Small shop metal dust collection

[BuiltByBen]

Hello everyone. I run a small specialty automotive repair, performance and fabrication business out of my detached garage. While it well set up for what I do, my biggest issue is dust! Apologies if this is posted in the wrong area, I’m new here.

I have scoured the web for info including this forum but maybe someone more experienced can help me understand the differences? Seems all the info I find is for wood working shops and unsure how much crosses with fabrication. I know metal dust can be combustible and requires some extra precautions.

Most of my dust will be metal from grinding and sanding, but I also heat my shop with a wood stove which adds quite a bit of dust. I’ve noticed everything covered in the shop and I clean very regularly.

There are old ducts from an air handler the landlord used for AC that have been removed, I’ll post a picture later. Wondering if I can filter through this handler? Initially I was looked into ceiling mounted HEPA units like Grizzly but there’s really no distinction between ones made for metal dust and wood dust. Maybe my brain is mixing dust collection and air purification?

Then I looked in to dust collectors which seem to be specifically to remove dust from a particular machine with ducting. Would I benefit from having both, a general dust purification for air and a dust collector for tools?

Looked in to HEPA air scrubbers which would be a good portable solution but do they need to be ducted? Not sure if these are designated for what I’m trying to do.

Then I had looked at converting a grizzly woodworking downdraft table in to a metal grinding downdraft booth (see

for part 1).

I’d like to work in a healthy environment, but with a lot of wood stove and fab dust in a closed garage in the winter with no windows or ventilation, I NEED to figure out how to effectively remove dust from my shop without running up a $1000 electrical bill or buying useless equipment.

Is there anyone in a similar boat that has successfully come up with a working solution? Maybe I need a combination of these units? There’s not really a local company that specializes in this that I can call. I appreciate any and all help/recommendations!

 

[LOTT]

You're going to want a combo solution.

1. Dust collection at the abrasive machines. This is ducted in like a wood shop, but with a metal/grinding dust collector. Like this: https://www.elitemetaltools.com/tool-shop/products/kalamazoo-industries-industrial-vacuum?sku=DCV-6 (230V Thr

2. An air exchanger. These suck air in from outside and blow out from inside, and have a sort of radiator to exchange the heat/cold difference.

3. Fume extractor, if you do any welding.

We have several of the ceiling mounted air filters, but I think the first three are more effective.

 

[neilho]

Used vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters...

 

[EPAIII]

I would definitely start AT the machines. Catching it at the source will be the most effective strategy and the biggest bang for the buck. After setting that up, then evaluate what needs to be added to the situation.

A good shop vac can provide the suction at each location. Get a good filter that is made for metal and abrasive particles: this need not be overly expensive. And set up a duct intake that catches the dust as it comes off the wheels or sanding belts/discs.

https://www.grainger.com/search?searchQuery=metal+dust+filter&searchBar=true

You will probably need to do some sheet metal work.

For your concern about the electric bill, these individual setups at each machine can use one of those switch boxes that run the vacuum when the machine is running and shut the vacuum off about ten seconds after the machine is switched off. I have one that I use with my shop vac all the time when I am creating dust. They are relatively inexpensive and work great. I probably need two or three more now that I think about them.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Automatic+switch+for+shop+vac&ref=nb_sb_noss

 

[BuiltByBen]

You're going to want a combo solution.

1. Dust collection at the abrasive machines. This is ducted in like a wood shop, but with a metal/grinding dust collector. Like this: https://www.elitemetaltools.com/tool-shop/products/kalamazoo-industries-industrial-vacuum?sku=DCV-6 (230V Thr

2. An air exchanger. These suck air in from outside and blow out from inside, and have a sort of radiator to exchange the heat/cold difference.

3. Fume extractor, if you do any welding.

We have several of the ceiling mounted air filters, but I think the first three are more effective.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you very much

 

[BuiltByBen]

I would definitely start AT the machines. Catching it at the source will be the most effective strategy and the biggest bang for the buck. After setting that up, then evaluate what needs to be added to the situation.

A good shop vac can provide the suction at each location. Get a good filter that is made for metal and abrasive particles: this need not be overly expensive. And set up a duct intake that catches the dust as it comes off the wheels or sanding belts/discs.

https://www.grainger.com/search?searchQuery=metal+dust+filter&searchBar=true

You will probably need to do some sheet metal work.

For your concern about the electric bill, these individual setups at each machine can use one of those switch boxes that run the vacuum when the machine is running and shut the vacuum off about ten seconds after the machine is switched off. I have one that I use with my shop vac all the time when I am creating dust. They are relatively inexpensive and work great. I probably need two or three more now that I think about them.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Automatic+switch+for+shop+vac&ref=nb_sb_noss

This is also very helpful! Thank you for this info. I’m going to get up in the attic and see if there is still an air handler up there or just ducting. If so, I will try and do some type of air exchange through that and set up collection at the sources.

 

[BuiltByBen]

Sincerely appreciate your replies. This was very helpful! Thanks everyone

 

[Scruffy887]

You need a general air cleaner AND collection at the source. But be vary careful blowing fumes outside with the space closed up. You will cause your wood stove to backdraft into the shop.

 

[BuiltByBen]

You need a general air cleaner AND collection at the source. But be vary careful blowing fumes outside with the space closed up. You will cause your wood stove to backdraft into the shop.

Good thought, I did not consider the back draft.

I’d really like to get the ceiling ducting to circulate the air at ceiling height inside through a HEPA filter while setting up a 4-5hp collection unit in the corner by the equipment to collect at source. Still need to find time to get in the roof to see if handler is still present and/or wired.

Additionally I’d still love to have a downdraft grinding table to use small abrasive tools that make a lot of dust or to do very light spray painting inside. My abrasive tool use seems to be one of the main contributing factors so an area designed for collection would help.