Thread: Safety in the workshop: Dust

I learned a safety lesson yesterday I want to share for those, who like me, are beginning their journey into razors and scales in the workshop.

I live in an apartment. I've been doing my work on scales at the breakfast table and on the deck, though much more on the breakfast table. I use the cheap little dust masks and clean up well.

My two most recent scale projects are with micarta and G10. I got a lot of G10 dust in my apartment over the weekend. Was doing Internet research on how to finish it and learned that G10 dust will mess human lungs up bigtime, including cancer. I also learned that most of the dust we create is bad. Cotton from buffing wheels is another really bad one.

Having said that, dust from micarta, resin and everything else is to be avoided.

My corrective action plan:

1. I researched and ordered a proper 3M half face respirator with particulate filters. I'll always where it when exposed to dust.

2. Remember how Granny on the Beverly Hill Billy's used to do "Spring Cleaning". I've never done that before, but I'm doing it now

3. No dust inside from anything other than wood or horn, and those two things very sparingly.

Any other input would be appreciated.!

HEPA filters are what you want for dust. The filters are usually pink, and filter very fine dust including crazy stuff like asbestos.

Charcoal, or organic vapor​ filters are what you want for chemicals.

Sometimes you can buy filters that are a combination of both.

The better disposable dust masks, should have an N95 marked on them. These are the minimum u should be wearing when making dust. The cheapo paper filter ones are good for containing sneezes, that's about it...

A good quality shop vac with proper dust filters will go a long way in controlling dust in an apartment. I have a wood shop and I am a big advocate for high end dust collection. When I was young there was none. Now it is everywhere and easy to obtain. If you have the coin to drop on a Festool vacuum they are quiet, move a ton of air and have great filtration, so kind of nice for an apartment. It is way easier to clean up the dust if you capture it as you create it. It also stays out of your lungs that way too.

Here's a nice little unit I just picked up that separates the dust before it even gets to the shop vac. A little on the expensive side, but totally worth it. Absolutely no dust gets to your filter.

Dust Deputy® Deluxe - Lee Valley Tools

Or, here's a vid on how you can make one yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-xhYnWDCd0

Originally Posted by RezDog

A good quality shop vac with proper dust filters will go a long way in controlling dust in an apartment. I have a wood shop and I am a big advocate for high end dust collection. When I was young there was none. Now it is everywhere and easy to obtain. If you have the coin to drop on a Festool vacuum they are quiet, move a ton of air and have great filtration, so kind of nice for an apartment. It is way easier to clean up the dust if you capture it as you create it. It also stays out of your lungs that way too.

How would you use a shop vac to gather dust as it is created? That is what I want to do, though am not envisioning how to do it.

There are a variety of things you can do. Almost all power tools these days come with dust collection ports. If you are using hand tools, just having the hose with a broad end on it secured right where you are sanding will pick up a lot of stuff. you can build elaborated table top sanding stations that collect dust too, but I usually use a clamp and secure a hose near by. Remember it is the smaller and lighter particles that are the dangerous ones. The large particles are not the ones the become airborne. Having an air flow will automatically draw the light stuff in.
Andrew is correct about Oneida vacuum products too, they are very well made and very effective.

ok. That makes sense.

Do you think it would be safe to work indoors (in my apartment) with a proper dust mask with the pink HEPA filters and a proper dust collection system like what has been discussed already?

What about G10? This is the scale material with some asbestos like properties. I really like the material and will proably use it fairly often.

Many, many thanks to the experienced folks who are helping me!

one of the issues with dust is the stuff that you carry around on your clothes. G-10 in an apartment maybe not. If you have enough controls in place, sure. If your work had you close to a balcony where you could clean off you person with an air hose without having to tour the apartment first, If you surfaces were easy to clean and you controlled the dust really well on top of that. There is also that possibility of being able to set up dust control curtains. I have used those a lot on renovation site. They require a few gadgets to get set up but once you are set they can go up and down in minutes. Basically all we used was heavy fabric sheets, stapled to a 1x4 and then telescopic screw type pole near the ends, that held up the sheets to the ceiling, and a few times we weighted them to the floor. How far you are willing to go to work in your apartment is part of the question. Some people that live in cities rent work spaces.

For that reason, I do not use G10.

I also use dust collection, a fan blowing between the buffer or sander and my face and wear a good face mask.

If using a Shop Vic, I use a washable foam filter, (better volume) and another long hose on the exhaust port to blow the vac exhaust out of the shop.

BTW you can buy an inexpensive shop vac exhaust muffler, that does not affect the flow and reduces the noise level considerably. I still use ear muffs thought.

Even though I love the density of G10, it is sounding like it may be better to avoid it.

Are that any other scales materials that have a high toxicity/danger profile like G10?