If you look up in the main shop, there are 3 new blue boxes up at the ceiling, and these are industrial air filtration systems. Shop air improvements are upon us!
Like so many shop projects, lots of people were involved in making this possible, @mkmiller6 , @jamesfreeman @Joaquim led various parts of the install.
Thank you to everyone involved for this HUGE shop improvement
This is awesome. I’ve always felt like the air quality was often poor in the wood shop and would leave a respirator or at least dust mask on when in there. I am overly paranoid after reading this site, which granted is controversial and some people think is extreme.
The particulates of any of the making we do in the main shop are always a challenge. I also wear a respirator anytime I’m in the main shop working.(even with our amazing new filtration systems, I probably still will).
But every little thing adds up. ALWAYS using a shop vac when sanding, keeping the dust collection system in good shape - they all matter.
Like Stephannie said, minimizing exposure to particulates is always going to be a multi-faceted challenge.
These new air filters are one great way to reduce exposures and maximize air quality in the shop, but they aren’t a catch-all. The best way to prevent poor air quality in the shop is to catch as much dust at the source as possible. In the woodshop, that means always using the dust collector, always using a shop vac when sanding, and using the downdraft table when possible. In the metal shop, that means using the fume extractor when welding.
Air filters like these work on the principle of air exchanges per hour, or in other words how often the entire air volume in the room is exchanged. That’s obviously not an immediate process (for our setup it’s about 6 exchanges per hour at a minimum, or higher when the AC is also running), so during periods of heavy use, I would still recommend wearing a supplemental dust mask or respirator. The air filters will help to minimize spikes in particulates and bring air quality back to baseline much more quickly.
To add on - anytime you notice saw dust being spit out of the machines, it’s possible/likely that something is wrong with dust collection. Your project will only turn out better if you pause, and get help from a steward.
