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QUESTION:I've been lurking around the website for a few months now, and reading many
of the posts about dust collection in the workshop. However, none
seem to match my exact situation, so I figured it was time to post...
I have a 16'x25' workshop in the basement. To prevent the sawdust
from settling on everything else in the basement, I built walls and
sealed off the workshop from the rest of the basement. This seems to
be working, since no sawdust is settling in the rest of the basement.
However, over the past few months, my wife's allergies have been
acting up, corresponding to my woodworking activities. I've come to
the conclusion that the furnace (which is also unfortunately located
inside the shop) is drawing the finer dust and sending it through the
rest of the house. I've closed the register and the return that are
located inside my workshop, but there are still plenty of places for
the dust to get sucked into the furnace.
The main sawdust producers in my shop are a table saw, miter saw,
router table, and palm sander. I may purchase a jointer and/or planer
in the future, but they are not in the current picture. I do not have
allergy problems; however, based on some of the chronic dust exposure
information presented on this website, I am now wearing dust masks approved
for wood dust.
I believe that my solution will come from one or more of the following
options:
1. Install a dust collection system to collect the sawdust at the
source(s). Note that I do not particularly mind cleaning up my tools
or sweeping sawdust, so this would only be chosen to reduce airborne
dust.
2. Install an air filter (JET AFS-1000 or home-made) near the furnace
to capture the fine particles before they get sucked into the furnace.
The furnace is probably 12 feet from the nearest tool, so it is
primarily the fine, floating particles that make it over to the
furnace.
3. Construct an enclosure around the furnace, with access panels and
air intakes (with filters) to prevent sawdust from getting into the
furnace. I hate to give up the floor space, but this would be an
option.
I believe the solution will probably come from a combination from #2
and #3, but I am curious to hear what all of the experts here have to
say. I figure that I can always resort to #1, if #2 and #3 don't
work.
Concerning #2: I don't mind the initial investment to purchase the
JET AFS-1000, but are the replacement filters expensive? If I build
my own (with an old furnace blower), would using standard-size furnace
filters keep the maintenance costs significantly lower?
ANSWER: Does the furnace have return ducts or an open return where the air flows
through the basement? If it has ducts, then you really should be able to
seal it so no air comes from the shop to the rest of the house. A little
duct tape around the returns should seal them.
Note, though, that running a traditional forced-air furnace in an
enclosed space is a bad idea. If there is not enough air available for
drafting, you run the risk of CO poisoning, etc. (Note that if you have
a condensing style furnace, the intake and exhaust are outside and have
their own little fan). I'd be sure to check that your furnace is
drafting properly and that your shop is not _too_ tight.
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