Workplace Dust

[Mark Meckes]

There is a growing number of craft people who are using a wider range of power tools to work with bamboo, and have to cope with anywhere from minimal to choking dust.
The procedures we use, set limitations as to where we can perform our craftwork.... the kitchen table is definitely out of bounds for some work, but OK for other tasks.

There are potentially many more people in this world who will eventually use bamboo for craft, but will never actually cut a piece of it, then those who will use it thoroughly in the woodcrafting sense.
Many kinds of bamboo crafting products and kits will inevitably be developed and marketed to the mass consumer in the coming years.
These projects won't require the use of tools that will generate dust, or it will be minimal at most.
The parts will be pre or mostly finished and interchangeable.

But I make dust... because I use some power tools to work with bamboo...(bandsaw, scrollsaw, beltsander, drill), and hand tools (files, rasps, abrasive pads etc)...I make dust.

What are the ways to cope with this?
It is surprising that even though the Craft Industry is a multi-billion dollar Industry, small, and QUIETER home dust collection workstations are only recently being tailored for the hobby craft person.

*** Please let us know what you have found that works for you.

In the past, I have generally dealt with this problem by working outside or using an exhaust fan in the window.
I need to make improvments on this.

Apart from holding my breathe while I work, my options are...
- Working outside in the breeze or with a fan.
- Using an exhaust fans fin the workplace window or through the roof
- a vacuum type dust collection system

- Overhead filtration unit - for fine airborne
particles
- Table top filtration unit - for light work

I think I will probably gradually invest in a combination of the above.

Mark

[robert]

Lung damage is cumulative and, at a certain point, becomes irreversable.
Having picked up a touch of emphysema after half a decade of Reckless Disregard, and having tried cheap paper filters to big costly OSHA masks and studied, in some depth, the problems of inhaled work dust, here is what I
have come up with.
Best is a costly vacume collection system, which I am
saving up for, in the meantime they do have lap trays that connect to a shop vac.
Working outside is better than zip. I wear a wet bandanna over my mouth and nose, cheap, easy, and when you see what you just didn't inhale, it will make a believer of you.
I am always interested in what other people have to say about this matter.
Robert