Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust, perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.

A fair amount of the culprit particulates that get to me are too small to be
trapped by the typical shop dust filtering systems that I have looked into
(also, most of these systems are simply too large to be installed in my
small area). So I am considering one of the larger consumer "air purifiers"
on the market. Any comments or experiences?

The HEPA filtration that is a part of these units would be a plus point for
me but I am a little skeptical about the capacity of the filters in these
units when put to use in a woodworking shop. Any discussion of the limits of
these filters?

I do use a P100 mask when I am cutting and I use vacuum dust collection on
the tools but that doesn't catch a lot of this fine stuff and I don't want
to have to wear the mask full time in the shop.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tim

Hi Tim,
IMHO it would be a costly exercise that will not do the job. The real solution
for you is to prevent the fine dust from becoming airborne, otherwise you are
going to be breathing it until the room filter captures it. The air purifier
will capture the fines but will clog quite quickly and as you know the price of
HEPA filters for those little guys is high. The idea of capturing all the dust
before it becomes airborne is a worth target but never really achieved.
In my shop I have a Oneida cyclone dust collector plus a 1350 CFM air filter
and some dust still makes it up stairs to the living area where I have an air
purifier.
I think the solution in your case might be a battery powered air purifying
respirator. The better ones are not all that uncomfortable to wear for extended
periods. Cheers, JG


Ellestad wrote:

Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust, perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.

A fair amount of the culprit particulates that get to me are too small to be
trapped by the typical shop dust filtering systems that I have looked into
(also, most of these systems are simply too large to be installed in my
small area). So I am considering one of the larger consumer "air purifiers"
on the market. Any comments or experiences?

The HEPA filtration that is a part of these units would be a plus point for
me but I am a little skeptical about the capacity of the filters in these
units when put to use in a woodworking shop. Any discussion of the limits of
these filters?

I do use a P100 mask when I am cutting and I use vacuum dust collection on
the tools but that doesn't catch a lot of this fine stuff and I don't want
to have to wear the mask full time in the shop.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tim

Time get heavily into hand tools, make shavings, not dust.

Cheers,

Andy

Have you considered getting a 1.5 or 2.0 HP bag collector and just
putting it outside? The only disadvantage to this is that it sucks
out all your heating and cooling (if you have any), but then you don't
have to worry about how good the filters are.

Mark

"Ellestad" wrote in message ...
Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust, perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.

A fair amount of the culprit particulates that get to me are too small to be
trapped by the typical shop dust filtering systems that I have looked into
(also, most of these systems are simply too large to be installed in my
small area). So I am considering one of the larger consumer "air purifiers"
on the market. Any comments or experiences?

The HEPA filtration that is a part of these units would be a plus point for
me but I am a little skeptical about the capacity of the filters in these
units when put to use in a woodworking shop. Any discussion of the limits of
these filters?

I do use a P100 mask when I am cutting and I use vacuum dust collection on
the tools but that doesn't catch a lot of this fine stuff and I don't want
to have to wear the mask full time in the shop.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tim

Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in
a
small shop?

I tried an old, and fairly large, Honeywell Hepa filter, but it moved way
too little air to be of much use.


I do use a P100 mask when I am cutting and I use vacuum dust collection on
the tools but that doesn't catch a lot of this fine stuff and I don't want
to have to wear the mask full time in the shop.

A vacuum simply doesn't draw enough air to be particularly useful.
But, and people will disagree with me on this, a real DC is no cure either
on tools that you cannot completely enclose. It is real good on jointer,
planers, and router tables; but not so good on sanders, miter saws and
contractors TS.

I just bought a shop air filter and it is great for soaking up the fine dust
over a period of time, but it is not quick enough to do what you need. I
think you mask is likely to be permanent.

"Ellestad" wrote in message ...
Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust, perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.


I get allergy-induced asthma from some species of wood dust, so I need
to keep dust under control too. As JG pointed out, you need to keep
it from becoming airborn. I don't have a ton of room either, but I
find that my Ridgid portable filter does a great job of catching dust
at the worksite. I use a shop vac to collect the main particles from
the TS, sanders, etc. But I also put the Ridgid portable right next
to the work, to catch the fines. This may be hand-sanding rosewood at
my bench, or catching stray stuff at the drum sander. The filter can
be cleaned (outside, while wearing a respirator), and the whole thing
cost $149, 3 years ago at HD.

