Dust as a health hazard?

[emackrell]

Got a question for the more experienced turners out there (ah, that would be all of you). I've been doing a lot of online research about how to set up a dust collection system in my soon-to-be shop. Several articles and a website or two have said that nearly all woodworkers, especially hobbyists, eventually wind up with respiratory problems from breathing in fine dust over the years. Apparently this is more of an issue for hobbyists since the larger shops with humongo dust collection systems all have their cyclones and bins outside, for obvious reasons, but we hobbyists often don't have that option. And the fine dust that is the worst health concern is the hardest to trap and keep inside the collector -- so it gets back out into the air quickly.

So: for those of you who have been around woodturning for a while, is this an accurate reflection of the risks as you perceive them? Or is it on the alarmist side? I'm trying to figure out how serious I need to get about dust collection -- will a small system do any good, or do I need to invest heavily in a big cyclone etc.

Appreciate your thoughts.

cheers Eileen [8D]

 

[Dario]

First I am not in anyway an expert...but will share my thoughts.

Dust is a real threat.

That said, you don't really need to get the super DC's. They are better but you will be fine with simpler ones. The main thing is use a fine filtration bag or the more expensive canisters. Most DC come with ridiculous bags that can only handle 30 micros...in a way I think it makes things worse since it vacuums all of them and spew them out suspending them on the air much longer for you to breathe in.

You can also double your protection by wearing dust mask and not relying on the DC alone.

 

[reed43]

I live in hot country ( Somerton Az), so I have set up a eveporate cooler that blowes across my lathe, keeping the dust away from me. I also have a 2 hp dust collector pulling from behind my lathe that sets outside. Some of the dust from turnings are very harmful. If I were setting a dust collector inside of my shop I would very definetly consider getting one with the filter on the top rather than the dust bag. Hope this info is helpful. Reed

 

[Geo in Winnipeg]

Hi Eileen,
I, like Dario, am by no means anywhere near an expert but for a plethora of good, accurate info check Bill Penz's site http://billpentz.com//woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm He is an acknowledged expert. Reed has excellent advice. Put the dust collector outside if you can. If you can't throw away the 30 micron bags that come with the collector and get good canister filters. The dust that does the most harm is less than 2 microns in size. The way to go is a cyclone if you can afford it.
I hope this helps. Good luck with the dust collection. Whatever kind you choose please post some pics once it's installed.[]

 

[beamer]

Bill Pentz is the champion of all hobbyists out there when it comes to dust collection. He suffers personally to the effects of wood dust and has dedicated himself relentlessly to getting real answers and factual information to the joe-woodworker/turner. The site is PACKED with information and he really firmly stresses that nothing short of a very powerful cyclone capable of pulling enough air at the source is going to protect you from all the risks of wood dust.

He's right, of course. I completely agree with him. It's not a question of saving money, here. It's a question of your goals. Reading his site will help educate you on the risks involved. From there, it's up to you to decide what level of protection you want for yourself.

Me, I stop just short of the big moster cyclone system. My goals are to get as much dust as possible without spending a ton of money on machines that will actually fit in my shop. There are two forces acting against the monster cyclone for me: I am so tight I could probably make diamonds from coal and I have a 6' 3" height restriction in my shop. The height restriction is probably the more limiting of the two. I can't fit a "proper" cyclone into that height with any decent sized bin underneath it. Anything else would be a compromise and that's where the miser in me kicks in. I will have the ultimate monster cyclone one day - but not until I move. This place is a rental and I'm doing what I can with what I have for now. When I buy a house, room for a cyclone is among the deal breakers.

Until then, I have my Jet 1100cfm DC piped with 6" duct work to almost all my tools. I got my Jet 1100DC on clearance, it had bags and no remote. I called up Rick Wynn over at Wynn Environmental (http://www.wynnenv.com/) and told him what I had, he sent me a canister filter that fit. That was my best investment ever. Easily doubled my airflow at every tool, no question. I use blast gates to guarantee full suction to each tool as I need it. The way I see it, this system has me about 90% there. I have made the needed changes to my tools to get optimal suction (closed in my contractor saw, for example).

It all depends on your goals and only you can decide if it's worth the energy. I am only 30, and I intend to get at least 50 years out of this hobby. But my wallet demands that I go in stages.

This will do. For now.

 

[woodbutcher]

Try here. http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/CycloneVacuumPlan.cfm I'll probably be ordering one of these next month. It will end any concerns about dust. Read the reviews.
Jim

 

[PenWorks]

Great reading, I always go back to this site for reference on anything about dust collecting. I have been teetering between the Clear Vue and the Oneida
http://www.oneida-air.com/ for the new shop.