Maybe we get a lot more wind in the midwest that some other places, but it seems that no matter where I set up my mill I get sawdust blowing right in my face....every time. I wear a dust mask, but still get a lot of sawdust in my eyes.
Short of putting in an big expensive blower to suck the dust away, how do most of you control the dust so it isn't a constant irritant?
Just be glad that you are not sawing ERC. On occasions I have had to stop and walk away from the sawmill until the dust blew away, and then go back for more. :-\ I do carry a Stihl gas blower to at least occasionally blow away the accumulated dust which may not help but it gives me a breather.
For that reason, a Command Control would be nice.
I see a lot of people complaining about that. My mill shoots the dust out the back.
I'm set up in a valley and maybe 1 out of 20 time do I get any dust blowing back on me.
As you can see in this picture there is very little dust on my working side.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/All_saw_dust_ot_back.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509629181)
Now what a difference in the back of the mill.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/All_saw_dust_in_the_back.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509629299)
I only portable saw and I rarely have a choice on where I set up and never a choice on which way the wind will blow from/to.
Quote from: Magicman on November 02, 2017, 09:26:54 AM
Just be glad that you are not sawing ERC. On occasions I have had to stop and walk away from the sawmill until the dust blew away, and then go back for more. :-\ I do carry a Stihl gas blower to at least occasionally blow away the accumulated dust which may not help but it gives me a breather.
For that reason, a Command Control would be nice.
Unfortunately that's what I was sawing yesterday. Had to step away from the mill while cutting and hope I didn't need to stop quick for something.
I'm sorry. There is nothing more dusty then ERC. :-\
I've gotten to where I'll ask the customers to stack their logs so that the hitch of the mill is pointing WEST and the loader points towards the stack!
Most times the prevailing winds work in my favor, but not exactly 100%.
I had the command control, set up to prevailing winds, forecast winds and the such,, in these hills, there is still swirling, I ended up buying a few pair of those cheap clear goggles with the elastic adjustable bands, It can be a chore at times,,not a bout a doubt it. Sawmilling, dusty, and either hot or cold, wet or dry ;D
I have a big fan behind me that keeps it off of me. I also added a piece of 4" plastic drain pipe to my disharge to get the discharged dust closer to the ground when it comes out. It made a huge difference. I have a little Honda generator I run the fan with if there is no power where I am set up.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/47035/IMG_1647.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509659081)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/47035/IMG_1648.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509659049)
Quote from: Coltbodi on November 02, 2017, 05:47:10 PM
I have a big fan behind me that keeps it off of me. I also added a piece of 4" plastic drain pipe to my disharge to get the discharged dust closer to the ground when it comes out. It made a huge difference. I have a little Honda generator I run the fan with if there is no power where I am set up.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/47035/IMG_1647.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509659081)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/47035/IMG_1648.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509659049)
You got the best setup I have seen so far... All you'r sawdust runs down hill...
I also use fans. A big barrell fan behind me in the summer to blow dust away and keep me and the offbearers cool.
However, I also have mounted a 30" fan over and behind my console so that it won't blow on me when it's cold, but will go over my head and put a good breeze on the mill. No more sawdust in the air surrounding me, in my eyes or nose.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21488/IMG_0708.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509667112)
I have a dust collection system but that doesn't catch it all. There have been times I had to stop and walk away for a minute. My shed is set west to east. And most times the wind comes from the west. But when it swirls there's nothing I can do but stop and let the wind settle.
I have a tethered controller so I walk away upwind. A wireless controller would be even better.
Bob
I forgot to mention we have a 5hp blower for the sawdust which hooks up the mill and blows into a dump truck, but there is a lot of light, fine dust and mold in the air it doesn't catch, and I don't like breathing it. Having a fan blowing over my back is a great help for nasty species such as walnut and cedar. Since it blows over my head, and not directly on me but washes over the sawmill, I sometimes forget it's working and then I see a cloud of crud and dust coming my way from the prevailing wind and then reverse direction and go out the end of the barn away from me.
The more I talk to older woodworkers the more I hear them complain about lung and sinus issues caused by sawdust. Having a fan blowing means I'm not breathing that stuff. I don't like to wear a mask when I saw, so this seems the best option.
