Health and Safety - Dust

This section of the Health and Safety set of pages deals with dust.

Dust Extraction and Protection

Many woods used in woodturning are toxic to some degree.  The dust produced by sanding is very fine and precautions need to be taken to minimise the amount of dust people using the lathe and the onlookers breathe in.  An effective method of dust extraction is therefore essential.   The black flexible hose and yellow funnel in the picture is for dust extraction.  It is connected to a vacuum cleaner.  Ordinary domestic vacuum cleaners are not designed to filter out very fine dust, so if the budget permits, invest in a dust extractor with a 1 micron or smaller filter.  Possible suppliers are Record and Axminster Power Tools.  There are many others. 

Do bear in mind that dust extraction will not collect ALL the dust generated.  It is also highly desirable to have a dust filter mounted in the workshop which will filter the dust present in the atmosphere.  Microclean make a range of suitable equipment and there are other manufacturers.  If you do install one of these dust filters, it is a good idea to switch it on before you start turning and leave it on afterwards in order to filter out the dust remaining in the air.  Use a timer to ensure that the dust filter is not left on for many hours/days until somebody next goes into the workshop.

It is a good idea to vacuum yourself down after a session of woodturning.  You will certainly have wood chippings all over you and probably a lot of dust as well.

Avoid breathing dust

It is a very good idea to invest in face protection that includes a fine dust filter.  For more details of face protection, please click here.