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 Getting
Tough on Dust
Part III - Dealing with Fine
Dust
Personal Respiratory
Protection
You've installed a dust collection system that keeps
the large dust particles and shavings out of your way and also
does a good job with the fine dust that makes it into the
system, installed and air filtration system to continually
purify the air in your shop, and you supplement your dust
control system with a portable fine dust collector. Do you still
need
personal respiratory protection? Most experts would say yes.
Below, will take a look at the final step in protecting
respiratory system from fine wood dust, including:
Why Respiratory Protection
Devices are Important
The shop air filtration measures discussed on the last page of
the article are important steps toward protecting your health
from the hazard of fine dust exposure. Unfortunately, no amount
of preventative dust control will bring the levels of dust in
your shop down to a consistently safe level during periods when
you are generating large quantities of fine dust.
One reason is that the level of safe
exposure to woodworking dust is just too low. The National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), for
example, recommends that the presence of fine dust particles in
wood shop air should average no more than 1mg/cubic meter over a
10 hour shop session. Spread out over a garage-sized shop, 1
mg/cubic meter adds up to less than 1/8 teaspoon of dust for the
entire volume of air in the shop!
Many common woodworking operations,
like sanding, operating a chop saw, or using a router can
overwhelm all of your dust collection measures and leave you
breathing dangerous levels of fine wood dust. To keep your
respiratory system safe during periods of heavy dust
generation, you'll need to round off your fine dust control
regimen with an effective respiratory protection device. There
are a wide range of respiratory devices available, each of which
has its advantages and woodworking situation in which it works
best. Here are a few option to consider:
 Disposable
Masks
Disposable masks or "dust masks" are among the most
economical and convenient forms of personal respiratory
protection. Disposable masks are best suited to short term
exposure to fine dust, and less effective and comfortable in
long sessions in a dusty shop. A good disposable mask will
filter fine dust particles, but because they are generally
molded to fit the contours of an "average" face, even the best
disposable masks tend to be less comfortable over the long haul
and, in general, provide less of the all important air seal
between your face and the mask, which is what prevents fine dust
particles from circumventing the mask's filter material and
passing directly into the lungs.
Not all dust masks are created alike.
It's important to use a mask that is designed to actually filter
fine dust, such as the MXV
Dust Mask. It features a three layer design that pre-filters
course particles, traps fine particles in the interior filter,
and provides comfortable inner surface designed designed to
prevent fatigue over longer periods of use.
 Washable
Cloth Masks
Recently,
washable cloth masks have been gaining popularity among
woodworkers. Reusable cloth masks are a little more expensive
than disposable masks, but offer a few features that many
woodworkers believe are worth the extra initial expense. Most
importantly, they're reusable - a quick hand washing and they
are returned to their original filtering performance and
comfort. You can't suddenly discover that you've "run out" of
cloth masks, as often happens with the disposable variety. Cloth
masks are more pliable than disposable masks, and tend to fit
more comfortably for longer periods than many disposable masks.
They work great for projects that generate a small to moderate
amount of dust - like wood turning or carving - but also keep
you working in one spot for relatively long periods of time.
Power Air Respirators
Power respirators use a battery-powered fan to supply a
continuous stream of pre-filtered air to the interior of the
mask. They're more of an investment than either disposable masks
or reusable cloth masks, but they are also generally considered
a giant step forward in comfort. The fresh stream of air helps
keep the user cool during strenuous work, and because the mask
relies on positive air pressure inside the mask rather than a
tight seal to keep the interior of the mask free of contaminated
air, the power respirator can be designed to provide a fairly
loose, comfortable fit.
Power respirators range in price and
performance from less expensive models that resemble a standard
respirator mask to more advanced systems that include other
features such as a face shield and ear protection. Power
respirators are the "ultimate" in personal respiratory
protection, and the best choice for situations where a high
level of protection and comfort are desirable. If your work
often has you spending long periods in front of a stationary
disc or belt sander, for example, an investment in this level of
personal respiratory protection is not something you are likely
to regret.
Bringing it All Together
In this article, we've focused on presenting a well
rounded approach to protecting yourself and your shop from wood
dust and debris. If you're a hobbyist or weekend woodworker with
a small one person shop, you have certain advantages: In most
cases, you'll only need to collect dust from one tool at a time.
You have less people contributing to the dust problem in your
shop and probably use the shop for less time each day than a
commercial shop normally would. And, most importantly, you get
to decide how much dust gets produced, when it's time to stop
and clean up.
Still, if you are just beginning to
think about getting your dust situation under control, it can
seem like quite a project. If the dust collection system of
your dreams isn't in the picture right now, consider making a
start that you can build upon in the future. Supplying yourself
with adequate personal dust protection and contenting yourself
with a portable dust collector that you can build into a more
permanent set-up in the future would be a reasonable departure
point. When should you get started? When you consider the risks
involved in letting your shops dust problems go, the only
logical time start getting tough on dust is right now.
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