Keeping it Fresh

bobbywett

bobbywett

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
1,231
Hi Everyone,

I am interested in finding out how my fellow knife makers go about keeping their lungs from filling up with fine dusts and smokes created in our shops? I have a respirator in my shop, but must admit to wearing it sparingly...ie almost never.

So what do you folks use? Are their dust collection systems suited for knife makers? Are respirators the way to go? At work we have down draft tables, but I don't think they would work well for us.

Thanks for your input,

Bob,

Herrshey, PA
 
i do the praying i don't get pnumonia, lung cancer, silicosis and emphyzema dance, and i try to make myself wear the masks more often.

honestly, i've taken to moving my sanding equipment outdoors lately, and that's probably the biggest help i've found.
 
I wear a full-face respirator any time one of my grinders is turned on. I used to use a face shield and half mask respirator but the top wheel on my Coote is high enough overhead that it can fling debris right over the top of a face shield or glasses. The full face mask solves this and the particulate issue at a single stroke. It is not exactly comfortable but you get used to it. When it feels like your eyeballs are getting sucked out the front of your head, it's time for a break!
I also use a shop vac (with a 3-stage filter and exhausted to the outside of the shop) as a dust collector under my small wheel attatchment when grinding micarta or G10, if set up right this seems to capture the vast majority of the dust that this stuff creates.
I also have a box fan with an allergen filter mounted on the back which grabs some of the particulate out of the air.
 
You know, Canid, I put every bench in my shop/garage on sturdy wheels....you would think I might have thought about moving thinks out doors on nice days too...but I'm a little slow...dust on the brain.
 
1. respirator always when grinding
2. shop vac at grinder, most of the time but not always
3. box fan with filter- micarta grinding
4. gable exhaust fan
5. small vac when grinding at bench
 
I know people who set up a wet grinding system to drastically cut down on dust in the air while grinding. Works great for grinding steel, although my guess is that this would cause problems with stuff like Micarta and wood. Also have to be careful that the belts you're using are ok to use wet.

A wet grinding system can be as easy as a paint can with a tube coming out of it, with holes in the tube.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top