Good luck,

Scott

I have a Racal Airmate and have come to enjoy wearing it. It looks a
little strange but the truly fresh air inside is quite nice. A side
benfit is that even when it is very humid my glasses don't fog up.

RB

JGS wrote:
Hi Tim,
IMHO it would be a costly exercise that will not do the job. The real solution
for you is to prevent the fine dust from becoming airborne, otherwise you are
going to be breathing it until the room filter captures it. The air purifier
will capture the fines but will clog quite quickly and as you know the price of
HEPA filters for those little guys is high. The idea of capturing all the dust
before it becomes airborne is a worth target but never really achieved.
In my shop I have a Oneida cyclone dust collector plus a 1350 CFM air filter
and some dust still makes it up stairs to the living area where I have an air
purifier.
I think the solution in your case might be a battery powered air purifying
respirator. The better ones are not all that uncomfortable to wear for extended
periods. Cheers, JG


Ellestad wrote:


Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust, perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.

A fair amount of the culprit particulates that get to me are too small to be
trapped by the typical shop dust filtering systems that I have looked into
(also, most of these systems are simply too large to be installed in my
small area). So I am considering one of the larger consumer "air purifiers"
on the market. Any comments or experiences?

The HEPA filtration that is a part of these units would be a plus point for
me but I am a little skeptical about the capacity of the filters in these
units when put to use in a woodworking shop. Any discussion of the limits of
these filters?

I do use a P100 mask when I am cutting and I use vacuum dust collection on
the tools but that doesn't catch a lot of this fine stuff and I don't want
to have to wear the mask full time in the shop.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tim

I've been looking for one of them. Seems they don't carry that item any
more, at least not the dozen or so I've been in.

--
"Cartoons don't have any deep meaning.
They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh."
Homer Simpson
Jerry© The Phoneman®
"Scott" wrote in message
om...
"Ellestad" wrote in message
...
Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust
in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My
sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust,
perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that
most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.


I get allergy-induced asthma from some species of wood dust, so I need
to keep dust under control too. As JG pointed out, you need to keep
it from becoming airborn. I don't have a ton of room either, but I
find that my Ridgid portable filter does a great job of catching dust
at the worksite. I use a shop vac to collect the main particles from
the TS, sanders, etc. But I also put the Ridgid portable right next
to the work, to catch the fines. This may be hand-sanding rosewood at
my bench, or catching stray stuff at the drum sander. The filter can
be cleaned (outside, while wearing a respirator), and the whole thing
cost $149, 3 years ago at HD.

Good luck,

Scott

Jerry Gilreath wrote:
I've been looking for one of them. Seems they don't carry that item
any more, at least not the dozen or so I've been in.

Single-filter Grizzly closeout.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emNumber=G9954

-- Mark

Dust collection depends mostly on the dust hood on the machine not on
the DC. If the dust hood is not built properly to handle the amount of
dust the machine puts out or the DC isn't pulling enough air, then a
more powerful DC is thought to be needed. But maybe the dust hood
design can be changed to accommodate the current DC. ie: A shop vac
hooked to a planer will not move the dust fast enough because the shop
vac hose is 2 to 2-1/2' in diameter. This gives a little over 6 sq in
of hose area per inch of hose. Usually this 6+ inches is converted to a
4" line which has a box hood. The 4" line is 12.56 sq in and the box
hood is 16+ square inches. So now you are starting with a good suction
on a small hose and converting it to a large hose. The 16+ sq in is
needed from a DC to make this work or the dust hood needs to be reduced
in size to accommodate a smaller area of suction. This is why Sears
came out with a planer that looks like it has a shop vac wand for the
dust hood accessible from both sides with 4" and shop vac lines.

Dust collection should be at the machine. I have no problem with my
contractor TS, CMS, BS, router, jointer, planer or drum sander putting
out too much dust. And with the quilt filter for my DC, it stops dust
before it can get into the air that might have slipped through the 30
micron DC bags because of it's thickness.

You should always be sure to purchase tools that have a chamber where
the dust is thrown. A TS with a motor on the back has an opening where
the belt has to go through the case to the blade. This opening also
allows dust to escape into the shop, A TS with the motor under the case
will allow the dust to be trapped under the saw and with the right dust
hood, such as mine, it will catch most all the dust and send it to the
DC.

