Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-08, страница 76

Wes' Workshop

by Vies Demarest

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Avoiding sawdust

"Don't breath the sawdust." That was the final sentence of my first column, and I have made numerous references to the dangers of sawdust over since. Because of these references, you might think that my shop is equipped with every state-of-the-art piece of equipment available to woodworkers. It is not. There is a layer of fine dust on everything in my shop, including the cciling lights. My "system" consists of the following: a 1-1/2 Hp Robland dual bag collector with a cyclone lid on a 30 Gal garbage can for a prc-filter; a box fan with a furnace filter taped in place with duct tape; a vacuum pick up on the Excalibur; and a respirator. Like you, I have financial priorities, and contrary to my knowledge, I tend to purchase either woodworking tools or photographic equipment before improving my system. My shop is a little over 700 square feet with a 10-foot ceiling, so it actually requires a 3 Hp ducted cyclone system for the machines and work areas and at least one ceiling mounted unit with a 1 -micron filter (though I would be in much better shape with a .5-micron).

It's not the big chips or shavings that causc health problems. It's the dust that is only visible in a beam of sunlight that causes major health problems. Have you ever noticed that when you wake up the next morning after a long day of scrolling that your sinuses and/or lungs feel congested? Well, some of the dust is ejected through your body's natural defenses, but a little stays behind, and every time you generate more dust, some of it ends up in your respiratory system. Jn other words, it is cumulative.

Over the years T have tried any number of masks and respirators. 1 don't like the masks becausc they fog my glasses, and in hot weather I feel like T can't breath and end up ripping them off my face. The respirators have similar problems: however, I finally found one that fits my nose properly and docs not fog my glasses—plus the exhale valve is close to my mouth so that the air docs not stay moist and warm in hot weather. The problem is that I still feel some congestion.

Trying a respirator from "down under"

I have seen the positive pressure respirators in use in several shops, and the one John Polliemus has is incredible, but the price gave me slicker shock. Several weeks ago, I saw a report, on the Triton Powered Respirator that was introduced at the AWFS Fair in Anaheim, CA. Triton is an Australian tool manufacturer that has recently introduced to the market a number of power hand tools, and the respirator is their latest item. I called the North American office to get the number of a dealer that had one in stock and was given the number of Granite Citv Tools in Waite Park, MN.

7B • Creative Woodworks Shafts Afjp|st 2004 s?P '

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helmet with a visor, ear protectors, and shroud; and a belt-mounted air filter assembly that connects to the helmet by a semi-rigid plastic hose.

The unit is made to protect against mechanically generated dust particles, such as stone and wood, with their Class PI filters and against metal fumes and mechanically and thermally generated particles with their Class P2 filter. It is not suitable for poisonous dusts, mists, gasses, vapors, low oxygen atmospheres or explosive atmospheres. The unit meets workplace standards in Australia and New Zealand for respiratory, head, hearing and eye protection.

The pre-filter is easily cleaned either by washing, ^L.....^u

®ig or vacuuming. f