Setting up shop with a $1000(updated with dust collector I built and another light)

Purchase a five pack of 24X48" frosted lighting panel from Home Depot or similar place. Find some way to mount it under the lights. Really unpleasant things happen when metal goes flying in the shop and there are exposed fluorescent lamps like that. Here is the type of panel I am talking about:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

You could make a 2X2 lumber frame and hang it from the ceiling, setting the panels on top of the frame. If you have a router, you can route a 1/4" channel on the top of the frame to make a lip for the panels to sit in.
 
bladsmth said:
Purchase a five pack of 24X48" frosted lighting panel from Home Depot or similar place. Find some way to mount it under the lights. Really unpleasant things happen when metal goes flying in the shop and there are exposed fluorescent lamps like that. Here is the type of panel I am talking about:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

You could make a 2X2 lumber frame and hang it from the ceiling, setting the panels on top of the frame. If you have a router, you can route a 1/4" channel on the top of the frame to make a lip for the panels to sit in.
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Will do that today thanks for the advice, the one big compact florescent is equivalent to 400w I think. It's worth $80-$120 and I got it years ago for starting vegetables in the spring indoors back when I was married and did that kind of stuff. It's a different spectrum of light more on the red side , the long tube ones are daylight so I have 2 different types of light. Any thoughts on the dust box besides learn some elementary carpentry skills , do you think it'll work?
 
duffy99 said:
Any thoughts on the dust box besides learn some elementary carpentry skills , do you think it'll work?
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It looks like it took some ingenuity and it is better than nothing else but far from effective. With the way the filter is kinda crammed in there it looks like there are a few leaks. I would look around on craigslist for a air filtration unit or dust collector and put a wynn pleated filter on it. I have both a filtration unit and a dust collector plumbed to my band saw, disc grinder, and my 2 x 72. I also use my 3m half mask.

Picked up the air filtration unit brand new in the box for $150
http://www.amazon.com/708620B-AFS-1000B-Filtration-Electrostatic-Pre-Filter/dp/B00004R9LO

and the dust collector (used) and plumbing for $100
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19609

I mean, as long as you are already over your initial $1000 budget why not :)
 
Ya I know I have to get better fitting filters and I can seal it up quite easily. I will probably buy something proper down the road ,is 120 cfm moving enough air?
 
Patrice Lemée;9908471 said:
Sadly no. Any outside wall in there you could put a vent through?
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There is all the ducting from exhaust for the dryer and furnace but no windows in the basement . I'm renting but it looks like someone vented into the room I'm using as a " shop" since there is a hole in the wall the size of ducting . I have no experience with that type of stuff and don't want to start pushing bad air throughout the house . I was thinking of following the dryer exhaust line and tapping into it . What kind of fan would I need to do that and is it a good idea or no? Would it just be better to spend $200 on a commercial dust collector like this http://www.kmstools.com/king-canada-1-hp-dust-collector-2590? I've already DIY'd it up this far but if a fan is going to be $100 might as well buy a proper machine. $200 is a far amount right now since I've put a lot of money into the shop recently but I care about my health and hate dust.
 
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duffy99 said:
There is all the ducting from exhaust for the dryer and furnace but no windows in the basement .

I'm renting but it looks like someone vented into the room I'm using as a " shop" since there is a hole in the wall the size of ducting .

I have no experience with that type of stuff and don't want to start pushing bad air throughout the house .

I was thinking of following the dryer exhaust line and tapping into it .

What kind of fan would I need to do that and is it a good idea or no?

Would it just be better to spend $200 on a commercial dust collector like this http://www.kmstools.com/king-canada-1-hp-dust-collector-2590

I've already DIY'd it up this far but if a fan is going to be $100 might as well buy a proper machine.
$200 is a far amount right now since I've put a lot of money into the shop recently but I care about my health and hate dust.
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I wouldn't "tap into" the dryer exhaust line and leave the dryer connected for fear of blowing steel and dust particles into the dryer
Maybe - if you can disconnect and reconnect each time.
It is nicest if you can go outside as long as it has a chance to blow away freely.


The dust collector you linked to has problems - I've read some woodworker forums on this.
1 - if you use both wood dust for handles and steel which sparks along with great airflow it's really possible to light er on fire.
2 - The bag doesn't trap the really fine dust & that's the most dangerous - it recirculates back into the air
There are HEPA add on filters, but they will double or triple your cost on that setup.

Have a look at cyclone water traps they should be able to kill the sparks and contain the dust.
DIY there is Thein
http://www.cgallery.com/jpthien/cy.htm
 
I think I'm going to by a small shop vac that's on sale , garbage bin, and some flexible ducting and make a dust bong. Maybe take that bathroom fan and attach it as another fan for it .Use the dust box for firewood or something or seal it up and run the bad air through it first then to the "cyclone".
 
How about adding a hepa filter to your shop vac and route an exhaust hose from the vac up and out next to the dryer vents location.. ??

I wouldn't mess with the dryer vent as there are enough fires related to lint traps as it is..
 
maybe the shop vac without filter filled half way with water, a hose attached to the exhaust with a hepa filter attached to the end??

this way you loose no heated air...

many thoughts and ways to go about it...

whatever you decide make sure you wear a mask.......
 
I wear a 3m half mask with organic filters and the disposable filters on top it's just that I want to be collecting the dust that floating around the shop. I like the separate line next to the dryer output idea . What can I use to push the air out , shop vac or most likely the idea of a shop vac with water and hepa filter on the exhaust.
 
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There was a thread I read a little while back on here or another forum that had plans to run your exhaust through a 5 gal bucket with water in the bottom so you don't suck sparks up into the dust collector and light anything on fire. That is what my setup is right now. I will try to find the link.
 
I'm in the process off building a dust bong with a 70 liter garbage bin, basically one tube with flexible ducting on it feeding bad air into the water and a small shop vac sucking up creating a vacuum and bubbles of dust free air in theory.
 
duffy99 said:
I'm in the process off building a dust bong with a 70 liter garbage bin, basically one tube with flexible ducting on it feeding bad air into the water and a small shop vac sucking up creating a vacuum and bubbles of dust free air in theory.
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cant wait to see it..

I only wished I had your ambition right now.. go get 'em...

and some people complain spending a couple hundred is too much on a custom knife, a LOT goes into the process... :) before you even can turn product..
 
duffy99 said:
I'm in the process off building a dust bong with a 70 liter garbage bin, basically one tube with flexible ducting on it feeding bad air into the water and a small shop vac sucking up creating a vacuum and bubbles of dust free air in theory.
Click to expand...


Test it outside.

Others have mentioned that the shop vac is so strong it will shoot water out your hose
You need to keep your downdraft hose a certain distance away from the water level - trial and error.
 
12345678910 said:
Test it outside.

Others have mentioned that the shop vac is so strong it will shoot water out your hose
You need to keep your downdraft hose a certain distance away from the water level - trial and error.
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The down draft goes into the water , the shop vac sucks up creating bubbles releasing dust free air which will be filtered through the shop vac and a hepa filter on the blower end of the shop vac . It's like a bong but with dust , I'm going to have the 120cfm fan passive dust blowing into the water and use the shop vac portion when doing actual applications. It makes sense in theory , at least to me it does. I'm telling you right now it'll be ugly and have copious duct tape on it , but if it works it works. Smoking weed in high school is finally paying off.
 
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