Grinder dust

S

smorgan345

Joined
Mar 8, 2007
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242
I just finished setting up a Coote grinder in my garage. I'm a little concerned on how I'm going to control dust. I'm on a tight budget. I have a Rigid shop vac and Ive been trying to think through how I could rig something up that would suck up the dust. I'm concerned about vacuuming hot sparks though. I guess I could just use it for when I'm grinding micarta. Just seeing if anyone has had a similar problem. Thanks.
 
Coffee can full of water hanging just below the wheel down where the sparks go, with a dab of detergent in it, will catch a lot of it.
 
I think one setup that would work for sparks would be a hose under your grinder, running to a hole in the top of a 5 gal. pail. That pail would be partially filled with water, and would have another hole in the top with a hose running to your shop vac or dust collector.
The water would catch any sparks and prevent a fire.
I think I have seen something like this before, but I'm not sure where.
 
I use a Harbor Freight dust collector, and vent it outside. I've also used a shop vac without incident. I'm using a water bucket in addition to the dust collector, and this combo seems to work well.

I wear a PAPR unit when grinding. Works great!
 
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I don't use my vacuum system when grinding on steel. There is just too much of a chance for a fire. I have a squirrel cage fan outside of my shop that does a good job of drawing out the dust. Inside I have an open place covered with screening just behind my buffer and a pick up box on a 4" pipe at the grinder. When I start this up, I open without starting an exhaust fan high on the wall. This will allow the dust collecting to go better and will allow for fresh oxygen to continously enter the room. The fan turns because of the air coming into the room .If you feel flushed or are going red in the face that's what will do that. I have a 5 gallon pail of water with a bit of dish soap under the grinder, as well. Frank
 
A 5 gallon bucket of soapy water hung directly under the grinding area of the belt, AND A GOOD RESPIRATOR. No cheap paper masks...a good quality, cartridge type respirator. That is the wisest use of your funds.

If you think $50 or so is too much to pay for a good respirator, let me tell you that it's better than $65K to remove a lung tumor, and 8-10 weeks before you can be up and around.....that was me, just over a year ago! PROTECT YOURSELF!!
 
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barnett25 said:
I think one setup that would work for sparks would be a hose under your grinder, running to a hole in the top of a 5 gal. pail. That pail would be partially filled with water, and would have another hole in the top with a hose running to your shop vac or dust collector.
The water would catch any sparks and prevent a fire.
I think I have seen something like this before, but I'm not sure where.
Click to expand...

grizzly sells what you described for use on a metal garbage can
 
Good ideas above, mostly the RESPIRATOR. Remember it's not just the dust you see than can mess you up, it's the tiny stuff you can't see.

A cheap 20" box fan with a furnace filter taped over it, right behind your grinder helps some too. Vacuum it off at the end of each day with your shop vac. It's startling to let it get too dirty and look up to see a big orange glow in the middle of it! :eek:

In general vacuuming around the grinder area daily is always a good idea. Ever start a campfire with steel wool and a 9V? The same thing can happen with the swarf behind/under your grinder. A clean shop is a safe, happy, healthy shop.
 
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