Don't know if it's age, but I've had three bad episodes from moldy sawdust in the last year. Twice from the sawmill and once from the shop. I try to use the maskbut sometimes - well... Fans look like a good solution at the mill. Hard to believe how much it affected me. Don't need to repeat that. Good discussion.
I believe that the affects of dust is cumulative, for me anyway. My dust exposure goes all of the way back to being a 12 year old riding a combine and tying filled oat, wheat, & rye sacks. Later years found me in my woodworking shop breathing sanding dust. Now I am very content wearing an N95 dust mask with an exhalation valve while sawing, bushhogging, grass mowing, and any other activity where I am exposed to dust.
I needed one two weeks ago while Elk hunting because the wind/dust was really bad.
Quote from: btulloh on November 03, 2017, 03:15:24 PM
Don't know if it's age, but I've had three bad episodes from moldy sawdust in the last year. Twice from the sawmill and once from the shop. I try to use the maskbut sometimes - well... Fans look like a good solution at the mill. Hard to believe how much it affected me. Don't need to repeat that. Good discussion.
I liked it so much over the mill, I mounted one in the shop, also. It washes over my groups of tools. The one that really gets me is the jointer, seems there is always particles of dust being thrown my way even hooked up to the dust collector, and this certainly helps.
My shop seems difficult to use fans since the dust producers are all over the place. Dust collection helps, but as we all know there's still plenty that gets in the air. The radial arm saw is my biggest offender. It just doesn't work well with the dust collector.
I know people with the those air scrubbers and they like them, but there's still a lot of dust floating around until the scrubber can make a couple air changes. I'm going to rethink the fan thing for the shop and maybe try a few small ones at certain locations. By the time I get my ears, cap, and glasses on, the masks tend to annoy me. Tried every type of mask there is and the one common denominator is that they all are annoying. I change glasses, safety glass, no glasses a lot. Too many things. I looked at those high end forced-air shields as a possibility. They run about 400-500 bucks. I would call that a good value if it really did the job and didn't annoy me. Not a good value if I leave it in drawer with all my respirators and what not.
I think MM is right about the cumulative effect of dust. Some of that mold doesn't have to accumulate much more than a couple minutes though.
I thought it was only me...seems that sawdust is always in my face, eyes, back and underbritches. I use the dust bee gone mask when its real bad but that dont help my eyeballs, but it has helped lower my headaches i wud get from breathing in sawdust too much
Quote from: Magicman on November 03, 2017, 04:10:12 PM
I believe that the affects of dust is cumulative, for me anyway. . . .
We have a crew of five guys - two have come down with 'occupational asthma' since we switched to cedar.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/19307/ALex_with_MegaHook_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1420911617)
Alex is the guy in charge of cleaning up the logs before use in log building. He only wore the nuisance dust masks. Now he's having to use a P100 mask and an asthma puffer to stay on the job.
Quote from: 4x4American on November 03, 2017, 06:26:39 PM
. . . . I use the dust bee gone mask when its real bad but that dont help my eyeballs, but it has helped lower my headaches i wud get from breathing in sawdust too much
Here's some friendly advice from a coffin dodger to all the younger dudes out there. If you want to play the game long term - take care of yourself.
The scraper chain broke right after lunch. That door way mid picture is 6'6'' high.
.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32746/20171104_183008.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1509786497)
Now if y'all will excuse me I've got a date with a shovel.
Good advice Andries..kinda like my old boss used to call me a bruiser..ive been getting better about it sorta kinda: Should see the guys down the rd at the pallet shop, them guys are double bruisers..you know the kind I'm sure.
Longtime Lurker, I don't envy your shovel date. I hope its a shiela shovel at least lol
Dust is definitely a hazard. Around here they talk about "farmer's lung" from working around dust....tillage work in dusty conditions, grain dust, mold, hog dust, etc. It's all dangerous and cumulative. My brother got a bunch of corn mold dust cleaning out a bin a few years ago and had a cough for over a year.
It was basically what killed my dad after a life time of farming. Went in for hip surgery and his lungs failed....nurses asked how many years he'd smoked....but he never had.
