Dubyap Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Gentlemen, I hope you all are enjoying your holidays. I was fortunate enough to be gifted a coutertop belt and disk sander this Xmas, and have been doing a little research on dust collection as it seems to be a MAJOR hazard. Now, I certainly have more reading to do but I have read some pretty unsettling things about shop vacs building up a lot of static electricity and essentially becoming bombs. Also read stories about people going through 2-3 shop vacs in a year. I am aware that there are dedicated dust collection systems available, but I'm looking for a more cost effective solution that is SAFE (if that exists) How do you guys manage your dust? Any recommendations? Any tutorials to setting up a safe cost effective dust collection system out there? Thanks a bunch, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Yes, a full blown ventilation system is the way to go. BUT, in the mean time do not even think of using the belt sander without mask protection. I don't have a full vent system, but it is high on my list. The shop vac works very well with the belt sander, I use it myself, but still use the mask for every single operation if wood is going to be cut. The belt/disk sander is my favorite tool by far. If I could only keep one power tool, this would be it. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) Bob - Yes, the belt is by far the best pencil sharpening tool in the shop, and when my jar of 30 pencils are ready for sharpening, the mask goes on. My full face is fan vented, battery operated. It is also a hard hat, designed for chainsaw operators. It serves two purposes: 1 - it keeps the dust out of my lungs 2 - in the high temperatures and humidity of an Indonesian equatorial workshop, it keeps me cool. So even when I am not cutting wood, I have the mask on. The beauty of this full face, is that I can wear my glasses underneath, so even the finer operations can be performed. Dave Edited December 29, 2015 by Vodkaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 i was also blessed by "mrs clause"!... my gift is a new Craftsman band saw!!! it is still in the box since we will FINALLY be moving within the week (hopefully), and i will have an actual workshop to set it up in!.... i plan just to use the shop vac for all dust removal, if it is not efficient enough, at least i will be making a mess in the shop rather than in the house now the dust mask is a good idea... are we talking the paper kind that doctors wear? or the full mask with filters on the side??... i have one of those from work, i use it when pouring plastics now, but it is not comfortable to wear for long periods! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 I plug a Rigid (Home Depot) shop vac. into my sander's dust port. I also use a dust mask, glasses, and leave my overhead garage door open, with the sanding setup at the door opening, and a 20" box fan blowing out from the back of the garage. It's tougher right now, because it's colder, but I am still careful. When I skip a step, my sinuses are a mess for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) JR - good news about the move and also your new toy. A great tool, but can be tricky to set up. Read the manual about all the adjustments, and I bet there will be a few YouTube vids about setting up the bandsaw. Don't switch it on until you have collected this knowledge, I did, and spent the next two years constantly fixing it because of the damage I did to the wheel corks and bearings. See post No4 for my mask description. You need to get to the big hardware store and try a few different styles. The mask is worth spending a bit extra on. It is like the difference between a cheapo and a quality mattress, you will be spending more time using your mask than any other tool in your shop AND your health depends on it. Dave Edited December 29, 2015 by Vodkaman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 JR - I was right, lots of videos. Here is the first one I watched and it is excellent: Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) I haven't upgraded yet in my shop to a centralized dust collection system so have been using a shop vac teamed up with a dust collector. Plenty of information on You Tube but like most things in life there are a few gurus and the others take with a grain of salt. Pick your shop vac and team it with a hepa filter. Shop vac referring the lower offerings (not the Festool and other high end offerings). I would then either grab the dust deputy (Menard's have them in store now) for 99 bucks or a Rockler Dust right Separator (I have used this one now for 5 years). I built a rolling stacked tower to hold my shop vac and the the dust separator. I have used the DIY build kits and don't think they performed as well as Rockler Dust Deputy or the videos on the Dust Deputy). Now if you get into making a Thein cyclone baffle/top hat, etc... then DIY is good option but definitely not a plug and play set up. For stand alone respirator about the best thing in my opinion in regards to price, comfort, and size is the Elipse P100 dust mask (30 bucks). It easily fits under most face shields and is very comfortable. I would use it along with the shop vac/hepa filter. The mask will filter out 99.97% of airborne particles. You won't even get that with a 400 dollar Trend Air/Pro Airsheild. I have been using it for about 2 years and definitely deserving of the praise it is getting in some of the woodworking magazines and forums. JRammit congrats on the bandsaw. Invest in some sound blades and you will be set. As far as set up videos Snodgrass is probably the best. I would also recommend the Fine Woodworking videos. They also put out a Band Saw edition magazine I believe every year but can be ordered also. I will check my archives. http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/bandsaws/118168.aspx Edited December 29, 2015 by Travis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Just got news that it will be ANOTHER week before closing on the house.... My patience has been pushed to the edge of oblivion over this home buying ordeal!............ But, now i will have time to watch these instructional videos... Thanks Dave and Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Three things I find useful in setting up my bandsaw. First, make sure the faces of the two wheels are parallel. Second, make sure the rubber tires on the wheels are clean. I heat bent some old tooth brushes, and screwed them to the back of the wheel covers so they can brush the wheels as they turn, and that keeps the sawdust from accumulating on them. Third, back off the blade tension after each time you use the machine. Otherwise, your blade will become weaker over time, and the rubber tires will wind up with an imprint of the blade (flat spot) that will make it harder for the blade to track. