Dust control with a dust collector

When do you need a dust collector? If you have a hobby or work that generates wood dust, like when working with wood in your garage, it is important to protect your health with a proper dust control system. You will also enjoy a cleaner work environment.

The two most basic parameters of a dust collection system are the air flow speed and resistance pressure or static pressure. The air flow speed is the volume of air the collector can move per minute at a given pressure. The air flow is typically measured in cubic feet per minute or cfm. The static pressure or resistance characterizes the dust collection suction power. The air flow and static pressure parameters needed are determined by the number and power of your wood processing machines.

When it comes to protecting your lung health, another important parameter is the filter efficiency. The finer the filter, the more efficient it is, the smaller particles it catches.

If you also care about how fast you get tired, pay attention to the noise level specification of the collector (measured in db).

Depending on your dust control needs, you can choose among broad range of options, from light duty to industrial strength, from small and inexpensive shop vacuums to single stage or two stage collectors, or even more sophisticated cyclone pre-collectors.

To further minimize health threats, you may also want to combine your main dust collection unit with an ambient air cleaner, which captures finer (micron sized) wood dust particles missed by ordinary dust collectors.

Finally, unless you have a powerful central collection unit in your ductwork, it is much more convenient to have a portable dust collector (on wheels).

Indoor air dust and how it eats your health
Dust in the indoor air comes from many household sources. Dust can disable or kill people via heart attack and lung diseases. Dust control is an important part of health care.