcomings of filter units outlined by Bill Pentz on his dust collection web pages: http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm

 

[CHJ]

As good as they are at cleaning the residual air in the shop after you shut for the day so that it is less dusty for the start of a new session, and capture a percentage of the dust whilst you are working I think it's pretty obvious that if there is enough dust in the air to leave a visible coating on the units filters your nasal passages and lungs are doing just the same in parallel with them if you are in the shop without personal breathing protection.

 

[devonwoody]

The other week when I decided to shut down my W/S for the winter (medical treatment) I used a garden blower in the workshop to clear out the area into the garden and blew and blew.

The Jet filter was also on, the next day the amout of dust film laying on worktop surfaces was enough to grow lobelia seeds in. :wink:

 

[woodbloke]

F&C's just dropped onto the mat this morning. There's an article in it by Alan Holtham on the 'Dust Free Workshop' which looks of interest...not read it yet though - Rob

 

[paulm]

F&C's just dropped onto the mat this morning. There's an article in it by Alan Holtham on the 'Dust Free Workshop' which looks of interest...not read it yet though - Rob

It's a bit "noddy" Rob, nothing particularly new or interesting unless you're pretty much new to the whole topic in which case fair enough I guess......

Cheers, Paul

 

[yetloh]

It seems to me pretty obvious that the best starting point is a collection system which will collect as much of the waste - dust as well as chips - at source. That is why I have just spent a lot of money on a fully ducted big bore Oneida cyclone system after earlier disatisfaction with cheap conventional extractors. It is excellent but it still doesn't get all the dust because there are some operations like deep resawing on the bandsaw when it is near impossible to catch it all. I have modified my bandsaw to improve dust collection and it is now very good for a bandsaw, but dust is bound to escape from an 8 inch kerf.

The bandsaw is just an example, but it does demonstrate that no one machine is the complete answer. I also have a small Microclene dust filter which is horribly noisy but is good at cleaning up the airborne dust which is an inevitable part of some processes. That this machine is effective at this can be crtudely demonstrated by viewing the workshop when a beam of sunshine is coming through the window and looking again twenty minutes later.

As a last line of defence, when working with timbers whose dust is particularly harmful I use a powered respirator in conjunction with both the extraction and the Microclene.

Is this over the top? It depends how seriously you take the health risks of airborne wood dust, not to mention marital aggravation when there is a door leading directly from the workshop into the house!

Jim

 

[Duncan A]

Jim

I was talking to someone at Microclene recently and he was clearly proud of their products and said that they are more effective than the Jet and Axminster types. He also said that the higher noise levels are due to EU regs making the grille apertures small enough to prevent fingers being inserted. It may be worth experimenting with some different grille arrangements to see if it quietens it. Unless you think your fingers will be at risk!

I don't have one yet so can't comment, but am considering buying their hang-on-the wall 760 unit once I've had a chance to see and hear it.

Duncan

 

[yetloh]

Duncan,

That's interesting. I wouldn't get rid of it because it really does work, I just wish it was quieter. I would be interested to hear hear what you think of the 760's noise levels.

Jim

 

[Tim Nott]

Got a Jet AFS 500 and it really does make a difference - it's next to the crappy two-bag type extractor so gets a lot of the fine rubbish that passes through the filter bag

 

[Duncan A]

Jim
I'll try and remember to do a review of whatever air filter I finally end up buying, but I'm afraid it won't be before March due to pressure of work. Having seen the Jet type, I was rather disappointed with their filtration method, although it does mean that they are quiet, at the cost of being rather bulky.
D

 

[dance]

Got a Jet AFS 500 and it really does make a difference

Delighted to find this in the thread!