[New router guy]

I know this subject has been debated before but I'm unable to get a
good search so here goes.

Everything is in the basement and this is where we spend most our time, there are bi fold louvered doors that seperate the common area from the shop.
Since we're new in the house I know I'm going to need some type of DC.

Let me here the good and the bad. This is where the shop is going to
stay as the garage is out of the question, the shop is 16X8.

Thanks for all your help.

Ed

 

[Bob N]

First thing I would consider is replacing the bi-fold louvered doors with something solid and with a tight seal. This will keep the dust minimized from the shop to the common area. Even with that I believe you will still be in trouble constantly with the wife and family....he he

Dust is one of the major drawbacks of woodworking. A good dust collection system with low digit micron (1 or less) bags is a must. You will most likely want to consider an air filter system as well. Your work area is very small and dust concentration will rise rapidly with any amount of work at all. This dust WILL travel into the other area no matter what you do, so minimizing it will be be your first priority at best.

I'm sure some of the more experienced folks will be along to offer even more and better advice and I too will be watching and learning.

Cheers....

 

[Mike]

Ed, you didn't mention what type if any dust collection equipment you own now, or the types of machines you will be running. Bob is on the right track with the solid door idea. If you can't afford to do it right away, then at least buy plastic drop cloth and staple it over the door opening. I would run it a couple feet past on each side.
If you have no dust collection equipment to start with, buy yourself a Shop Vac brand vacuum. The reason I specify this brand is simple; they designed filter bags to catch the bulk of the material and small filter bags to place over the filter inside to stop fine particles from passing through the motor and being blown everywhere. Using this set up makes a big difference. You can hook this to many tools with the large hose. The small hose will conect to the dust port on many miter saws. You can buy a dust catcher for your table saw if it does not have a vacuum attachment. This will help contain the bulk of the large dust and chips. Air filtration is important; no sawdust is good for you, and some is outright toxic.(exotic woods) You can buy one of the air filter units designed for a woodshop or at least get a used HEPA filter from a garage sale. Always wear a dust mask when sanding. You can improve on any of these suggestions at any time without losing out on your investment. It's your health!

 

[New router guy]

I was thinking about the doors, actually there is a "little" hallway past the bifolds to the shop and I think I could rig a full door there.

I don't have any DC at this point just a generic shop vac that I stuff into the outlet ports of my tools, table saw, band saw and a jointer. I had to use my router to make about 15 or so mortises and the dust was everywhere so that is why this post started. I'm still not sure what to do about the router dust? I think I saw an attachment somewhere for my machine, PK890 series. I'll have to look into that as well.

I don't do any sanding inside and I do wear a dust mask, I need to get dust cartridges for my respirator though.

Ed

 

[Warren]

Dust Collection

If you have a window in the work area replace it with a fan so the dust is extracted to the outside. In conjunction with the shop vac this should really minimize your dust problem. A small (1 hp, single bag), portable DC would be a help but, being single stage, wood chips would soon wear out or damage the impeller.

If space is of little concern get a larger (1 1/2+ hp) dual bag DC and use it in conjunction with the extractor fan. Add a garbage can first stage to deal with chips and stuff to save the impeller. You could do the same with a small DC also if you have the room.

The smaller DC's are more effective as one tool units and are good if you don't want to run a bunch of duct or hose to all of the work stations.

A window fan is nice because you wouldn't have to worry about cleaning a filter as you do with the free hanging or standing dust units. A two sided spray booth can be temporarily set up in front of the fan and would be effective in handling fumes and over spray. Two pieces of ply and a roof of plastic sheeting (shower curtain or whatever) erected temporarily is good for small finish jobs.

Iif you live in the great north land, as I do, you need a good heater in the shop to use an extraction fan in the winter.

Not knowing the configuration of your shop I hope these suggestions will provide you with a some utile ideas.

 

[Cummins92]

Ed,
Please check out, billpentz.com and clearvuecyclones.com. I just purchased a ClearVue Cyclone and am very pleased. They have super service. I have been using a Jet air cleaner and a Jet cannister dust collecter. I thought I was doing all right untill I read that only the dust you can't see is the dust that will harm you. There is a lot to learn. Check out the links on the Bill Pentz site. I hope this will be of some help and enjoy your hobby.