I've been working in my garage hobby shop (10'x14') and recently noticed that my sinuses feel dry and irritated after making a lot of dust, which can't be a good sign. I try to manage dust with a Grizzly 1.5hp cyclone for my HVLP tools and a shop vac with a cyclone for my LVHP tools. When I'm not generating much dust, I wear a dust mask, but switch to a respirator when the dust levels are higher, like during routing. I do have a decent beard that might be affecting the seal of my mask, and sometimes I take it off after the dust settles. I also run a WEN air cleaner and keep the garage doors open with a fan for circulation. However, I'm starting to question whether these efforts are actually effective. Am I missing something? I'd appreciate any insights or experiences from others! Thanks!
2 Answers
Have you considered that the dry air in winter could be a factor? Before you stress too much about your dust setup, check your filters and make sure they’re not clogged. If they're clean, you might want to look into getting an air quality monitor to gauge the actual dust levels. The cheaper ones aren't super accurate, but they can give you a decent idea compared to outside or your home. Just a thought!
Definitely invest in an air quality monitor! I use the Dylos DC1100 Pro, and although it's a bit pricey, it really helps track how effective your clean-up is. When I switched from a shop vac to a Festool ROS and dust extractor, the dust levels dropped drastically. Also, make sure any respirator you use has a NIOSH rating for particulates—check if yours does. Trust me, it makes a big difference!
I see your point, I’ll definitely look into upgrading my respirator to a P100 option.