Just FYI:Is this any different than the item many of have in our shops? https://jettools.com/708620b
Pretty simple- a plywood box about 26" x 26" x 48" with a squirrel cage fan in one end pulling air through a 24" x 24" pleated prefilter and a 24" x 24" x 36" multi-pocket bag filter. Blower from Graingers, filters from Filters Inc.Hi Kevin. I’m in the process to made scrubber and would like to know how you made yours.
Ambient air scrubbers can help but they need to move a lot of air to be useful. It's more efficient to pick up as much fine dust as close to the source as possible using a high volume dust collector with efficient filters. Tough to do with a lathe compared to other woodworking machines.
I know from using a... particle counter that the dust collector is far more effective, even when using the lathe.
Ditto
I recommend buying a particle counter before buying your next piece of DE equipment. That way you will know the extent of the DE task you have to solve and whether you are making progress with any subsequent measures you take.
Here is the reading in my workshop after an hour of power sanding at the lathe while my DE system has been running. The PM 2.5μg/m3 are the bad guys...
I'd be interested in knowing who supplies your meter kit, or is it home built? I'm just starting to research particle meters.Ditto
I recommend buying a particle counter before buying your next piece of DE equipment. That way you will know the extent of the DE task you have to solve and whether you are making progress with any subsequent measures you take.
Here is the reading in my workshop after an hour of power sanding at the lathe while my DE system has been running. The PM 2.5μg/m3 are the bad guys...
I'd be interested in knowing who supplies your meter kit, or is it home built? I'm just starting to research particle meters.
Thanks Neil
More than once, I have wondered if it would be possible to set up the main DC system to run at slow speed......
robo hippy
... Nevertheless, the particle meters are useful for evaluating relative clearance of dust from your shop. In other words, how effectively is your DC working.
...I will say that from my reading of the research literature, making the assumption that very small WOOD DUST particles (PM2.5 or less) are the major health risk is not accurate. There is very little evidence for lung damage from wood dust, which is the organ associated with damage from PM2.5. Instead, there is a very strong correlation between wood dust exposure and nasal cancers in occupational woodworkers (sawing and milling operations), so it would seem there is actually a higher risk from the larger particles.
It is also important to keep in mind that the documented risks are for populations of people, not individuals. Biology is all about variation, so each individual woodworker is going to have a different health risk from exposure.
...As a result, the best policy is what they call ALARA - as low as reasonably attainable.
I agree, Gary. My belief is that we should be controlling dust to whatever level is "reasonable". However, I think we all face the dilemma of defining what is reasonable and finding a solution that 1) we feel we can afford, and 2) isn't so obnoxious that we don't use it. The notion that we have to clear all of the dust from the air makes the problem overwhelming, so for some of us it is easy to justify not dealing with it. This is my concern when we assume that the fine dust is what "really matters" because the way to deal with it is rather expensive and/or obnoxious (i.e. a big noisy cyclone or a helmet/breathing tube clamped to your head), so it is less likely to happen. I think your statement is more clearly on the mark--that we need to take a first step in dealing with dust and then take additional steps as necessary.However, I'm not sure it matters to how we want to proceed. Whether we want to control dust to prevent cancers, allergic sensitivity, or asthmatic triggering, we want to capture dust at the source, remove all we can from the air and protect our airways from what's left.
We just had Bill Pentz, an expert on dust collection, talk about just that at our last woodworking club meeting.I was surprised at the price and review of this one. https://www.amazon.com/Qingping-Monitor-Compatible-Temperature-Humidity/dp/B092HK4BB1
I would be interested in home made air scrubber plans also. Thanks for this topic and excellent information.