Need advice of safely grinding micarta

J

Juramentado

Joined
Aug 23, 2003
Messages
185
I'm now considering trying out working with micarta. For a number of reasons I can't grinding this at my usual work area. I have access to part of a warehouse but the owner will only allow me to grind micarta at the location if I can safety control the dust and other toxins. There are other people working in the warehouse, a few meters away, but I'm being asked to set up some sort of dust collecting system,

Aside from my use of a respirator, what else can I do to satisfy this request to keep things clean and safe? Does anyone have some sort of booth set up that collects the dust to a receptacle? Some ideas and shop pics would really help..
 
My shop is attached to my house, so it is important to keep airborne dust under control. I use a simple dust collector system to keep my shop clean. This is what I have http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11239, most of the time it is adequate without the mask. When I grind toxic material, (i.e. cocobolo), I double up and use a respirator too.
 
firebert, I am going to respectfully diasagree with you on one point. In industrial safety supervisor training, they hammered in to us to never subordinate personal protective equipment to secondary systems. Thus, while I applaud your use of a dust collector, it should never supplant the use of a respirator as your primary protection.
 
Thus, while I applaud your use of a dust collector, it should never supplant the use of a respirator as your primary protection. quote from mr. fitzo
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so in otherwords, unless you make anyone that is in the area wear a respirator and have a system in place it would be unadvisable. I learned the hard way with micarta and g10- i unded up scaring one of my lungs. it is not fun to have chest pain and coughing constantly. just mt 2 cents---mark
 
Not to be argumentative, but, micarta is such nasty stuff....I use both. The dust collector will prevent alot, no all, the dust from going around the shop. But since I am real close and sometimes get my face real close, I have a very good respirator.

Here is a little less expensive dust collector which work great.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94029

Attach the hose and put it real close to your work piece.
 
G10 is not safer at all. It has glass fibers running through it so you have to deal with the glass problems as well as the toxic chemicals. It is all nasty stuff to work with but still not as bad a carbon fiber or MOP. Use a good dust collector and a respirator.
 
Has anyone made their own dust collector or dust control setup? Like maybe something put together with some metal sheeting, suction pump and duct tape? :)
 
Your real problem will not be the dust, it can be controlled, the smell (odour) will be the problem. A dust collector will not control that.

Unless you can vent the system outside the building there will be someone complaining about the smell.

George
 
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