How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I've built up a nice little R/C workshop in a spare bedroom and I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. However, one thing that I didn't anticipate is what to do about all the balsa dust from hand sanding. Unfortunately, the room doesn't have a window to the outside so the only thing that I can think of, a good strong vent fan, is out of the question. Does anybody have a good solution that they'd like to share? (And doing all of my sanding outside, while effective, isn't exactly feasible this time of year. ;))

Thanks,

Harvey

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

maybe you could rig up a shop vac, might be alittle loud though

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Yeah, I thought of a shop vac but, like you mentioned, the noise would be obnoxious. (And it would fink on me to the wife that I got out of bed to do more than just visit the potty. :D)

Harvey

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

You might just use a room fan and put a furnace filter on the inlet side. I use a setup like this in my shop to help collect dust from a small disk sander. Works great and is quiet.:D

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Well, a dust collection unit would be best but noisy as you stated. What I have done is place the vacuum unit in the cellar and hard pvc piped upstairs to my plane room to a wall mount plate to which I can attach the vac hose. Works well and keeps the noise far away from the area. The only problem with my system is that now my wife wants this in the whole house.

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

you should have seen that coming(the wife thing)

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

this is what I do....


Works quite well...

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I like this idea too. Thanks guys!

Harvey

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

The furnace filter on a box fan is a cheap way to go, works alright. I have an old air purifier that works basically the same. Instead of changing the filter, I can vaccum the prefilter out and it's good to go again. Usually do sanding in front of it so the dust gets sucked up right away.
Like having it run when working with CA too, helps to deal with the fumes.

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Yep...I have it running for CA and for occasional spray painting of other projects... helps control the overspray

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Hi Harvey, Within the last couple of years there was a two part article about dust and ca fumes in one of the magazines. I think it may have been Model Aviation. They showed how to make a small simple dust/fumes collector. It used readily available(cheap) components. You might do a search on the AMA web sight for the article if you do not have the back issues.
Fred

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I have the fart fan filter box thing too.
Glue fumes, balsa dust, and small spray paint jobs, it helps a bunch.;)

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

No matter which system or method you use, there still is too much dust floating around. believe that the only solution is to do all of my sanding outdoors. the wife agree's.. dick

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

If you are somewhat of a carpenter[or know one],install a bathroom wall fan.This would vent outside. Install a chord and plug it into a wall outlet.

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

The room doesn't have a window because none of the walls are outside walls. But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Harvey

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Balsa dust clngs to almost everything. It seems with static balsa dust will get everywhere it is not wanted and refuses to deposit itself in the waste basket. In thinking about this problem the balsa dust seems more difficult to control in low humidity environments such as winter here in Indiana. My thought is this. What about a Humidifier and then a Dehumidifier in the same room. Placing more humidity in the room than is taken out by the Dehumidifier might work wonders on removing balsa dust. Anyone have any experience with this?[8|[sm=idea.gif]

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I have my mother-in-law over when I sand with the window open all the dust just blows out when she talks.[X(]

Pete

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Pete,

That seems to be a low cost solution, but how often do you purchase hearing protection and does she invade the fridge while visiting?

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I find if I use a very cource sand paper for shaping things, the dust isn't very fine, but large and heavy, falls straight on the floor. Then use the finer paper at the very end, just to finish things up. Its just one peice of the puzzle . It might take a combination of things to control dust. I have one AC return just outside the shop door and it tends to trap a good deal of dust also. I like the fan idea. But I try to keep the airflow in the room to a minimum to let the dust settle locally. I will go to the garage for sanding big areas or for using the electric palm sander. Houston ain't that cold. Although it feels it sometimes.

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

LOL you know you are a modeller when...:D
Nice to see you posting again Dicknadine! ;)
I sand similar to PF using course grit for heavy removal. I also do my sanding near the fanbox. Since my office is adjacent to my shop, it's important to keep the dust down.

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I just pick it out of my nose. MMMmmmmm.

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

ahhhh

the ever present magic nose goblins!!

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

I really wanted the climate control so I did what it took to be able to work inside the house.
I use a down draft table and a dust collector when I use the power sander, yes it is loud, but with the door closed my wife does not think it is to loud out in the rest of the house. I only use the big machine when I use the belt sander or the palm sander.
I also have a dust collector fan I made out of a surplused equipment rack fan, it is not very noisy and does a pretty good job.
These machines will work really good for fine airborn dust collection http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...dust+collector http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...dust+collector

sorry for the duplicate pics

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

Spray the filter with a light coat of 3M 77 to catch more.
my $.02

RE: How do y'all control balsa dust?
 

guys i have the m/a magazine that shows how to build a room filter. cheap fan and filter. author say works great, a matter of minutes to clear a room clouded with saw dust.
i've been wanting to build something similar to sand over, so the dust will fall down into the draft from the fan. the one in the article blows outside if i remember correctly.