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctenn Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Hope the tornadoes missed the houses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) Hope the tornadoes missed the houses.Early this summer we had one touch down right across the street from usWeird things they are.. It threw our wooden swing set across the yard, ripped the hood off the wifes old car and scattered a pile of old fence pannels i had neatly stacked in a burn pile.... But nothing else was touched, and i mean NOTHING!... We have a set of orange foam endzone pylons in the yard (for my sons little football field), they probably only weigh a few ounces with the small bean bag in the bottom, but they didn't move an inch! This recent round missed us by 50 miles... The new house (that we're still waiting to close on) has a storm shelter, how ironic would... Na, i wont go there Edited December 29, 2015 by JRammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 JR - so what can a tornado teach you about lures? The tornado starts life as a horizontal rotation, but it 'wants' to be vertical. It is exactly the same for the vortices created by a lure, they want to be vertical. Probably a useless piece of information, but I just thought I would throw it in there Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 30, 2015 Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 JR - so what can a tornado teach you about lures? The tornado starts life as a horizontal rotation, but it 'wants' to be vertical. It is exactly the same for the vortices created by a lure, they want to be vertical. Probably a useless piece of information, but I just thought I would throw it in there Dave Im stumped on that one..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Congrates to all with new equipment. I agree with all about how to set up and tune a band saw. A good set up and tuning will give longer life to the saw or any tools in the shop. I'm fortunate to have a full blown shop. A shop vac was my main stay for years, another very useful tool. Keeping dust to a minimum is a job when working at full tilt. Yes I wear a dust mask because of working with woods that are dangerous to your health. I work in construction for years and I'm here to tell you that dust of any kind is a lung killer! If you ever get to a full blown dust system I would recommend the floor models. I myself have a Jet with a home made pipe system. I have had it for years, BUT I take care of it. I unload the bag before it needed. If you do go to this type of system start with a trunk line of 4" or so and branch down. I would also really consider grounding pvc if you use it for your piping of the system (static electricity). This leads me into shaping baits, yep I have a table stand for collecting the dust, why you may ask that I would do this. I'm lazy when it comes to cleaning up.......Oh well no body is perfect. I'm not even close. Have fun with them but be safe, Dale Edited January 1, 2016 by DaleSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass100 Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 I love my jet. You can just watch the dust get sucked up. http://www.jettools.com/us/en/c/woodworking-air-filtration/40?filter=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Yep the filtration units are nice. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Bass100 that link is to an air filter and is great for its intended purpose but would be the last thing I would add in his situation. I run one similar in my shop to "polish" the air but that is all it is really good for. Point source collection is a must and either a shop vac teamed with cyclone set up or spend more and get a dust collector as Dale is mentioning. I suspect bags are on the way out as most are going to the pleated canister filters. I plan on adding an Oneida system at some point but for know the shop vac and cyclone will have to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Glenn Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I'm just going to throw my two cents worth in there with the intention of not stepping on anyones toes. I am seventy and have worked in construction or instruction of construction for over 50 years. The instruction side of it had good ventilation system for the last 15 years (of 29 years) Other than those 15 years there was no vent system. I know different people get affected my dust, but it just never bothered me or the classes I taught. The white cheap face mask was the furnished way of controlling our dust. It is my experience that a well adjusted band saw blade will be fine if left fully adjusted all the time. Instead of doing like me, use your own better judgement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I will probably build a Thein, it being based on a vortex and all. I won't need any more filtration after that, as the base air is so dirty here anyway. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Would wood be as bad as the dust that I have seen and what it can do, I don't know. But a paper mask can't hurt. I've seen the badest of the bad have issues late in life. The dust system that I have is to keep things neat. If it keeps dust down, all the better. As I all ways state, all opinions are important Glen. Yes each will choose their own course in life. Other words it's up to you. As I see it we should put our opinions out there to show all sides of a topic. If we become silent except for one or two, information would be kinda lop sided. As I stated my collector is o..l..d Travis, but still going strong. lol That's my opinion, Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 A paper mask is better than nothing, but you can do a lot better. All breathable dust is bad, some worse than others, but all should be avoided. You are not going to die if you forget once, it is a long term thing, although even once can cause you an irritation problem and give discomfort for several hours. Some timbers are considered extremely harmful and even carcinogenic. Google your timber of choice and be aware of the facts. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass100 Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Bass100 that link is to an air filter and is great for its intended purpose but would be the last thing I would add in his situation. I run one similar in my shop to "polish" the air but that is all it is really good for. Point source collection is a must and either a shop vac teamed with cyclone set up or spend more and get a dust collector as Dale is mentioning. I suspect bags are on the way out as most are going to the pleated canister filters. I plan on adding an Oneida system at some point but for know the shop vac and cyclone will have to do. It gets used with a point source collection as well as a paper mask. If you only use one method of dust collection then you are not preventing dust from being breathed in. The truth is I could care less if you add it first or last just add an air filtration system if you are doing your work inside and you should definitely add it if you are in a small space. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass100 Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I have to add that I sometimes spray paint an item inside. This is usually only done in the winter time because the spray paint freezes when leaving the can if I try to do it outside. I sprayed painted some steel with black paint I decided to take a look at the filter on my jet to see if it caught any of it. The first filter was solid black and the jet is 25 feet away from where I was spraying. This is how good these air filtration units work. Most of the filters are for dust particles only and not for chemicals. If you are like me and do all of your lure making in one space then these units are great at helping to keep the dust down when clear coating. They are not for everyone as they cost around $400 and go up but if you can afford one you won't be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Gee -- I reckon I have made or used all of these dust extractors, including the "Thein'' which was pretty good (and simple)----BUT I have used this one for the past 2 years with excellent results, and you can just chuck the wet dust on the garden or compost heap - If you have a fan, very easy to make --- Pete 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
