- Anybody ever seen a Metal Sponge?!?

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Well, here ya go....


MetalSponge0511-01.jpg




MetalSponge0511-02.jpg





:eek: :eek: :eek:



This is what I get at the bottom of my quench bucket (for keeping blades cool while grinding - you can see it being filled up in the background).






It comes from doing this all day....



Sparks0511-01.jpg




:eek: :eek:




The "bucket-below-the-grinder-to-catch-sparks" idea is a great one because it "catches" the sparks and keep free-floating particle matter from accumulating in the shop....creating the infamous "Black Boogers" many knifemakers are familiar with....:barf:


Dan
 
Cool photos. Can only imagine the amount of small metal particles that accumulate. When I sharpen one knife, the amount of metal can be a lot, relatively speaking.
 
Take a look at my grinder pic:

DozierGrinder0507-01.jpg



See that hose attached with a small orange clamp...?


That's hooked up to my dust collector and pulls airborne particles that are nearest my breathin' parts. :D



I also use a ceiling mounted air-cleaner.

Between those three things (quench/catch bucket + dust collector + air cleaner).....I don't get the black boogers anymore. ;)


Dan
 
The above pic is a great illustration of how fires begin in a shop!!!


Notice the little "breakaway group" of sparks traveling down the belt? They'll hit whatever is behind the grinder and potentially ignite it. There are even sparks that will travel all the way around the grinder and hit me in the top of the head! :eek:

Just grin-n-bear it, folks....that's all I can do.

I've tried the hat thing - I turn into a sweaty mess with hat-head-hair.

I've also posted metal plates with magnets to catch strays, etc. But the problem with that is that it also collects handle material particles....and then when you go back to grind steel....you get 'meltdown'....:eek:



So, for now....if I have to grind hard, I put my head off to one side and let 'em go sailin' past me. :p













Re: the Metal Sponge

It really does hold water quite well for some time...! That's why it's 'camping out' on the edge of the sink.....draining. After it's done leaking :eek: I toss it in the trash (making sure, of course, that it has cooled off plenty!)


Dan
 
In the shop that I learned at we had a 2 part dust collector. The larger particles went into a trash can, the smaller were pulled up to the attic to a fine filter material.
The VAST majority of particles were seperated out by gravity and never made it up to the finer filter.

A trashcan full of fine particles of steel, aluminum, brass, nickle silver, horn, and wood when lit on fire is:

A. smelly
B. difficult to put out
C. kind of scary
D. A real mess

And yes, black/silver boogers are not fun. You sneeze and everyone comments on the glitter on your face.
 
Daniel Koster said:
There are even sparks that will travel all the way around the grinder and hit me in the top of the head! :eek:

Dan
Click to expand...

LOL, sorry but that's funny!:D
Do you recycle your left over steel or throw it away? I'm not trying to be a tree hugger but you might be able to get money back on that. That bucket is a good idea. Bet it's easier to clean up than that dust pile you showed a pick of before the bucket.
 
Another thing don't keep steel wool around where sparks are flying,stubborn things to stop burning,only sure way drop in quench bucket-regards Butch
 
That's exactly what my magnet-spark-catcher did.....just burned and burned like steel wool.....no flames....just a glow...:eek:


Dan
 
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