[TheForge] Dust/fumes mask

[Jerry Frost]

My pleasure Don.

Particulates and smoke are different from fumes. Dust 
is actually harder to control at the source, especially 
for angle grinders. Bench and pedestal grinders can 
have a dust exhaust system attached but you have to be 
careful of what kinds of dusts you're mixing.

The dangers of mixing wood dust and metal grinding 
sparks is obvious but mixing different metals can be a 
serious fire hazard too. Aluminum and iron oxide is 
only one formula for thermite, there are many many 
others and you really don't want to be experimenting 
with them in a dust bag.

Good air movement doesn't have to be strong, just 
positive. You don't want to be standing directly 
upstream in the air flow or the smoke, fumes, etc. will 
eddy right into your face. You're farther ahead to 
stand directly downstream. Best is to be cross stream 
from the welding, cutting, etc. so the draft carries it 
away to the side.

Once you decide on the spacing for a bar grate, pick 
standard strip stock that width. For instance 1/2" x 
1/8" strip for a 1/2" space between bars. Cut the strip 
stock to a length so it'll lay at a 45* angle in your 
table frame (assuming you use angle iron) and weld it 
in using the bars plus a piece of pasteboard like a 
matchbook or playing card for spacers. Welding the 
strip stock at a 45* angle will keep crud from piling 
up on the frame and make turning or changing the bars 
much easier. Occasionally spraying them with mig tip 
anti-spatter spray or. . . PAM cooking spray will keep 
them cleaner as well.

Nobody likes dingleballs tenaciously lodged in their 
nooks and crannies you know. <grin>

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.



From: <PlumDon at aol.com>


>
> Excellent suggestions, Frosty, thank you.
>
> I got to get more serious about this issue and hope I 
> can deal with it with
> air movement and several masks. I would like NOT to 
> go to a self contained
> breathing apparatus
> because of the expense and confinement.
>
> I did get a fairly good (I think) particulate mask 
> from our local Sears
> Hardware store and have ordered
> some of the recommended welding masks on line. Next 
> is to get more serious
> air movement through the shop with the downdraft 
> welding table and fans. I also
> suspect most of my problems are coming from the 
> particulates from grinding,
> sanding, cutting, etc.
>
> Don Plummer
>