Last week I did some sanding without my mask. Didn't give it a thought. I was sanding the wooden tile project that I sent a picture of. It wasn't until I was nearly finished that I realized what I had done. The woods included in that project vary from ordinary to exotic.

Walnut to bobinga to tiger wood to Bloodwood to Maple, etc.  Anyway, now my alergies have come down on me hard and I will have to stay away from sawdust for a while. My alergy medicine don't seem to help much, so the last thing I need is more dust, even even with a mask. I didn't have a single allergy until I turned 50, it is hockey sticks getting old, but it is better than the other option.

 So until things clear up, I will have to put off any wood projects for a while, that includes the vet coin display.

 

I put a label on my sander handle reminding me with a big "MASK" written where I can't forget. Big dummy. CRS 

I know what you mean Ron. I got allergies now,high blood pressure, high cholesterol and over weight. The nurse told me I was a perfect male specimen. LOL

wear that mask when you sand. I wear mine but I confess I have done what you did. Most of the time its when I think I am just going to touch up something and end up doing more than I thought.

Hope you feel better soon.

You have got that right. The things I used to do all the time, takes me all the time to do now.

 

"I feel more like I do now........than I ever have" 

Don't sweat the display Ron! This is on going, it'll be their for you when your ready. The combination of woods must have been the perfect storm for your allergies. Those are tough to deal with man. Hang in there and take a break! Health first.

That isn't an allergic reaction to the sawdust Ron, it's a natural reaction to sniffing up a bunch of crud into your sinuses and lungs, lol.

 

I get the same thing working with MDF and it's fine dust especially when I don't use a mask, Or cutting Sycamore.

 

Lots of nose blowing and coughing up the crud in a hot shower will help.

Two woods that scare me.  Walnut and Purpleheart.  Whenever I work with either I'm using a full respirator.

Ron...........I don't know the size of your shop but I'm here to tell ya.............build a downdraft sanding table........now. Here's a story............that's true. I smoked 3 pks of cigaretes a day and more when I had to work longer hours. My lungs were so congested that I had to take a break after walking up the steps into my home. That was almost 15 yrs ago. Ya..........my lungs are still screwed...........but I can breath, and the hacking and coughing are a thing of the past.

 I built a downdraft sanding table about 5 yrs ago, Yes, I should probably use a mask, but I don't. My sanding table sucks it all down and keeps my breathing air clean. I also own a dylos particulate meter...............and with my down draft running, my shop air can be hospital clear in about 15 minutes. Oh ya.............I beleive in my downdraft table. Here are some photos. Sorry about the 1st blury photo. .

I'd love to have room for one. I had one in my old shop I built with an old furnace fan and it did a great job.  I like your construction much better than mine, but I'll just have to keep reminding myself to use breathing protection.

I saw a regular box fan with a furnace filter taped to it so it would pull sawdust out of the air and filter the air.

Ron............mine is really nothing more than an outfeed table from my table saw. I guess what I'm saying is that if you have any room at all............incorporate a downdraft into an outfeed table. Even if it's 1/2 the size of mine. Your lungs will love ya for it.

Gary, I like that and I about to make some changes in my shop and I got to do that. Is that just peg board on the top?

I made a down-draft sanding table. Problem is, I don't sand on it anymore. 

Made mine like Gary's using a direct drive furnace fan.Use it now to spray water-based finishes over.

 

-Ace-

To help with the dust...I have a shop made air filter hanging in the shop. Went to the box store and purchased an attic fan. Works really well. If I remember, my total investment was about 120.00 This thing moves a ton of air. Air is pulled in from both sides which are filtered. I use a 20x20 paper filters (high micron) from the box store.

-Ace-

 

John...............No, it's not pegboard. It's 3/4" particle board. Story..........when I 1st built this thing, my grandson and I drilled all them holes........at 1/4". We were both going bonkers when we finished. I have since enlarged the holes twice. Not sure what size they are now............maybe 7/16". The fan I have ( an old furnace fan ) can pull way more cfm than I have sq in of holes. If your interested..............I have 2 stacks of filters, 3 deep. I believe I have an 11 or 13 merv rating on the lower filter and 8 merv on the top 2 filters. The 8 merv are cheaper, plug faster, and throwed away more often.

I thought about an overhead airfiltration setup...........but why???? My downdraft does both jobs. Honestly, the only drawback is the whine of that squirrel cage fan, but not all that bad.

So............Like I said before.............build one...............your lungs will love ya for it.

John Moody said:

Gary, I like that and I about to make some changes in my shop and I got to do that. Is that just peg board on the top?