(Rebuilding shop after move, attempting to bring beginners mind and question all my prior assumptions... also reading tons of old and current threads here that relate.)
The question is, how to prioritize/optimize investment for protecting health against dust (with my kids getting involved more, this is a bigger deal)
The status quo is cheap two rubber band sanding masks and a rigid shopvac with standard filter.
I see four major areas for improvement
A. The Shopvac path...
A1. Upgrade to HEPA filter in Rigid shopvac and religiously attach it to whatever tool I'm using at the moment. Cost $25 here.
A2. Spend another ~$20-$40 for different hoses or hose size adapters to connect to my sander, router DC attachment, etc.
A3. Spend another $50 - $120 for a cyclone or build a Thein baffle to put in front of the shopvac... and then some kind of cart to support the two together.
B. The DC path...
B1. Buy the HF 2hp dust collector on the New years sale at $150.
B2. Then probably buy the Wynn filter to move from HF's 5 micron to 0.5 to 1 micron... for another ~$200.
B3. Then cyclone or Thein baffle...
C. Install an air cleaning system like the Wen here for <$150 installed cost.
D. Better quality masks, vs. the standard cheap two rubber band face irritating ones I've always used when sanding. Cost - up to $400/person for something like the Trend Airshield or $75/person for the Rockler mask that DesertRatTom likes.
Of course the ideal solution involves at least DC + air cleaning + quality masks.
And of course resources are limited.
How would you prioritize these areas?
Critical context:
- Post-move I have no planer, no jointer, no table saw, and no miter saw. Since there's one more move minimum before final stop, I'm trying to be slow acquiring large things and will continue to do most cutting with a DIY tracksaw/circular saw and jigsaw and when planing is essential I'll use a handheld planer from a nearby tool library.
- I was prepared to buy the HF DC and Wynn filter, so I'm mentally willing to invest that $350-400 there or wherever it's better... but I'm actually now leaning away from those purchases.
If you don't persuade me otherwise, I'm thinking that...
(Skip the HF DC system, allocate funds elsewhere due to size when moving, and lack of large tools that need DC most).
1. Definitely upgrade shopvac filter & connect it directly to my current tool in use. Total ~$60.
2. Buy a couple Rockler masks at $75 each.
3. Add to the shopvac a cyclone or Thien baffle to prolong filter life.
4. If I get this far down the spending list, buy a Wen air cleaner also.
(and when weather permits, open the main garage door and back (people) door and run a couple fans I already own)
All input is welcome.
The question is, how to prioritize/optimize investment for protecting health against dust (with my kids getting involved more, this is a bigger deal)
The status quo is cheap two rubber band sanding masks and a rigid shopvac with standard filter.
I see four major areas for improvement
A. The Shopvac path...
A1. Upgrade to HEPA filter in Rigid shopvac and religiously attach it to whatever tool I'm using at the moment. Cost $25 here.
A2. Spend another ~$20-$40 for different hoses or hose size adapters to connect to my sander, router DC attachment, etc.
A3. Spend another $50 - $120 for a cyclone or build a Thein baffle to put in front of the shopvac... and then some kind of cart to support the two together.
B. The DC path...
B1. Buy the HF 2hp dust collector on the New years sale at $150.
B2. Then probably buy the Wynn filter to move from HF's 5 micron to 0.5 to 1 micron... for another ~$200.
B3. Then cyclone or Thein baffle...
C. Install an air cleaning system like the Wen here for <$150 installed cost.
D. Better quality masks, vs. the standard cheap two rubber band face irritating ones I've always used when sanding. Cost - up to $400/person for something like the Trend Airshield or $75/person for the Rockler mask that DesertRatTom likes.
Of course the ideal solution involves at least DC + air cleaning + quality masks.
And of course resources are limited.
How would you prioritize these areas?
Critical context:
- Post-move I have no planer, no jointer, no table saw, and no miter saw. Since there's one more move minimum before final stop, I'm trying to be slow acquiring large things and will continue to do most cutting with a DIY tracksaw/circular saw and jigsaw and when planing is essential I'll use a handheld planer from a nearby tool library.
- I was prepared to buy the HF DC and Wynn filter, so I'm mentally willing to invest that $350-400 there or wherever it's better... but I'm actually now leaning away from those purchases.
If you don't persuade me otherwise, I'm thinking that...
(Skip the HF DC system, allocate funds elsewhere due to size when moving, and lack of large tools that need DC most).
1. Definitely upgrade shopvac filter & connect it directly to my current tool in use. Total ~$60.
2. Buy a couple Rockler masks at $75 each.
3. Add to the shopvac a cyclone or Thien baffle to prolong filter life.
4. If I get this far down the spending list, buy a Wen air cleaner also.
(and when weather permits, open the main garage door and back (people) door and run a couple fans I already own)
All input is welcome.