Shopsmith Forums

Because I have recently gotten "bitten" to re-enter woodworking after 35 years, I'm unsure of the dust collection issue. My wife and I (someone who actually wants to get into woodworking also...!!) are concerned about dust infiltration into our house. The basement shop is directly under 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a portion of the main hall. We've considered buying a new or used DC3300 or a Shop Fox system or a Jet air cleaning system. Our questions are: 1. Does the DC3300 really clean-up the dust and then really cleanup the air or 2. Should we consider a dust collector and an air filtration system. I'd appreciate comments/suggestions from those with the knowledge and experience in both. Our equipment (initially) is a new Mark 7, bandsaw and belt sander. Oh, and we "think" respirators and headphones may be the best choice for personal protection. Attached is a layout of the shop showing an overhead door that leads to the outside and a 3'0" door that leads to the crawl space. [ATTACH]21900[/ATTACH] Thanks a lot!

My shop(my half of the garage) has a thin layer of dust on everything from my bowl turning activities. My DC3300 can only do so much. My main concern for your plan is having your computer equipment in the same area as your SS.

fredsheldon wrote:My shop(my half of the garage) has a thin layer of dust on everything from my bowl turning activities. My DC3300 can only do so much. My main concern for your plan is having your computer equipment in the same area as your SS.

I used to work at a fiberglass boat factory where we accumulated almost an inch of dust per day. The computers on the production line had plexi covers over them and blown out with an air gun once a month. The concrete floors were sealed smooth making it easier to sweep (with one of those frilly push brooms they use on basketball courts). All doors to offices in the plant were weather stripped. Standard (per OSHA) personal protection equipment was safety glasses, ear plugs, and a dust mask like they sell at paint stores.

The only other variable you have that we didn't is the heating and cooling system. If the intake is in the basement you'll want to do something with that so you're not sucking in sawdust and blowing it through your vents.

That's a good case in point and enforces my concerns about the efficiency of dust collection systems and air infiltration systems. Another idea could be to place a large box fan at the 3'4" opening of the back room, pointed toward the OHD and force air circulation to the outside. Then too, I could always eliminate the computer station or keep it concealed/enclosed to help keep dust infiltration.

frank81 wrote:I used to work at a fiberglass boat factory where we accumulated almost an inch of dust per day. The computers on the production line had plexi covers over them and blown out with an air gun once a month. The concrete floors were sealed smooth making it easier to sweep (with one of those frilly push brooms they use on basketball courts). All doors to offices in the plant were weather stripped. Standard (per OSHA) personal protection equipment was safety glasses, ear plugs, and a dust mask like they sell at paint stores.

The only other variable you have that we didn't is the heating and cooling system. If the intake is in the basement you'll want to do something with that so you're not sucking in sawdust and blowing it through your vents.

The HVAC system is split...condenser outside, air handler in the room next to the shop (3'0" opening) with a full door that can be closed. I should seal it well too.

I work with computers all day, they are forbidden in my shop. The whole idea of a hobby is to change pace.

These are all good examples and points. The crux of my concern, though, remains the brand and model of a system to install and whether one system is good enough versus 2 systems for different results. 4,457cf of dedicated space is a lot to consider.

I wish I could say "Buy Product X, it's the best" but I can't.

I will say, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Dust collection is one of the darker arts and not many vendors are willing to share their knowledge. To that I say, check out the Bill Pentz site, he explains the requirements of dust collection like no other. Also check out the various reviews and comparisons of dust collection systems in a variety of mags and articles. Dust Collection can be exceedingly expensive.

The bottom line is there is no turnkey dust collection solution. There are way too many variables to definitively state. This is what you need. There is also a ton of myth and lore that you will have to sort through. To ground or not ground piping, Plastic or metal, etc. etc.

Arm yourself with knowledge.

You have already measure the Cubic Feet of the space. That's a great start.

Start with any health requirements (does any one in your house have allergies, asthma, or respiratory issues?) If so then your requirements just got a lot more stringent.

Then do what you can to seal the basement space from the upper portions of the house, this will also help in the insulation category and noise reduction in the house as well.

Consider additional air filtration as well.

Set a budget and stick to it.

Keep in mid that most solutions or systems will need to be modified to work in your particular situation.

You have tons of options: single stage systems, 2 stage systems, cyclones, filters, CFM, static pressure blah, blah, blah, the list goes on and on and proper dust collection is not as simple as plugging in a shop vac. The real issue as I understand it is fine particle collection/removal. Be prepared with many systems to upgrade the filtration on the unit.

I have a garage for a workshop and my dust REMOVAL system could not be simpler. During dusty operations the door is open and I have 2 fans that move the dust and airborne particles out the door. Dustier operations (sanding, routing, etc.) are done closer to the open door. The door stays open and the fans stay running for at least 30 minutes after I'm done making dust. This gives me time for cleanup. Using the fans has helped keep the dust to a lower level. Is it OSHA standard? NO, but I'm not making dust 40 hrs a week with minimally trained personnel either.

For chip collection, I use a wet/dry vac and/or a broom. It keeps up with most machines properly equipped with "Dust collection". Avoid the temptation to use compressed air to blow things off that doesn't clean anything it just launches the dust into the air.

Good luck with this project.

da fixer wrote:These are all good examples and points. The crux of my concern, though, remains the brand and model of a system to install and whether one system is good enough versus 2 systems for different results. 4,457cf of dedicated space is a lot to consider.

No dust collector system is going to collect everything, or close to it. And no system is intended to do that. It's best to make a list of your requirements first, then figure out the solution. Picking out a system before that is putting the cart before the horse. And you may find that your expectation of what a dust collector does is far different than what they are actually designed to do.

I use Shopsmith's dust collector and have for years in my basement shop. The shop sits directly below our bedroom (hey it's a small shop). I do a fair amount of woodworking and use the collector in all operations. Plus I have a 20" box fan with two quality furnace filters running all the time. We have a forced hot air and I closed off both the feeder and return lines. I keep the door closed when working. Use an apron or shop coat and leave it in the shop. Vacumn pretty well a couple times a day. Very little gets into the rest of the house. If I have a project with pressure treated stock I try to cut it outdoors. Some dust makes it's way to the family room on that level but I don't think any ends up in the bedroom, unless it arrives on my clothes.