I wear a mask a lot, whether it's sawing, grinding steel, or any other dusty work.
I know it's not much help to the portable guys but a 42 inch barn fan at your back does wonders it's the only way I could saw black locust.
My favorite wood to saw is western juniper but because of the dust, I also hate sawing it. In my lungs in my eyes in my pockets, boots and underwear. I can wear goggles and mask but that doesn't help with all the other places it gets. Last week I cut juniper again and ran the water almost wide open and at last the dust was not too bad. Mill didn't need water neither did the band but this sawyer sure appreciated it.
Milling Western Red Cedar, outdoors, super bright sun on snow, loud loader and mill, cold temps.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/19307/APB_PPE_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1509830900)
This is my "Son of Darth Vader" disguise - and no, not cause its Halloween.
Dan'g - with this much protection, I might live to be as old as D-U-G.
(He's 125 and counting . . . )
I wear the same dust mask, its great.
Is that a p100 dust mask?
if so, where is it available
Andries I've made it this far without wearing that stuff so ima bet you'll lap me!!
Quote from: petefrom bearswamp on November 05, 2017, 08:19:11 AM
Is that a p100 dust mask?
if so, where is it available
I've had good luck with these folks:
https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/elipse-p100-dust-mask.aspx
Did somebody mention dust?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12769/image~31.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1457829851)
Quote from: redprospector on November 06, 2017, 12:07:27 AM
Did somebody mention dust?
My fan won't help there. Time to move. :D :D
Quote from: Andries on November 05, 2017, 11:06:23 PM
Quote from: petefrom bearswamp on November 05, 2017, 08:19:11 AM
Is that a p100 dust mask?
if so, where is it available
I've had good luck with these folks:
https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/elipse-p100-dust-mask.aspx
What he said. Same for me, it's a great mask, low- profile, replaceable filters, they even make a protective case for it that goes on your belt.
Quote from: btulloh on November 03, 2017, 05:25:12 PM
My shop seems difficult to use fans since the dust producers are all over the place. Dust collection helps, but as we all know there's still plenty that gets in the air. The radial arm saw is my biggest offender. It just doesn't work well with the dust collector.
Here is my setup for radial arm and chop saws.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/44783/IMG_1725.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509973093)
You are correct about normal collection on these as a lot of dust gets thrown out the back before it makes it up into guards to be collected. Those are HVAC boots you can get at any of the home improvement stores and they do a nice job of catching the back splatter. I have almost zero dust that escapes at these stations using this setup. I also use one of the ceiling mounted air cleaners as a second line of defense.
That's a good lucking setup Treehack. Thanks for the pic. If I had room behind my radial and chop saw I would copy what you have there. My problem is I would need a complete remodel to get me that space behind the saws. What I basically need is a bigger shop. :) I may just get a couple of those P100 masks to tide me over. I like the way they look.
Not saying in this case, but bands fed too slowly produce a lot of real fine dust. I think most of us feed too slowly, faster feed equals coarser dust. Circular mills produce saw chunks not dust. Frank C.
Way I look at it Frank circles produce saw dust and bands produce powder. :D
Even with circles I'm often surprised by the fines content we get: harder timbers require slower feed speeds so a fair % must be boiling out of the gullets and gets reduced by following teeth. Up the feed and the surface suffers. In softer wood though it's almost like shavings... I got good markets for the coarse dust and have often thought about putting a separator on the line. One day jobs.
I added goggles to my PPE because safety glasses were not helpful with sawdust. And I agree the wind always seems to into me and into workshop.
Walnut, cedar, anything over 120 grit mask up.
The lean in that picture is impressive, on a wet log there is a 50 / 50 chance of slippage and landing on your keester (always fun) but I appreciate the dedication to make it happen.
I can consider myself lucky as I only remember a handful of occasions when I had to wear dust mask. Only do portable sawing, so I guess it is pure luck. The one thing I did figure out is how to keep sawdust out of my eyes. I ALWAYS wear safety goggles and to keep most of the sawdust from falling in from the top, I use a simple baseball cap pulled right down on top of the goggles. It eliminated most of the sawdust from getting behind the goggles. It took some getting used to as I don't normally wear a ballcap, but now I can't run the mill without it.