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Thread: Containing the mess
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26th June 2020, 06:19 PM #1
Containing the mess
Gosh! I used to think that routers were messy, then I got a lathe and had at crack at turning bowls. The definition of a messy shed has taken on a whole new meaning.
As is to be expected, the lathe bed and bench gets covered with shavings, but turning around with my back to the lathe reveals what can best be described as the aftermath of one of those huge Lord of the Rings tree people having sneezed a wet sneeze without the use of a handkerchief.
Perhaps it's a technique thing that I'm getting wrong, but when shaping both the outside and inside of bowls, streamers of wood fly over my right shoulder and end up EVERYWHERE.
How do others manage this? Technique, lathe placement, shower curtain, some other trick, or just acceptance of the inevitable?
Oh, I used to chuckle at turners with their special turning jackets. After standing outside this afternoon striping layer after layer off to try and get rid of chips that found their way through my clothing, I think I will choose something with a tighter neck and arm cuffs next time. I'm sure there will be wood chips on the bathroom floor when I take off my undies this evening.
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26th June 2020, 06:38 PM #2
The "right technique" only ensures a good cut in a safe manner. At best you'll learn how to direct the stream of shavings at nosy beavers but that doesn't stop the flow.
Unless you use scrapers exclusively.
How do others manage this? Technique, lathe placement, shower curtain, some other trick, or just acceptance of the inevitable?
Me, I have a different approach. I tell myself that the piles of shavings and curlies all over my timber racks, work benches, table saw et al are "preventative measures" that protect whatever they're burying from excessive UV exposure, humidity changes, etc. etc.
Oh, I used to chuckle at turners with their special turning jackets. After standing outside this afternoon striping layer after layer off to try and get rid of chips that found their way through my clothing, I think I will choose something with a tighter neck and arm cuffs next time. I'm sure there will be wood chips on the bathroom floor when I take off my undies this evening.
Also... don't be surprised if you also cop flak for wood-chips inside the washing machine or, worse, needing to repair aforesaid washing machine when the pump fails from pulp overload.
BTW, welcome to the world of bowl turning!
- Andy Mc
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26th June 2020, 08:00 PM #3.
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Bell Mouth hood and DC on 60Hz (so pretty loud) but even that only reduces the chip scatter.
Instead of a 3-4+ metres the chips are mostly down to 2-3 metres and no fine dust.
With the DC on 60Hz is very noisy so I wear muffs and grin and bear it.
Then I vac the chips up with this.
A use for 90mm stormwater pipe in workshop dust control
Like Skewie I find a good pile of chips sort of satisfying
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26th June 2020, 09:01 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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Sometimes you have to surrender and accept the inevitable.
After a big day I find shavings in my underpants too.
DSCF6971.jpg
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26th June 2020, 10:52 PM #5
Lance,
Are you sure having a wood lathe is the right thing for you,???
Cheers Matt.
Ps when are we seeing pictures of these bowls.
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26th June 2020, 11:17 PM #6
All part of the joy of turning. When knee deep in shavings and having to wipe the sap off the face shield every so often I dont really think of it as mess. Just part of the process. Routing makes a mess but turning shavings in great heaps are a sign of progress. I usually only use the DC on the sanding part.
Regards
John
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26th June 2020, 11:42 PM #7
Surrender and enjoy the fun. This photo was taken after two barrow loads of the stuff had been removed. Not to sure a 3hp dusty would be much help.''
Jim
NFI Pine Bowl2S.jpgSometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important...
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27th June 2020, 10:19 AM #8.
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At the risk of sounding like a broken record (and for the sake of any newbies reading this) the primary use of a DC is to deal with wood dust that cannot be seen, the stuff that can be seen is far less of a health problem. With that much visible mess I would expect it to be accompanied by substantial amounts of fine dust.
In a study of wood workers dust exposure to fine dust, wood turners stood out as one of the woodies at greatest risk. The average exposure of a wood turners was ~40X greater than the (old) recommend OHS limits.
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27th June 2020, 04:00 PM #9
The shavings all around on the floor I don't mind so much . But down my neck and in my clothing I hate .
When doing short bursts of turning like a knob or two or Knob repair like I do sometimes ( A patch that's been glued into a broken knob being turned off) I manage to stand one side ( Left ) and with spindle turning, the chips can be directed off to the other side of center to the right. Sometimes placement of the thumb lifted at the chisel helps direct them away .
For longer runs of turning like a set of table legs, I made what I called my Wood Turning Poncho .
Cut a hole in the center of a trimmed Bed sheet so My head only just squeezes through the. Pull it on .
With a long torn off strip of sheet tie a belt around waist to pull in the loose flappy bits .
Get a long piece that wraps around my neck like a scarf and tuck the end in so no loose bit hanging off . Ya got to eliminate the chance of being dragged in by the neck .
Then I put on my face shield and go for it .
I did have a set of Earmuffs that played radio as well that was nice. When they worked.
I also like setting up a fan at my right and have it set on the fastest setting . All shavings go left and out.
When I used to wood turn out under a lean to with two walls, off the back of the workshop and in the garden on a nice sunny day with all this set up it was very pleasant ! A bit like meditation at times .
Since my new workshop set up there is no lean to and its all inside . It is next to a roller door though . My dust extraction is in the process of being put together and Ill be investing the time in BobL,s recommendations with the BMH asap too .
Rob
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27th June 2020, 04:35 PM #10
I appreciate this post;
I was given a lathe and tools but have not started to use it due to thinking it would make a big mess in my small workshop.
Seems like I was correct.
My thanks to all those that contributed a reply.
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27th June 2020, 06:24 PM #11
Thanks all for the responses. I guess the conclusion is that it is all part of the package of turning, and that the best course of action is just to do what I can to make the inevitable cleanup easier.
My wife and I each turned a coupe off bowls today and made another big mess, but boy was it worth it. So much fun. But we both still managed to get chips all through our clothing. Finding the best clothing is going to be a journey I think. The weather was so warm I had the roller door up today, and I do fear what the neighbors will think if I dressed in Rob's fancy garb.
Verawood, don't miss out due to fearing the mess. Small spindle turning really doesn't make much mess. Bowls on the other hand, are messy but so much fun.
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27th June 2020, 09:56 PM #12
Point taken Bob, I should have added that there is a wall fan that is set up beside a window, that blows from right to left along the lathe. There is a large double door at to the left of the lathe. Dust, seen or unseen, is not an issue except for any unseen dust that comes in from the outside environment.
I think that is by far a better arrangement than a dust collector.
JimSometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important...
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27th June 2020, 11:16 PM #13
I use those paper overalls as they zip right up to the throat. In summer snip off the arms and legs. You can get many wears out of one. Saves a lot of itching. A full face shield is also good as larger bits than chips can fly off. They dont steam up as much as safety glasses.
Regards
John
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28th June 2020, 09:27 AM #14SENIOR MEMBER
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Ive set my lathe up so I can move it outside to turn. Using the lathe inside the shed, the slightest breeze would push fine shavings throughout the shed. Even with good dust extraction and a bell mouthed hood I was getting blocked sinuses at the end of the day, but I have developed a bit of a sensitivity to dust over the years. I wear a full face powered air respirator when turning to give face and breathing protection. Face protection is a must, have had a couple instances where a bowl flew apart when turning. Has the potential to cause serious head injury.
When roughing out green blanks I find fine dust is not much of an issue and I can get away with just using a face shield.You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~Oscar Wilde
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28th June 2020, 09:30 AM #15SENIOR MEMBER
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