G0**AMN sanding dust!

[Stormwerks]

What do you guys do to keep down the dust when sanding filler? I usually use a DA to knock it down quick before finishing off by hand but it produces a ton of dust which spreads everywhere. Then I have to send and hour plus vacuuming and wiping down the entire shop before I go to the next step.

I don't have the option of going outside or to another room to do the sanding so needless to say I am looking for some alternatives here.

Any ideas?

[Burton]

Well, we have a huge wall filter system we use and a vacuum setup on the DA. It helps a lot, even if it doesn't pick it all up it seems to keep everything localized in one area.

Can you block off a certain area for just sanding or at least an area that you might be able to put some curtains up and plastic down? You might have to resort to wet sanding, its messy but it will contain the dust a lot better.

[DocCyber]

storm...........i use a home built downdraft booth....oddly enough its one of my old metal filing cabinets i laid on its back.took out the draws and installed a fan.screened the top......now i do all my bondo work there....(motorcycles)

for cars do the same thing.........build a box.....attatch a dryer vent hose...then attatch that to a fan in the wall.

a lot of bodyshops are using a central vac system........you can easily engineer one that will draw out the dust as your creating it.

[Stormwerks]

Thanks Doc, thats exactly the type of thing I can use.

Guess I got me another project.

[UltraAl]

I open the doors (Im out in the country) and there are these fans called blue blazers that can be tilted up and down. i usually have 3 fans going, blowing everything out the doors. When Im done I blow everything off and run the shop vac, then mop, pita, but I guess it goes with the territory. I have to do it all in one shop for now but soon will have a dedicated full size booth and I plan to put up a car port outside the booth for doing just that kind of work. AL

[Mike K]

Being where you are Bruce it could would be hard to run an exaust system due to the weather but a small ex fan would help. I use a shop vac with the majority of it. I use the bags they have for them now which does a better job of collecting than just the paper slip on filter and after I sand,vacume the part/area as I go with the round,soft bristle brush.
I also have a large plastic tub for wet sanding stuff I picked up at Harbor for like $6.00.
Winter is a tough time for paint work anyway you go about it.

[Stormwerks]

Al, in the summer time I do the sanding outside. Gets me out of the shop and into the sun. Its the winter time where that would be a little nasty.

Mike, I do run my exhaust fan as I am a one shop setup like Al right now but it's not effective enough as I still have to do the cleanup. What I am going to do is build a shallow table large enough for the parts I work on to sit on top of with slots cut in the top then I'll see if my shop vac attached to that is strong enough or whether I need to put an exhaust fan inside instead.

[DocCyber]

storm what i use are attic fans.........you get em at home depot for 40-50 bucks.......i put the down draft against the wall and just vent out...it even comes with a nice wall shutter vent.........i use that bench for everything it even acts as a small exhaust fan for just venting shop smell........it beats turning on the big exhaust fan that sucks everything fast.

[Stormwerks]

Thats a good idea. I'll have to go look for some attic fans. I don't know if they sell the same thing here or not.

Thanks for the tip.

[saltflat]

when I am done with body work I turn on every fan in my shop. I then proceed to get the air hose and blow gun and blow off everything. I do this to purposly stir the dust up. You have to keep your fans going for about 20 min after this. I figure if it wont get airborne by the blow gun it wont get airborne while I am painting. Good luck.

[Craig Fraser]

Easy trick,....hose down the floor before, and after. Just be careful not to splash water up on the car you are working on. We hose the floors down everytime we are clearing too, to prevent dust from getting airborn in the shop, and making it's way into the booth, or clogging our filters. Good luck.

Paint on

Fraser

[Stormwerks]

Yeah that definitely helps but it doesn't catch the stuff that hasn't landed. My spray area gets a thorough cleaning before and after I spray and especially when I am going to clear.