Woodworker's Journal 2006-30-2, страница 68
Comprehensive Dust Control Strategies By Sandor Nagvszalanczv •WV-iJ J im^ T A A any woodworkers come home from the tool store with / Y I a portable dust collector, air filtration device or shop vacuum, then pat themselves on the back thinking they've finally tackled all their woodshop sawdust problems. More often than not, this is not the case. Unfortunately, fully controlling sawdust — even in a single-garage-sized workshop with only a handful of machines — is a more difficult goal to achieve than most people think. Keeping your shop clean and yourself safe from the negative effects of chips and dust actually requires a combination of different dust collection and equipment and control methods. Wiy do wood shops need different kinds of dust collection and control? For starters, because basic woodworking operations — planing, cutting, shaping, drilling and sanding wood — produce different forms of wood waste (see photo at right) that each pose different hazards: Planing or turning, by hand or machine, produce large shavings that quickly pile up, and can clog machines like jointers and portable planers. Piles of large shavings can Various machines make various sties of chips, shavings, sawdust anif fine wood powder. not only trip you up underfoot, but can provide bedding for vermin and pose a serious fire hazard. Sawing, drilling, routing and shaping all produce a mix of smallish chips and dust, which can fly around the shop with remarkable ease. Chips and dust are not only a nuisance and a fire hazard, but can collect inside machines and clog motors and adjustment mechanisms (like the trunnions on a table saw). Further, when chips aren't sucked away, they are cut many times by the blade or bit, dulling teeth and producing more fine wood powder. Sanding by hand or with portable, benchtop and stationary abrasive machines produces fine powder that floats easily through the air, landing and accumulating on bench tops, shelves and light fixtures and machines and tools. Worst of all, very fine wood powder is easily breathed in, and can cause a wide range of health problems (see the sidebar below for details). No single dust collection device does a perfect job of corralling all these different sizes of wood refuse. For example, even a powerful centra] dust collector doesn't catch all the One chips and dust catapulted by a table saw or shaper, and an air filtration device won't do a thing when it comes to gathering up shavings and chips. Further, Today's Shop continues on page 70 ... you're not entirely immune to the negative effects. You can easily develop allergic reactions to redwood, red cedar and exotics like rosewood and ebony, even after casual contact. And the dangers of sawdust don't stop with respiratory problems. It's easy to forget just how flammable shavings and chips are. Under the right circumstances (which are rare and uncommon, thank goodness), fine dust can even be explosive! All it takes is a single spark from an electric motor or outlet, or from grinding a chisel, to quickly create a fire that can ruin your shop and threaten your life. And if your shop is attached to your home, you stand to lose a lot more than just your tools and lumber stash! The dangers of wood chips & dust IF you've been doing your woodworking anywhere but on a desert island, you're probably aware of the many dangers that fine wood dust poses to your respiratory health. Without getting into the gory details, prolonged exposure to wood dust can lead to bronchial, nasal and sinus irritation (at best), as well as more serious respiratory conditions including emphysema and cancer. Even if you only make sawdust on occasion, 68 April 2006 Woodworker's Journal |
