Thread: Dust Extraction for Carving

I do all my (initial) power carving outside wearing a full face respirator.

The main reason I don't do it inside my shed is not because of the fine dust (for which I have oodles of extraction) but so that the chips don't fly all over the place as they make a real mess.

Once I am down to the sanding side of things I often do it inside the shed with a 4 or 6" flexy with a BMH attached to the front, either suspended above the work or for small stuff just laying along side on the bench. No mask or respirator required

I don't do it very often and kept meaning to take photos of the DE setup but just never remembered.

If I did it a lot, to reduce chip scatter I would consider setting up a (semi) permanent booth or curtain arrangement inside the shed similar to what the demonstrators at the wood shows use. Then attach a BMH to the top of the booth.

For a number of years I used a box and with a house filter attached to the back. As well as a dust mask. It will not get all the dust but will get much of it. Google “box fan dust collectors “. I went to a squirrel cage blower from an old heating/air unit later because it had stronger air flow and works better. You can Google both and find photos and plans.

I sometimes need to cut and carve (stone in drill press) abalone shells for inlay in wood carvings (hand work).
I sometimes use a Dremel and cut-off wheels to carve in steel (branding irons).

I cut the bottom out of a 2-liter milk jug. I cut splines in the neck.
This fits like a horn on the end of the Shop Vac hose.
I fix this so that I am actually working right in the opening.

Chunks sand-grain size and bigger go all over and I don't care.
It's the micron dust I need to pull away. Works very well.

I can buy 4 different grades of ShopVac bags here.
I use #2 for coarse saw dust from the miter saw, hand saws etc.
I use #4 "Plaster Fines" for the shell and steel dust.

[QUOTE=Robson Valley;2102335]I sometimes need to cut and carve (stone in drill press) abalone shells for inlay in wood carvings (hand work).
I sometimes use a Dremel and cut-off wheels to carve in steel (branding irons).

I cut the bottom out of a 2-liter milk jug. I cut splines in the neck.
This fits like a horn on the end of the Shop Vac hose.
I fix this so that I am actually working right in the opening. /QUOTE]

Good re-purposing there RB!

The advantages of a BMH over that type of a hood are, it will be less turbulent and hence draw more air/dust than any other hood design, or it allows operators to work further away from the hood for same amount of air/fine dust capture. This is essential when working with larger pieces that don't fit inside or close to other hoods. A vac would also not pull enough air to capture the dust from larger workpieces so a DC with 6" ducting would be the go.

Thank you for those ideas and concepts ! Purchased today a 2HP single bag extractor which will replace existing small, old, Hafco, used on the table saw, and be repurposed to vent a small booth, yet to be built. If it works, well and good. Must be better than nothing ! Huon pine is not a good dust....
Gus