Shopsmith Forums

I'm not certain if this might be better in Community but will try it here.

Today I had a friend show up and while in the garage ended up helping. There was a great deal of dust (MDF, winter crud, etc.) I had planned to do the work and so I wore a half face mask with particulate filter. My friend pitched in to help, but I could not find an old mask from HAZMAT days so he went without protection. Later as we were solving the world's problems he had a bit of a coughing fit which I am certain was from some of the dust.

A few weeks back, at a friend's helping with some ancient truck seats, I had a scare with Hanta Virus and thought how I would have liked to had my mask with me.

Tonight while checking out Amazon to see if any of my want list had gone on sale, I happened upon a 3M mask for <$9 (medium size, no cartridges) with decent ratings, so I bought it to have around for guests.

I have an inexpensive Jackson welding helmet for guests when they come to learn or watch me play with metal and am thinking that buying a cheap face shield for them when I'm wood working might not be a bad idea, too....

Any thoughts, criticisms, input? Am I being too paranoid? Would any of you use a spare shield, air filter, etc. if you were in someone else's shop and they offered?
It's not like I am offering something personal.. or am I?

Sometimes I think that the different drummer I march to has syncopation mixed up with 4:4 time! causing me to trip! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Be well,
Ben

I would think that if thee is wearing protection, it behooves thee to have same for any drop in guests - especially if they be helping thee.

Some might balk if they were not the 'first' to use it.




How on earth did we survive this long without all this stuff all these years?

I believe in keeping my mouth shut when in an environment that might make me cough!

I've never had that problem but I keep a box of disposable surgical mask on hand and I could offer a new one. They are quite inexpensive, I think mine came from Wally World. I bought them after my bypass surgery in 2013.
I also keep some regular disposable dust mask for dirty jobs. I was thinking I should have had one on yesterday when I was doing some cleaning of a former horse stall in a tiny barn. I didn't make a trip to the house for one but did stop cleaning when the breeze stopped moving the dust out. I'll finish it today with a dust mask. For more vigorous work (that was vigorous work ) I like the kind with the exhale check valve which allows me to breathe a bit more freely.
I do keep about 8 pair of safety glasses laying around the shop, usually in the wrong place or under something and almost always needing cleaning...

.

Like Francis, I have a box of 3M masks available. Also, like Francis, my numerous pair of goggles/glasses are setting or hanging in various dusty places.
I really do not encourage friends to assist me in the shop. When one wanders in, all work ceases. Of course, there is usually enough dust in the air to require a mask whether they're working or not.

I do the same. I keep eye protection and a few extra masks around. My son purchased a couple of Dust Bee Gone masks a while back. They actually work pretty well and you can wash them out. My shop frequently has two or three people working in it as my son usually has a project going at the same time as I do. I am usually working with Honduran Mahogany and or Paduak ( the boss's favorite woods) so dust protection is especially important. We try to keep others out just because there is an inherent risk having bystanders in the shop but people do drop in occasionally. This brings up another point which possibly should be in another post but I will bring up here. NEVER let friends use your power tools. It doesn't matter how good a friend they are the liability is off the scale. We learned this the hard way. Homeowners insurance is nearly worthless in that situation.
Paul

Problem Solved - - Guests are not allowed inn the shop when table sawing. It's all about safety! Dust, flying pieces, distractions.

Guests are allowed when drilling, sanding, jointing, planing and routing. Dust is well controlled.

Lathe work? O.K. if they stand in front of and way to the opposite side of the turner/machine.

A sad fact of today's litigious society. In 'my day' he who injures himself is to blame, no one else. If the injury was due to ignorance, that still holds. If one is ignorant of how to operate something, he should not be operating it.

Now if one is forced against their will, that is another matter.


And no it is not the machine's designer's fault either!!!!


Times have changed(not necessarily improved).