Woodworking - Dust in Time

The most common topic request for Safety Week was dust and respirators. So heres a quick review of the dust and fumes that can make our lives miserable in the shop, and why we need respirators for pro-active protection.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• woodworking
• dust
• respirators
• safety week

[Karateisgoodforyou]

How often do you replace the pink filters. I thought I heard once a month? What do you suggest for dust filtration at the source from your tools.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@Karateisgoodforyou I change mine out about every 6 months. Monthly seems pretty excessive for a hobby shop. As for dust at the source, anything is always better than nothing. There are lots of nice portable units on the market. The ultimate, though, is a ducted cyclone, which is what I have.

[mithrandir10001]

I agree on the air cleaner, but I still run it while in the shop as well as after leaving to take the fine dust out of the air before it can settle on surfaces. I have the same model of mask at home and work, and it does an excellent job at a fairly reasonable cost.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

You know, in my smaller shop, the dust is much more concentrated and I think I really need an air cleaner now. In my old shop, there was just too much air. But it seems like there is always dust in the air in this smaller space.

[mithrandir10001]

Same here. My basement shop is not too big, and the cleaner does a great job. Between it, my dust collector, and some furnace filters over the cold air return, I have no dust issues in the rest of the house, and a very happy Wife.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

And if SHE ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! :)

[fergawdsache]

I find a cheaper alternative to having a fine air filter on after i leave the workshop is to allow my dog to bed down for the night in the dust laden room, he really does a good job of removing those extremely fine, toxic, cancerous, nose clogging particulates.

I know some may see this as cruel, but he never complains and is in fact always pleased to see me in the morning.

[RajaofNYandPGH]

This is a great video. Safety is always worth spending more on. A better respirator is better breathing. Just a tip, respirators work best on DIRECT SKIN contact. So shave before you put one on.

[goldenscales]

That's cool, Mark. I sometimes forget mine, as well. And I wonder why I got a headache! Lol!

Peace, brother.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

Really? Can you cite examples? I know there are times when I have forgotten to wear them, but over the hundred or so videos I've done, I bet I can count on one hand the number of times I forgot to wear ear/eye protection when it was called for. The viewers are very good at reminding me when I mess up safety-wise, so I am pretty aware of every time I've screwed up.