Recommendations on Filtration Systems

TK Steingass

TK Steingass

Troglodyte Knifemaker
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
5,776
Fellow Knifemakers:

I do my grinding in the basement - I try and catch most of the grindings in a water bucket, however, my wife is concerned about the furnace blowing this stuff all over the house. After changing the furnace filter, I can see why she's concerned.

What filtration system do you guys use or recommend while grinding?

TK
 
Simplest solution I've found is to buy a 20" box fan ($15.00 at Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc.) and some 20" furnace filters. Attach (duct tape or get fancy) the filters to the intake side of the fan. I got two, one on the ground and one hanging. It's amazing how much that simple $40 solution keeps dust controlled.
 
I gave up and built panel walls to partition off my grinding area from the rest of the shop. The "dirty room" is exausted by a 20" box fan with a filter on it, blowing into a venturi collector, which leads to a squirrel cage blower that vents out through the wall.
 
I installed a dust control system, I have a metal box that the bottom is removalbe to allow metal to go into the bucket but put the bottom in and use the exhaust fan to blow dust outside. Its not just the grinder almost everything generates dust. I can open and close valves for each machine, grizzly has alot of parts to make up a system to meet your needs.
 
Venting outside is the most efficient solution just be aware that if you are not trapping the dust outside you are probably breaking a town or state ordinance, and if you have nosy neighbors ...

Also, venting outside will very quickly move your heat (or air conditioning) out of the house.
 
johnnym said:
Venting outside is the most efficient solution just be aware that if you are not trapping the dust outside you are probably breaking a town or state ordinance, and if you have nosy neighbors ...

Also, venting outside will very quickly move your heat (or air conditioning) out of the house.
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My setup does filter the air before blowing it outside. Fortunately my closest neighbor is a few hundred feet away.
 
I double the filters on the box fan. A cheaper one on the outside, a better one between that one and the intake of the fan.

However, I believe I need more.
The dust has already cost me $100 for the blower starting the airflow up the chimney on the furnace, and the well pump is no more than 4' from where I grind.
I can hear a difference in that when it kicks on.

Granted, my "dust' is primarily from handle materials, but there's plenty of it. :(

I'm gonna hafta close my grinding area off from the rest of the basement, and enclose that well pump.
Probably box that in and put one of the really good furnace filters on that to ensure clean airflow.
 
If you use a box fan/furnace filter right behind your grinder like I do, please remember to vacuum it off daily. (A shop-vac is essential in the shop; use it before you take off your respirator.)

Ever start a campfire with steel wool and a 9V battery? Well, it's no fun to look up and realize the whole filter is glowing orange because one too many stray sparks lit up the steel dust and filter material :eek: I'm sure the same thing could happen if the filter had a layer of wood/micarta/whatever dust on it.

Interestingly, I'm no expert at starting campfires, it seems I'm pretty good at starting accidental fires though :confused:

BurlSource said:
It seems that cutting yourself and setting yourself on fire is just a normal part of knifemaking.
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EDIT: Another thing to keep in mind when grinding/exhausting the results, is never EVER allow steel/iron and aluminum dust to mix. It can create a mixture that ignites easily, burns super hot/fast and is VERY difficult to extinguish.
 
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I really like this unit that Tom Krein came up with.
TheBeast.jpg
 
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I just purchased a canister dust collector. Now the task of running duct work!!
 
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