Eydie DeVincenzi on wed 13 aug 03
Hello Clayarters:
I am looking for a tabletop-sized exhaust system - something that will take
away claydust as I am sanding my small bone dry pieces. I saw one model
several years ago on a woodcarvers table. It looked like a little bear
barrel sitting on its side. One end had a vacuum system; the other end was
sucking in the dust as my friend sanded. Darn it, I didn't note the
manufacturer! Who knew.
No, masks won't do it. With all the nasty coloring chemicals I put in my
claybody, it is not just my lungs that are in danger.
So far, I have heard of two systems:
(1) a passive system called Dust Minder - a flat grate that holds a static
charge. Supposedly, the clay is "pulled down" onto the pan under the
grate. I saw a picture of it on a website. $24.95. Has anyone tried it?
(2) Studio Star's Dust Remover (model DC32). An active system that uses
filters. $295 plus shipping. Never saw it. Has anyone tried it? I am
really reluctant to buy something this expensive mail order when there is
no evidence that it will work.
I just moved here to Florida and don't have a studio yet (I have to
basically carry my stuff back and forth to a studio where I rent time).
That's why the dust-removing system has to be tabletop size.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Eydie DeVincenzi (edevincenzi@earthlink.net)
"Luck is where Preparation meets Opportunity"
Pompano Beach, Florida
Earl Krueger on mon 18 aug 03
On Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at 07:59 PM, Eydie DeVincenzi wrote:
> Hello Clayarters:
> I am looking for a tabletop-sized exhaust system - something that will
> take
> away claydust as I am sanding my small bone dry pieces.
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
Eydie,
Since you imply this must be portable, which probably precludes
venting to the outside, and that this is temporary have you
considered making your own?
2 cardboard boxes $0-10
1 furnace filter $5-10
1 bathroom fan $12-25
1 roll duct tape $5
1 electrical extension cord $5
2 electrical wire nuts $1
Find two cardboard boxes, of the same size, that are
somewhat larger on the bottom than the size of a high
quality furnace filter available from your local hardware store.
They should be sturdy, in good condition and only open on the
top. If you can't find free ones buy a couple of moving boxes
from a truck rental store.
Place the furnace filter on the outside bottom of one box. Trace
a line around the filter. Cut through the cardboard about one
inch inside the lines so you have a hole smaller than the filter.
Cut a hole in the bottom or side of the second box just
big enough to insert the lip of the bathroom fan so that it will
exhaust air from the box and not blow towards the open end.
Insert the lip of the fan in the hole and tape securely in place.
Place the open top of the box with the fan against the outside
bottom of the first box so that the filter hole you cut is like a
window from one to the other. Tape the boxes securely. Make
sure the joint is air-tight.
Reaching through the open end of the first box tape the filter
in place over the hole you made earlier. Make sure it is airtight
around the edges.
Cover any cracks or holes so that air must enter the open end
of the first box.
Cut off the female end of the extension cord and connect the
wires to the fan's wires using the wire nuts. Securely tape about
six inches of the cord to the box so that the cord is held in place
by the tape and not the connections.
Lay the assembly on it's side so that the open end is pointed toward
where you will be working. Plug the cord in and sand away.
If you can't quite picture this let me know via e-mail and I'll send you
a drawing.
If you sand just inside the opening all of the dust should be sucked
into and trapped by the filter.
A cheap filter may not remove the finer particles so make sure you
get one that will. The better quality ones come wrapped in plastic
and will tell you what minimum particle size they remove.
I built one of these to use as a temporary spray booth, just so I
could see if I liked spraying glazes. Worked great.
Earl...
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