A/C and Dust Control

[robsweet]

As my previous post about moving has indicated, I'm just getting started turning a 'bonus room' in the basement of my new house into a shop. The question in my mind at the moment is about dust control. The room is set up with a ceiling-mounted A/C register and return and I'm wondering how concerned I need to be about wood dust getting into my AC system and clogging up the works. I intend to get a full-blown dust collection system going sometime in the next six months but I think some essentials for the house (like something to sit on and a table to eat at) will probably come first. So here are the questions:

1) How much of a problem will the dust likely be if I just ignore the issue until I get proper dust collection in place?

2) Aside from just not using the shop, what are my options? I'd prefer not to just block off the A/C to that room as it'll get pretty hot.

3) Are there any 'middle steps' that I can take towards a proper dust collection system to start cheaply now and ramp up without buying a low-end dust collector now and replacing it in six months? I've got a small shop vac but that thing is *really* noisy.

Thanks for the help. :)

Rob Sweet
Web Geek by Day, Woodworker by Night
rob@ldg.net

[Sonny Edmonds]

>As my previous post about moving has indicated, I'm just
>getting started turning a 'bonus room' in the basement of my
>new house into a shop. The question in my mind at the
>moment is about dust control. The room is set up with a
>ceiling-mounted A/C register and return and I'm wondering
>how concerned I need to be about wood dust getting into my
>AC system and clogging up the works.

Be VERY concerned. It is not only very likely to cause the HVAC system trouble, but the entire rest of the house as well. Not to mention finishing fumes circulating up into the home through the return air duct.

>I intend to get a
>full-blown dust collection system going sometime in the next
>six months but I think some essentials for the house (like
>something to sit on and a table to eat at) will probably
>come first. So here are the questions:
>
>1) How much of a problem will the dust likely be if I just
>ignore the issue until I get proper dust collection in
>place?

Horrable, see the above.

>2) Aside from just not using the shop, what are my options?
> I'd prefer not to just block off the A/C to that room as
>it'll get pretty hot.

If the home has a fresh air intake or a way to induct fresh air into the HVAC system, it can give you a positive pressure to the home.
That way, you block off the shops return air so no dust gets sucked into the system. The positive pressure can be used to your advantage by allowing a window to vent the shop back outside, exaushting the dust, fumes, and any "hot" air to go out.

>3) Are there any 'middle steps' that I can take towards a
>proper dust collection system to start cheaply now and ramp
>up without buying a low-end dust collector now and replacing
>it in six months? I've got a small shop vac but that thing
>is *really* noisy.

One "middle step" would be to make a filtering plentium for the return air duct in the shop. Use HEPA type filters (available from the big box stores) for the return air duct to draw through. Keep those filters reasonably clean. I say reasonably because slightly dirty air filters, filter better than clean, new ones. just vacuum them off on occasion.
Make this filtering plenium twice as big as you think you'll need it. I would try and use at least 2ea- 24" x 24" filters for it to draw threw. The slower the air passes threw these filters, the cleaner it will be when it enters the homes air.
You might concider activated charcol filter elements as a second stage to this plentium to filter fumes as well.

For what I read here, Rob, you really should consider a full blown cyclone system with fine final filering. Mine happens to be rated at .5 micron. Others taut even finer filtration.
But the point is, the finer the filtration of the DC, collecting at the source generating the waste, the cleaner everything can stay.
And to the point a seperate air filter unit isn't required. (I still have and use mine, anyway. Not all the time, but it's nice to have the options.)
For your intentions, your needs and application, you really need to control the shops dust.
Otherwise, the lady upstairs is gonna shut your butt down in short order. :o

:D

[link:www.sonnyedmonds.com | Sonny Edmonds] http://home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/vortex_smiley.gif
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