i am starting to get some mist hanging in the air at my shop and with winter coming up i'm really thinking that i need to get this under control as i don't want to breathe it all winter long. i have about 3400 sq and am debating between machine mounted units and one central unit to clean the entire shop. any thought here?

Entire shop types in Michigan winter might be tough and cause other issues with heating control for example. This depends some on the type of actual collection unit (forced air filtration or electrostatic types). And generally, still doesn't control the air quality ppm even though you may no longer see the 'mist'. At 3400 feet, you're large enough in room volume that you may want to consider both types... independant machine type and a shop type for added measure. HOWEVER, this can also depend on number of machines and mist output at any given time.

It's also possible that you machine units are simply undersized to begin with based on work envelope volume or maybe need to "seal up" the openings a bit with the machine if you can.

Make the salesmen earn their money.
Call up Torit and Smog Hog

http://www.smog-hog.com/?gclid=COn0o...FQ0aawod1V7ilw
http://www.donaldson.com/en/industri...cts/index.html

and tell em your shop size, processes, and machines, and ask em what they would sell you to fix it.

You are under no obligation to buy from either- but they actually know from experience how big a machine will do what to how much air, how often.

Every shop is different, and piecemeal buying of used stuff is gonna take longer, and cost you a lot more than a realistic targeted plan.

Figure they are gonna be in favor of overkill, and scale back their recommendations a bit, you can always add another point source electrostatic or two if needed.

I own an 18,000 sq foot plant we do screen printing. We use three direct fired air exchangers in minnesota, our air changes every 5 minutes, the building is pressurized a few pounds higher than the outside pressure.

With just 3500 sq feet, why not use a large heat exchanger, they are about 80% efficient at exchanging the heat and you get fresh air, push the fresh air in at the top and pull the misty air off the floor. Condensation of the mist will come off the heat exchanger. The only moving part of the heat exchanger is the blowers.

Actually if you have lots of sheet aluminum you can make a pretty nice exchanger yourself and have all the fresh air you need.

Metron, i'm all ears on how to make one of these things. a guy around the corner from me does heating and cooling and he owes me a few favors. i wouldn't mind imposing on him to fab something up.

Hi, My name is Rob, I have been selling mist collectors for over 15 years as an applications engineer, contact my company AER Control Systems, our website is www.aercontrolsystems.com to see a variety of different types of mist collectors. Central unit, to machine mount, to ambient style depending on what your objective is. Our units are priced better then the Torits and Smog Hog. If you want to contact me by phone, my number is 866-265-2372 or email is rgabelmann@aercontrolsystems.com. I can definitely save you some money and provide you with a better mist collector.

Rob,

I was able to look on-line and wanted to ask if you could provide a list price, or just general cost for a CM-500.

Thanks.

One central unit. Only one set of filters to clean.

Drawback is one big blower is noisy. If possible you'll want the blower outside but here in MI you'll want to duct the return back inside.

Ducts must be sized to keep airflow speed up (system gets smaller as it progresses) and I prefer round pipe for the whole system. Include valves to balance the flow at each drop and allow you to add stuff.

You will have to build a filter box. Oil/water separator (impinger/grease filter) , pre-filter , filter and if you want to spend the bucks, an electrostatic. Check out the Graniger's catalog for pieces and parts.

Your air guy can help with sizing, a closed machine needs 200/400 CFM, an open machine twice that.

A weekend project with huge rewards.
Bob