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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Roy from Pa on September 30, 2016, 10:56:00 PM
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10 years ago I had my first contact with IPE. It messed me up bad. Numerous trips to a dermatologist, steroid shots, medications, free and clear laundry detergent, free and clear hand soap, and the list goes on. After 10 years, I still have problems being around a lot of dust. But I refuse to quit making bows. The last escapade with severe dust from cutting 10 staves into bow slats then cleaning up the shop, left me with my face so broken out that I was bleeding. My hands were just as bad. Seen the dermatologist today, finger was so bad, it was infected.
I really need to begin wearing some serious protection on my face and hands. Thinking about a ski mask with a respiratory system and some type of thin pair of gloves.
Any suggestions for a thin face, head, and neck protection system would be welcome.
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Roy, some of the camo hunting masks fit almost like a second skin. With one of those and a pair of the eye protection goggles your face would be covered. Take care of yourself bud.
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Yes, I neglected to mention goggles. Dust in my eyes caused them to get that stringy crap in them. I'll need goggles that are sealed, not those with the tiny holes in them for ventilation.
I'm basically reaching out to you guys, seeking suggestions. I refuse to quit making bows...
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Jeez Roy you are knocking yourself around!I know I'm up for trouble myself before long with my head in bamboo and fiberglass dust half the time. I do wear a cartridge mask when I think of it , but problem is wearing glasses the strap interferes with the wings of my glasses.The glasses take the place of goggles [badly] but a mask is an absolute imperative! Look after yourself my friend!
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Look at some of the facemask Wood turners use. Some are sealed and have respirators.
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I think just plain ole rubber gloves roy. They are cheap and keep blood out so dust would be no problem.
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Man, I don't know Roy what to tell you. The sealed goggles will fog up and you will sweat. Regular vented ones do it for me.
The gloves you can handle with little prob.
Maybe this and a dust mask under?
https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/89/995/Craft-Supplies-USA-Bubble-Visor
Good luck brother, I'm allergic to coco, it turns me red and itches like crazy. I had to quit messin with it.
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Roy, look into Supplied Air Respirators (SAR). They cover your entire head and neck and allow in only fresh filtered air, even in the most dusty or chemical laden environments. I used them at work when I worked around asbestos. There are several types on the big auction site.
I know a few folks whose reactions to many dusts, glues, and finishes began, and got exponentially worse, after they were exposed to one they were especially allergic to, like ipe was for you.
Yew can be another bad one. I have a lot of yew to cut up in the near future and while I haven't had a reaction YET, I plan to take some measures to protect myself. I'm going to stop at the local automotive paint/body supply store beforehand and see what they have available.
I have paper type dust masks and carbon filter vapor masks but they don't keep it out of the eyes.
Good topic. I need to put some thought into it.
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What Jeff says sounds like a better system, you just have to make yourself wear it religiously with whatever you do...
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Thank God I have not been bothered by allergies, Roy.
Roy, is it all woods or certain ones?
As I've aged the number of bows per year has decreased.
I spend 30-50 hours on a bow and I have to stretch that time over a 2-3 week period. Little by little. An hour here and an hour there. :)
But it has been fun.
Jawge
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Roy there are some creams that coat the skin. You might do a search for info on those. I have to use the white painters coveralls, respirator, rubber gloves, and goggles when working with cocobolo but dang it gets hot quick.
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Roy,
I found one of these at the local surplus store. Looks like you can still play smoochie face with your better half. Would you like me to ship it to you ???
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJknrsIPi2dCI-4if56ASU9FqlWVv0MdA0DWgXmjpgmE2xsvXHVQ)
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on a more serious note, go with what Bowjunkie said. Hooded Tyvek suits and full face dust masks are what I see most on jobsites,
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Thanks, I'm looking...
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Maybe something like this for head and face.
With positive pressure inside, dust is constantly blown away rather than relying on filters that clog up and need to be tighter fitting and so likely uncomfortable.
http://workshopcompanion.com/KnowHow/Wood/Hardwoods_&_Softwoods/4_Health_Hazards/4_Health_Hazards.htm
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A lot of knife makers use the positive air respirators. Another thing I do when grinding knives and the wood handles, is my shop has a 9 foot garage door and my grinder is moveable. I set it up just inside and use a large powerful barn fan that I got from Tractor Supply to blow everything out the door.
