shaping, dust and clean-up

problem: no designated shaping bay (i.e. garage with other stuff in it) question: how messy/toxic would it get if i shaped in a garage that had other “stuff” in it? do i have to seal it off? how do you recommend doing this? black plastic? behind the lights? my guess is that many people are facing this problem, and my hope is that many have solved it. thanks. tim

problem: no designated shaping bay (i.e. garage with other stuff in it)>>> question: how messy/toxic would it get if i shaped in a garage that had > other “stuff” in it? do i have to seal it off? how do you > recommend doing this? black plastic? behind the lights?>>> my guess is that many people are facing this problem, and my hope is that > many have solved it.>>> thanks.>>> tim …The first thing that will help greatly is a vac/return system(wet/dry vac with hook-up)… this takes about 80% of the mess right out of the picture. If you look at my pic on the other page you can see a heavy mil, black plastic drop in the background to separate my work shop from my storage,and other non dusty things. I also have(which you can’t see) 2 drop sheets ,clear,thin 1-2 mil plastic on each side of the racks.These barriers are stapled,glued and duct taped to the ceiling.I use a long piece of dowel at the bottom that is stapled to the plastic.The barriers can either be rolled up out of the way or used at half length as well. I can pin them all together and create a room within a room.this is basically for wetsanding ,but it will work as a barrier for anything flying around. I also use assorted fans for exhaust. Herb…oh yea it is messy,but it is not toxic, in dry form.

If you look at my pic on the other page you can see a heavy mil, black > plastic drop in the background to separate my work shop from my > storage,and other non dusty things. I also have(which you can’t see) 2 > drop sheets ,clear,thin 1-2 mil plastic on each side of the racks.These > barriers are stapled,glued and duct taped to the ceiling.I use a long > piece of dowel at the bottom that is stapled to the plastic.The barriers > can either be rolled up out of the way or used at half length as well. I > can pin them all together and create a room within a room.this is > basically for wetsanding ,but it will work as a barrier for anything > flying around.>>> I also use assorted fans for exhaust. Herb…oh yea it is messy,but > it is not toxic, in dry form. Herb or others: Do you find the exhaust system at all cumbersome? I have a wet/dry vac with a plastic hose that is not all that flexible and I find it to inhibit my movements. Is there a long, flexible hose out there that might be better? I was in Newcastle Aus. over the summer and got to check out Gordon Jackson of Pacific Dreams and he had a pulley system running over his racks that would hold the hose in an upward position and would allow him to make smooth passes with out any hinderance. Do you have something along these lines or any suggestions? Thanks heaps.

This is a very good idea and can save a lot of headache in cleaning up foam dust that gets shot everywhere when planning. I would always recommend cleaning up everytime after shaping especialy if you are painting and glassing in the same space. You would be suprised at the dust that floats around in the air. That’s my two cents. Andy

Herb or others:>>> Do you find the exhaust system at all cumbersome? I have a wet/dry vac > with a plastic hose that is not all that flexible and I find it to inhibit > my movements. Is there a long, flexible hose out there that might be > better? I was in Newcastle Aus. over the summer and got to check out > Gordon Jackson of Pacific Dreams and he had a pulley system running over > his racks that would hold the hose in an upward position and would allow > him to make smooth passes with out any hinderance. Do you have something > along these lines or any suggestions? Thanks heaps. …I use a slide wire overhead,and 2 ball bearing snap swivels on thin bungey cords,mounted to the hose with straplock/plastic ties.Herb.

As with many of you guys, I shape out of a garage spit for storage and shaping and I think you all will agree. Attach the shop Vac to the planer, it can make a huge difference in the clean up and increase your odds that you won’t get kicked out of the garage for the mess.