Key Information About Dust Collectors

If you have a workshop, then dust is your constant companion, so constant that soon we forget that it exists. It is important to remind ourselves that dust can be dangerous for our health, apart from the general discomforting effect it has on people.

Dust can block a work object and can make breathing difficulties much worse that may lead to respiratory related diseases like asphyxiation, lung infection, pneumonia, asthma, and other similar diseases caused by inhaling irritants.

For a safe and healthy workshop environment, as well as other similar places like lumber mills and construction sites, you should consider installing a dust collector. Let’s know more about them.

Reasons a Dust Collector is Necessary

A lot of people who own workshops or small setups think that dust collectors are luxury items, and because of other priorities, send it to the bottom of the list. People then forget to buy it. Here are some reasons why you should be getting a dust collector for your shop:

To prevent respiratory Problems

Research has proved that the risks of respiratory issues due to exposure to dust are very real. You can find a lot of information on the Internet about this from various accredited organisations. Exposure to wood dust can result in eye irritation, nasal dryness and/or congestion, asthma, prolonged colds, skin irritation, frequent headaches, and even cancer. Extended exposure increases the risks and can lead to more serious health issues.

To build a safe place around

In most small setups, a dust collector is actually a manual method of using a broom and a dust pan at the end of each day. People who work with wood become habituated to stepping over wooden shavings or stand on slippery and thick layers of sawdust while they work on wooden boards with a saw. It is very tempting to ignore a hazardous mess that should be cleaned because you are busy working. That is what most workers do even though they know that there are high chances that they may slip on or stumble over the mountain of debris and injure themselves to the extent where they cannot work for a long period. Dust build-up is also prone to causing fires. When wood is cut into small pieces, it ignites very quickly and easily. Even a small spark from one of the tools can ignite the shavings and sawdust and cause a major fire. You should know that fine airborne wood dust can reach dangerous levels and explode spontaneously causing great damage.

To improve the woodworking atmosphere

Clouds of dust and piles of shavings create an untidy and unhealthy environment and makes it hard for woodworkers to give their best. This is where dust collectors come into play. After you install it, it will clean the workshop for you while you work, not after you are done. You will find it easy to get to things with this handy companion working for you, and you can devote your time to working with wood instead of having to keep cleaning the shop.

Selecting a Dust Collector

First you must consider the air volume requirements of the tools that you have in your workshop and also the amount of static pressure that your dust collector will have to tackle. A large and powerful equipment will be able to move more air with more force than a smaller unit. So, it can be used to service machines that produce a lot of debris and have more cfm requirements. Also, because of their higher capacity for overcoming losses in static pressure, such powerful dust collectors can be installed at a greater distance from machines, making them operate centrally in the shop.

Hope this article convinces you about the importance of dust collectors, and if you have a workshop or workplace that produces a lot of dust, you must get one without further delay!