My tools all have a redesigned dust hood to allow the use of a shop vac
hose and a 1 hp DC. They work great together.

A shop vac will work if the dust hood is designed correctly. This is
why you say they do not work is because you are trying to match the
suction needed for the existing hood. Some tools, such as sanders, CMS
and open TS do not have a DC hood and one may have to be designed.


--


Toller wrote

A vacuum simply doesn't draw enough air to be particularly useful.
But, and people will disagree with me on this, a real DC is no cure
either on tools that you cannot completely enclose. It is real good
on jointer, planers, and router tables; but not so good on sanders,
miter saws and contractors TS.

--
Woody


Check out my Web Page at:

http://community-1.webtv.net/Woodwor...workerJoesInfo

Where you will find:

******** How My Shop Works ******** 5-21-03

* * * Build a $20 DC Separator Can Lid. 1-14-03
* * * DC Relay Box Building Plans. 1-14-03
* * * The Bad Air Your Breath Everyday.1-14-03
* * * What is a Real Woodworker? 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Definitions. 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Laws. 4-6-03
* * * What is the true meaning of life? 1-14-03
* * * Woodworker Shop Signs. 2-8-03

Air purifiers are not the answer. There is NO substitute for a dust
collector with enough air flow to collect an envelope of air around the
tool generating the dust so that it carries all of the dust and dust-laden
air away and into a CYCLONE that is designed well enough that it removes
at least 99.4% of the dust from the air stream BEFORE it gets to the
blower. Then add a 0.3 micron certified filter after that, and you will
have clean air to breathe.

For a 10" table saw, you need 1000 CFM of ACTUAL air flow, minimum; same
for a sanding table and somewhat less for jointer or planer.

Spend some time at Bill Pentz's web site and get informed about dust
collection principles. Bill nearly died from the effects of wood dust
and spent a year doing extensive research before he was back in his
shop after recovering (somewhat). His site is by far the most
authoritative site anywhere on the subject of dust collection. He has
designed an excellent cyclone dust separator, and I am the ONLY person
licensed to produce and sell systems based on his design.

To access his site, go to:

http://cnets.net/~eclectic/woodworki...lone/index.cfm

For info about the kits I produce and the blower housing that goes with it:

http://cnets.net/~eclectic/woodworki...larkesKits.cfm

Other info about dust collection at:

http://www.digitalnetworks.ca/~steve...wood/links.htm

If you have other questions, contact me privately.

Clarke

Ellestad wrote:

Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?

I have a small shop (no remedy) and vasomotor rhinitis (no cure). My sinuses
and nasal passages are hypersensitive to various stimuli including the
ultra-fine dust created in a woodworking shop. Oil-burning exhaust, perfume,
cleaning solution oderants, cookies baking - all sorts of things that most
people aren't affected by (I know, some of them smell good) are like
snorting battery acid to me.

A fair amount of the culprit particulates that get to me are too small to be
trapped by the typical shop dust filtering systems that I have looked into
(also, most of these systems are simply too large to be installed in my
small area). So I am considering one of the larger consumer "air purifiers"
on the market. Any comments or experiences?

The HEPA filtration that is a part of these units would be a plus point for
me but I am a little skeptical about the capacity of the filters in these
units when put to use in a woodworking shop. Any discussion of the limits of
these filters?

I do use a P100 mask when I am cutting and I use vacuum dust collection on
the tools but that doesn't catch a lot of this fine stuff and I don't want
to have to wear the mask full time in the shop.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tim

I agree with Clarke. You need a good dust collector in any enclosed
woodshop. But even a good dust collector won't get every thing and
doesn't work with every task (like sanding) and doesn't capture
airborn dust floating around. I thought about using a Hunter air
purifier like those sold at OSH. Their filters are relatively cheap.
An even cheaper alternative is to buy a cheap (i.e. used) box fan and
build a simple wooden bracket so it can accept one of those 3M furnace
filters. Heck, you could buy to box fans and, set on high could move
about as much air as those air filters sold by Delta and Jet.

Layne

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 02:07:01 -0600, "Ellestad"
wrote:

Has anyone considered using a consumer "air purifier" to eliminate dust in a
small shop?