[TheForge] Dust hazards (was: Dust/fumes mask)

[Bruce Freeman]

Along this line, Paul Thorne of NWBA just demonstrated
at Gichners.  He says he recently almost lost his shop
to fire. The cause:  Cloth buffing wheel.  Those grit
sticks are in an oil base.  The oily lint can go
everywhere in a shop, and can be set off by a spark. 
Worth being aware of if you do more than a little
buffing.
Bruce
NJ
--- Jerry Frost <akfrosty at mtaonline.net> wrote:

> 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
> >
> 
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