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Originally posted by kennym:
Man, I don't know Roy what to tell you. The sealed goggles will fog up and you will sweat. Regular vented ones do it for me.
The gloves you can handle with little prob.
Maybe this and a dust mask under?
https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/89/995/Craft-Supplies-USA-Bubble-Visor
Good luck brother, I'm allergic to coco, it turns me red and itches like crazy. I had to quit messin with it.
De-Fog oil divers and swimmers use will solve the fogging problem.
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Man.... That really, really bites the big one... I feel for yah Bro...
If I can make a couple of suggestions...
Do your work outside or under a pole barn if you can... The wind will keep you in more of a dust free environment...
Your body may be out of balance... Could be for multiple reasons, antibiotics, lack of exercise, improper diet... Try to get back in balance...
Go see a good doctor that practices eastern medicine... He may help you get your body back in balance...
Wish you the best...
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Yes, and look into detoxing and work at strengthening your immune system too. That's likely what a good eastern doctor or naturopath would suggest for starters.
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Originally posted by tippit:
A lot of knife makers use the positive air respirators. Another thing I do when grinding knives and the wood handles, is my shop has a 9 foot garage door and my grinder is moveable. I set it up just inside and use a large powerful barn fan that I got from Tractor Supply to blow everything out the door.
x2
when you are making a lot of dust get it out of the shop
Grizzly has a whole page of hanging air filters
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I use a full face respirator. I have had trouble with bocote. I might as well build bows with poision ivy. Since I got a full face respirator and wear long sleeves with gloves no problems.
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For gloves the rubber coated cotton gardening ones work for me. I tried rubber gloves and always managed to rip them.
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I am not to your level yet but can pay the price if I don't use a paper dust mask and keep my vacuum system running when I am working osage.
Osage and walnut are my two demons with walnut being the worst. After I made my last walnut stocked flintlock I swore I wouldn't make another because of my reaction to the dust.
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Leopard wood was my catalyst. Had to go on steroids to get rid of reaction. Now in winter when my shop is closed up I react to yew and I think black locust, OK so far with osage. Its too cold here in winter to keep door open but I don't have issue in the summer when I do keep door open. I am also going to have to be smarter about keeping the dust out of my system. Now it is a sensitivity soon it could be full blown reaction like with leopard wood. Good subject and I will be looking into some of the products.
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I do a fair amount of work for a guy who's company makes custom furniture, amongst other things. He gives different guys days off based on the wood he's machining and their personal sensitivities. He takes the day off himself when it's walnut, event though he has some serious dust management on the go.
Seems to be a bit of a crap shoot until you get bitten on the backside.
Hope you can work things out to suit.
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Grew up in a cabinet shop and have never had a problem. But you guys are scaring the crap out of me!
Good luck Roy. And with all the things suggested one more thing - pace yourself. 10 staves and cleaning the shop in one day is a lot on your system. Even the best system isn't 100% and you can still overdo it.
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Good suggestions above but you should also look at fitting a proper extractor in your shop and have it running all the time you are making dust. If you have an infeed and an outfeed then you can have a flow of air in the shop which is very important to stop the fine dust hanging about. I also have two fine particle filters that I have running most of the time and I also leave them on on a timer when I've finished in the shop to stop the fine dust collecting.
You have to look at a way of getting the dust moving and not having it 'hanging about'.
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No one is immune Dave. I grew up eating sawdust as well and nothing ever bothered me, but recently, some exotics have been making my eyes itch. Once you are sensitized to one type of wood, others will start bothering you too.
Dave.
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Originally posted by wood carver 2:
No one is immune Dave. ... Once you are sensitized to one type of wood, others will start bothering you too.
Dave.
Yup, that's why I'm running scared now.
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Paper painters coveralls. Full face 3M respirator. Latex gloves. Its not so bad once you get used to it.
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Awhile back I realized I was eating too much dust making bows which led me to do a ton of research on cyclones. Based on that I purchased a dust deputy. I can't detect any fine dust making it to my filter since I started using it. I hope that piece of information is useful to some.
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Thanks, I'll check them out.
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Lots of ventilation. Lots of dust collection CFM.
Don't underestimate the power of antihistamines like Zyrtec, Allegra etc.
I had a bad reaction to rosewood once, and now nearly any rosewood dust anywhere on my skin causes a rash on the hands, neck, wrists, elbows. I had to use some super powerful topical steroids. So strong that they actually cause your skin to get thinner over time. I had to stop because the skin on the back of my hands was literally tearing. The only thing that worked really well was antihistamines.
