Protecting the workshop from grinders and sanders

[skotl]

First time I saw a dedicated grinding and sanding room was in Alec Steele's youtube series.

I do 0.0001% of the metal-decimation that he does but I must admit that it's a total pain the amount of fine metal dust that gets all over my garage floor, worktop and tools.

I only have a single garage so building a dedicated grinding and sanding room is clearly out of the question - does anyone have any advice, techniques or tips on keeping the dust to a minimum? Is it realistic to think of some kind of enclosure, canopy or whatever that might help?

Although a dirty big enclosure would seem like an easy solution, the problem is that it would be dirty and big!

Of course, I may be overthinking this...

 

[Arc Tourist]

Consider installing a ceiling track such as they use around hospital beds, and an appropriate type curtain which can be drawn around your grinding area when needed; a possible solution ?

 

[Robbie260]

Something like one of these may help,

https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-trade-at25afs-air-filter-105074

most of them are for wood working but you can get ones that seem to be specific for metal working. An extractor esspecially with a hood over your welding and grinding bench will help and welding curtians that can be drawn around your work area.

An example of an extractor hood over a test machine feom work, there will usually be one over the welding bench as well it will generally be the width and depth of the bench to try and extract as much as possible straight up and out im not sure how you could achive a big enough air flow in a home setting because cost and fan size will be your limitations but even some bathroom/kitchen style extractors mounted to the wall above the welding bench should help a bit maybe even an old kitchen cooker hood.

An other example of the welding curtians we have around our welding area, as arc tourist says it give more protection if they went from floor to ceiling.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

At college they have a screen around the grinding area so I agree with Arc Tourist's suggestion

 

[visor_down]

 

[northwest]

does anyone have any advice, techniques or tips

I do all of my grinding outside, it is the only thing that works for me. It is cheap and available, I have a Workmate I throw up as a bench. The only downside is you can't go out if it is pouring down or snowing. Though I have just recently acquired a quickset gazebo so it has expanded my horizons as it were.

 

[skotl]

Thanks all - the curtains may be an easy option, at least to contain it.

I do all of my grinding outside, it is the only thing that works for me. It is cheap and available, I have a Workmate I throw up as a bench. The only downside is you can't go out if it is pouring down or snowing. Though I have just recently acquired a quickset gazebo so it has expanded my horizons as it were.

Yeah - me too. Except when I can't be bothered Or it's chucking it down...
A gazebo is a good idea though!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@Arc Tourist beat me to it. I was going to suggest something using these

https://www.pvc-strip-doors.co.uk/c/cat_id_5/economy_pvc_rolls

in conjunction with these

https://www.pvc-strip-doors.co.uk/c/cat_id_7/hook_on_track/galvanised_hook_on_track

Wouldn't cost too much and could be cut you suit your needs and slid back out of the way when not in use?

 

[Parm]

Bit technical,

sanders produce a very fine dust aerosol that stays suspended in the air for ages

Grinders at 10,000 rpm release dust with a huge ejection velocity, thus making the dust travel very far.

Any screens, curtain shrouds etc only have limited use as the dust always manages to find its way around to other parts of the work area.

Ventilation is the best option but it needs to be done right as your sucking both light dust (from sander) and heavy dust (from grinder), this is quite difficult to do in a home set up.

@skotl ive seen your workshop which is about the same size as mine and just as packed to the rafters.

Best way is to simply do your sanding grinding outside, it’s what I do

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Best way is to simply do your sanding grinding outside,

This is Scotland, remember.

That should reduce his available time for that part of the job by 75% or thereby.

 

[Seadog]

An old boy I used to know had a separate area, just stud partition with a door, in his double garage. This had a huge fan, not so much as an extractor, but to create sufficient pressure gradient between that area and his machining area so that all dust remained inside. Some no doubt found its way through the fan as well.

 

[gaz1]

im way too small for a good place so

its outside with grinders and wood sanders for me

 

[Parm]

This is Scotland, remember.

That should reduce his available time for that part of the job by 75% or thereby.

If he’s like me he can improve welding technique to minimise amount of grinding

Easier said than done