Being
aggressive in cleaning dust from the air in your shop doesn’t necessarily
mean you have to spend a ton on new equipment.
If you don’t have a dust collection system in your shop, now’s
a great time to start. For many hobbyists and home-shop woodworkers,
such systems seem like a luxury — the last tool to be bought. But
more and more of us are beginning to take dust seriously. That’s
a fact that the tool industry now recognizes.
Healthy
Shop Habit
There’s a reason to be concerned. Wood dust is related to many
health hazards, including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat;
skin rashes; asthma; allergies; and some serious lung diseases. It has
even been linked to a rare form of nasal cancer. Estimates indicate
that up to 13% of woodworkers have dust-induced asthma. Breathing wood
dust can also cause chronic bronchitis or emphysema. During their lifetimes,
one third of all woodworkers experience some adverse health effects
from contact with wood dust.
While
shop vacuums are extremely popular among woodworkers, they may not be
the best solution for systematic dust control. First and foremost, their
capacities are generally much smaller than that of most large, stationary
machines. Second, their filters usually don’t trap some of the
micro-particles that can aggravate allergies and irritate the respiratory
system. There’s no doubt: For most shops, a complete dust collection
system is necessary to protect your health.
CART
