How serious do you get about dust protection

[cotrecerf]

Thanks again for your tip, just ordered one plus spare filter. I think non visible dusts  (and fumes) are of great concern to modellers health.

best regards

Joachim

[LoydB]

This Dspiae one is loud and expensive (use Ali Express for cheapest, though that was pre-tariff). But it works really well for me.

 

[paul ron]

the shop vacs work very well for home dust collection systems. its more a pita making adapters for all the machines. 

 

 

[palmerit]

I bought one of these (Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier) for my work area in the house (under the table where I work) - where I have my air brush booth but otherwise it's just hand tools and sandpaper. In part it helps keep dust out of the room.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BTKAPUU?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

 

I've been wanting to do something in the cellar where I have some power tools.

[thibaultron]

Depending on how must saw dust or dust you are creating, several companies make ceiling mount units similar to this.

 

https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-hanging-air-filter-3-speed/g0738

 

I was lucky ans found a delta unit used for much less.

[Bomber_County]

On 10/28/2025 at 9:04 PM, Mike Y said:

Discovered a very neat solution for sanding dust that is not coming from a particular tool (e.g. manual sanding).

I work in a living room, so putting any workshop dust filter on a ceiling is not an option.

But IKEA has a purifier UPPÅTVIND of just the right size - you can put it right on the table, capturing dust very close to the source.

Impressively quiet (55db) even on the max speed (with a flow rate of 55 CFM), has a decent filter (EPA 12 class) and is very cheap (35 USD in Sweden, 50 in US. Filters are 5 and 15 USD respectively).

Making a DYI version would cost many times more, and there is nothing in the market in that form factor. Proxxon ASA is mysterious, haven't seen one in the wild, and it is 4 times more expensive.

 

Now I always have it on when modelling, just in case. It is that quiet, that you do not even think about it - just turn it on max for hours, you might even forget to turn it off afterwards  

 

On 10/29/2025 at 8:03 AM, Ronald-V said:

Thanks! Just ordered one  

I also model indoors in a converted double bedroom. How did you find the extract and MDF dust collection on this? I like the aspect of it being portable. Thanks in advance.

 

Phil.

[Ronald-V]

2 hours ago, Bomber_County said:

 

I also model indoors in a converted double bedroom. How did you find the extract and MDF dust collection on this? I like the aspect of it being portable. Thanks in advance.

 

Phil.

To be honest...I don't know yet. I'm at a point with my model where I haven't had to sand since I bought it. I tested it briefly, and it works well. However...it's not super powerful. I have it as a supplement so my workspace doesn't completely get covered in dust, but I still wear a face mask when sanding larger areas. especially MDF  

[ERS Rich]

Hi,

 

Get serious about dust.  I want to help others.  I was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease/Pulmonary Fibrosis last March, with minor symptoms - age 63.  Six months later, after a rapid decline, had a Double Lung Transplant.  Fortunately I had no major complications and am recovering quickly.
 

Foredom makes a line of desktop hoods with integrated vacs - they are expensive.  They have a desktop hood that attaches to your vac for $70.

 

That being said, use tools to remove wood, and sandpaper just for finishing.  
 

Woodworkers do not use sandpaper to remove wood they use tools, in our hobby: miniature planes, small chisels and files, drill bits.  These tools produce, for the most part shavings, not dust.  If you find yourself making a lot of dust with sandpaper, ask are you using the right tool.  Sand outside.

 

Using sandpaper?  Wear an N95 mask, that makes a tight seal.  The mask below can be found on the web, box of 10, for about $20.  Rectangular “COVID” masks with gaps around the face are useless.

 

Need motivation? Search for Interstitial Lung Disease, or Pulmonary Fibrosis on the web.

 

Please protect yourself, you want to get old and be healthy.

 

All the best.

 

-Rich

 

 

 

[paul ron]

@ers, sorry to hear about your situation. i know its a tough subject to deal with. i hope everyone takes your warnings very serious... same goes for hearing n eye protection. 

 

the few times when working dust, ill use my 3gal shop vac with adapters or hoods i custom make for the tool or area im working in. most hoods n adapters are made of card board or even toilet paper tubes or mailing tubes. my paint station is a cardboard box n ac filter i can fold up when not in use. 

 

there is no excuse not to use your personal protection equipment!

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 05:39 PM by paul ron

[Mike Y]

8 hours ago, Bomber_County said:

I also model indoors in a converted double bedroom. How did you find the extract and MDF dust collection on this? I like the aspect of it being portable. Thanks in advance.

 

Phil.

