Remove Dust with Exhaust Fan?

[mjindustry]

Anybody using a fan to remove excess dust?

I currently have a decent dust collector, but I know I still have very fine dust in the shop. Can I remove some of that with an exhaust fan? I've seen it discussed here a bit. Doesn't seem there are fans specifically for dust removal. What about the paint room fans, are those the best for dust?

Some expensive ones here...
http://store01.prostores.com/servlet/bodyshopequipment/the-Paint-Booth-cln-Exhaust-Fans/Categories

I would like to spend less than that. :(

[scootie]

Jason,
You may want to place your dust collector in a room or compartment outside of your work area. The DC will do it's job and pick up the smallest (harmful) particles, the problem with having it located inside is these smaller particles are exhausted right back into the room with you because the filters don't do a good enough job of capturing them. Placing the unit outside also cuts down on noise, on the negative side in the winter you are sucking heat out with the dust, but what is more important a higher heat bill or clogged lungs. You could spend hundreds/thousands on a heat exchange if you will be running the DC all day every day, or just exhaust it to the outside and be done with it. And yes, you could sit your DC unit close to a window and use a window fan to pull the small stuff out. It's not the fans, it's the filters that trap dust. I use vortex or cyclone type barrels at each tool location that catches the chips, then the fine particles exhausted to a trap outside the shop. Check with local laws concerning exhausting dust into the air first.

[bob_s]

Jason
I put in a Broan 507C thru the wall fan with a separate speed control. It has been great. I think I bought it on Amazon, it was a couple of years ago. I have a quality dust collection system, but my wife's painting studio is across from my shop. Dust getting out of the shop would not be a good thing!
The small negative pressure the fan pulls keeps any dust from going out and at 250 cfm the shop will clear the little bit of dust that does get in the air fairly quickly. I have the exhaust about 8 to 10 feet away from the big dust collector, so any leakage would stay in that corner, away from me and be sucked out fairly quickly.
The speed control lets me turn the air volume and noise down to a minimum when it is not needed, but I still want a little fresh air and heat pulled into the shop.
Bob

[jerry_stanek]

You can make a home made air purifier by strapping a filter in front of your fan and hang it above you table blowing up

[curtiss]

I have an typical house attic fan above mine that moves a lot of air up and away. About $80 I think.

Just a belt drive but I think direct drives are available.

[knight_toolworks]

most bag dc's do put dust back in the air. you really need a good cyclone to get the airflow and to capture the finest dust. it's better to capture the dust then try to remove it out of the air.

[michael_schwartz]

If your climate allows of course the best option is to just exhaust your dust collector outside. If you don't have a cyclone you can built a chip box outside and pipe into it. Since your blowing the air outside you don't need filters.

Of course if you have to heat or air condition your shop a cyclone with good filters is the way to go. Overhead air filters to catch whatever is left in the air are also important.

An exhaust fan would remove air from the building along with whatever is in it.

[mjindustry]

Can I make a cyclone for my delta dust collector 50-760? I'm cutting a lot of hdu, and some mdf & mdo. Crazy fine dust in that stuff.

EDIT: What I mean was...How do you make the cyclones? Is there a tutorial online?

[navigator7]

Does anybody use Electromaze electrostatic air filters?
http://www.enw.net/esacfilter/washesac.jpg
General Specifications Frame: High impact ABS black plastic

Media: Polypropylene mesh or weave

Choice of filtering capabilities

Low air resistance

UL Rated 900 Class II

Permanent, cleanable and electrostatic

Can Be Custom made to any size

Frameless filters also available

Just the movement of air makes them work.
They will last a lifetime.
http://www.enw.net/esacfilter/esac_order/emartcatesac.htm

[jerry_stanek]

You can find plans on the internet or you can purchase a cyclone.

[ken_rychlik]

There is a guy on ebay selling a cyclone for 189 that you take your DC apart and use his funnel/drum/cyclone with your system.

I have one and am happy with it.

Kenneth

[mjindustry]

How about these?

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=30282&cat=1

[ken_rychlik]

Those do work somewhat, but are kind of mickey mouse compared to a steel drum. Been there,,, done that.

Kenneth

[bcondon]

Jason,

I agree with Bob. I put mine in a freestanding closet and double lined it with fireproof sheetrock "just in case" of fire. Mud + tape the seams, steel door with good seal.

I also put a brand new 30 Gal steel can with a separator beside my shopbot and next to the dust collector

http://www.grizzley.com/products/30-Gallon-Dust-Collection-2-Stage-Cyclone-Separator/G3376

This works for me and it was inexpensive solution. I did not want to have to start cutting through walls for expensive san system.

[blackhawk]

Jason - I use a JDS air cleaner to remove all the fine dust particles in my shop. I use the electrostatic filter that can be washed out. My shop is in my basement, so I try to keep the dust down as much as possible. The JDS does a great job in my opinion. The inner filters will last anywhere from 3-12 months, just depends on use and dust levels.

[mjindustry]

Well I'm bound to figure out a solution or two after all of the help here... thanks a lot guys. I'm not just saying that either!

Here's a little different subject...

What does a guy do with a bag/drum full of 70% HDU, 30% mdf/saw dust?

What about small HDU/ MDF Scraps?

[richard_saylor]

These work!! http://jdstools.com/air-tech750-er.aspx

[jerry_stanek]

I built a Thien separator and tried it out this weekend. It I would say about 99& of the chips and my dust bag only had the real fine dust in it. #0 gallons of chips went in.

[mitch_prest]

the Lee Valley cyclone lids work great to get rid of the chips but do very little for fine dust.. I have a couple of them.
If you want to know more about the other cyclones... a look here: http://www.clearvuecyclones.com/

beside making some pretty slick gear there is a couple of links to more information on the cyclones...

m