I would consider taking antihistamine BEFORE you even think of making dust. In conjunction with really good air management, rubber gloves, long sleeves, and a respirator, you should be good.
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I've been really lucky as far as allergies go, but this is a lot of food for thought. I'm going to look at respirators to replace my cheap dust masks, and ventilation and dust filters for my basement shop.
Glad you brought this up, Roy, and hope you find some stuff that works for you.
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Pago, thanks for the heads up. I ordered the Dust Deputy Cyclone system Today. I did a search on you tube and was pretty impressed with how those cyclone systems operate.!!
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When I moved about 5 years ago I looked into dust collection and went with the a cyclone. Bill Pentz, a hobbiest woodworker ended up with serious problems from dust and did a ton of research into the things and has plans available for free to make your own. I made one for my table saw with plans to hook it up to my router table. I hardly ever use my router so I have not done that yet. Then a made a smaller one closer to the dust deputy size that is built into the stand for my band saw. I use a small shop vac for it. Need more cfm but it still gets at least 75% of the dust. I would post pics but photobucket doesn't seem to want to work for me today. the plans can be found at
http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/build_cyclone.cfm
It is amazing how well they work at filtering out the fine particles. I tested the one on my bandsaw by cutting bunch of MDF and next to nothing made it to the shop vac filter.
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Photbucket started working again for me. Here are some pics of my dust collection on my bandsaw. If I come across a bigger shopvac I'm sure it would do better.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg119/ringbillnh/20140223_163036_zpsf95836ff.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/ringbillnh/media/20140223_163036_zpsf95836ff.jpg.html)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg119/ringbillnh/20140223_163012_zpsd5da1f87.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/ringbillnh/media/20140223_163012_zpsd5da1f87.jpg.html)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg119/ringbillnh/20140223_163152_zps3f234e43.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/ringbillnh/media/20140223_163152_zps3f234e43.jpg.html)
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Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Pago, thanks for the heads up. I ordered the Dust Deputy Cyclone system Today. I did a search on you tube and was pretty impressed with how those cyclone systems operate.!!
Hey Roy, glad I could be of service. Hope it helps you as much as mine has helped me.
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5689/29699859493_070886827d_c.jpg)
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Got my dust deputy and found me a full face mask. Was taking a selfie in my truck after buying it and a cop spotted me. I'll be out of jail in a couple days.. LOL
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/facemask.jpg)
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Yikes!...I'm thinking about calling the FBI :laughing:
Probably not a good idea to wear that in public. Even on Halloween. ;)
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Prolly that cheaparse beer:)
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OMG....
Just used the dust deputy for the first time. I am Impressed! I washed out the shop vac, installed a new paper filter, and connected the deputy hose up to my 4' edge sander and prepped a pair of core lams and a piece of boo.
I turned on the shop vac and it sounded like a tornado at the end of the edge sander where the hose connects. Did the lams and boo while watching the dust swirling into the dust deputy container. Then I removed the top from the shop vac, And it still looked like I never used it.
Absolutely Amazing...
Before when I used the edge sander with shop vac only, the shop would be dusty as heck. I highly recommend getting the dust deputy. My setup was about $110.00, a good investment in my opinion.
Thanks again Pago... ^5 brother..
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:clapper: :biglaugh: :shaka:
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After you told me about the dust deputy, I did a search on you tube on it. I kept thinking B.S. But there were so many videos with the same clean results in the shop vac, that I had to see for myself.
It works great.
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At my father shop they have the same looking collector but much bigger, like 20 foot tall outside with a dumpster under it.
I did'n know they made one that small.
Nice.
How big is your shop Roy?
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Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
After you told me about the dust deputy, I did a search on you tube on it. I kept thinking B.S. But there were so many videos with the same clean results in the shop vac, that I had to see for myself.
It works great.
I had the same experience, Oneida air is a reputable company I became convinced their science type stuff backed up the claims and took a chance too. It's a little hard to believe one cyclone works that much better than others but I do know there is a lot of science involved, I'm happy with my purchase and glad to recommend it to others.
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I have a big blower I kick on with my shop door open and use a respirator on top of that. I have a 12x16 shop so it gets dusty fast. I am constantly stopping to blow it out with the leaf blower on top of that. I guess real dust management could make a big difference