If you put it close to the object (close enough to not be in a way of your tools and files) - with the right light angle you can visibly see how fairly large dust particles are immediately sucked by the stable airflow into the filter, away from you. I assume that the much more dangerous fine particles (the ones not visible with the naked eye) are following the flow even better  

It's not like the vaccuum hose sucking from one spot, but it creates a continuous movement of air towards the filter from a much wider area.

So yes, it is not very powerful at all, but by putting it next to the sanded object you end up with fairly good efficiency. When experimenting you will see that the distance is crucial. Move it away - and you no longer capture particles at the source, but start filtering the "air in the room", needing large fans with much larger surface area and airflow.

And it is also very quiet, so you will run it for hours, and not turn off immediately (any tool is better than the tool turned off ). You would not sneak away to sand things quietly, avoiding a loud dust collector to not wake someone up.

 

It would be quite useless for general woodworking or sanding large surfaces - since you would no longer be able to place it close enough. But perfect for our needs I think (sanding a small part by hand or in a vise, with a part located close to the filter).

Remember that it is just a replacement for a vaccuum hose, not a magic tool that solves all dust issues.

This is what it replaced for me - a fiddly hose that I always need to somehow place as close to the vise as possible, it falls off, bumps around, and is less efficient on such distance, since it creates a very local suction zone, rather than a steady airflow away from me.

Ofc the vaccuum is still used with power tools (table saw, disc sander, mill, etc) - anything where the dust source is fixed in place with a way to get the hose very close to the source. 

 

I still wear a respirator mask when sanding - when working close to a part with an optivisor on you can inhale dust straight from  the source.

 

None of the dust protective measures are 100% effective on their own, it is all about multi-step reduction and reducing percentages. The mask would also not be working well if you are sitting for hours in a cloud of fine dust, the vast majority of the dust must be removed away from you before it can spread around. This compact purifier is taking that role, while the mask is preventing you from breathing it in too easily.

Masks are also sensitive to the proper fit, not really compatible with beards, etc. 

 

Edited Monday at 10:53 PM by Mike Y

[Bomber_County]

9 hours ago, Mike Y said:

If you put it close to the object (close enough to not be in a way of your tools and files) - with the right light angle you can visibly see how fairly large dust particles are immediately sucked by the stable airflow into the filter, away from you. I assume that the much more dangerous fine particles (the ones not visible with the naked eye) are following the flow even better  

It's not like the vaccuum hose sucking from one spot, but it creates a continuous movement of air towards the filter from a much wider area.

So yes, it is not very powerful at all, but by putting it next to the sanded object you end up with fairly good efficiency. When experimenting you will see that the distance is crucial. Move it away - and you no longer capture particles at the source, but start filtering the "air in the room", needing large fans with much larger surface area and airflow.

And it is also very quiet, so you will run it for hours, and not turn off immediately (any tool is better than the tool turned off ). You would not sneak away to sand things quietly, avoiding a loud dust collector to not wake someone up.

 

It would be quite useless for general woodworking or sanding large surfaces - since you would no longer be able to place it close enough. But perfect for our needs I think (sanding a small part by hand or in a vise, with a part located close to the filter).

Remember that it is just a replacement for a vaccuum hose, not a magic tool that solves all dust issues.

This is what it replaced for me - a fiddly hose that I always need to somehow place as close to the vise as possible, it falls off, bumps around, and is less efficient on such distance, since it creates a very local suction zone, rather than a steady airflow away from me.

Ofc the vaccuum is still used with power tools (table saw, disc sander, mill, etc) - anything where the dust source is fixed in place with a way to get the hose very close to the source. 

 

I still wear a respirator mask when sanding - when working close to a part with an optivisor on you can inhale dust straight from  the source.

 

None of the dust protective measures are 100% effective on their own, it is all about multi-step reduction and reducing percentages. The mask would also not be working well if you are sitting for hours in a cloud of fine dust, the vast majority of the dust must be removed away from you before it can spread around. This compact purifier is taking that role, while the mask is preventing you from breathing it in too easily.

Masks are also sensitive to the proper fit, not really compatible with beards, etc. 

 

Mike, thank you so much for your exhaustive reply. MDF is my biggest concern, over the years I’ve always sanded resin using water etc but ship building is another genre. The major sanding I’ll do in the garage where all my large wood and metal working machines are. Thanks for the advise it’s food for thought

 

Phil.

 

[ERS Rich]

On 12/8/2025 at 12:34 PM, paul ron said:

@ers, sorry to hear about your situation

Thanks, I am doing well now, on the road to recovery and back to doing what I like to do with some limitations.

 

Apologize for being preachy, you know how it is, you go through a tough experience, and hope others will not.

 

Happy modeling!
 

-Rich