dust collector

[Bill Marsh <bmarsh54@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Edie,

The dust is pulled into the 12" duct, with the opening right next to the
work table, is sucked through the "squirrel cage" blower (which has an
external motor driving it), and exits the room through an 8" galvanized
duct exhaust, out the window and into the side yard.  There is a screen
of trees between me and the neighbors that blocks it from covering their
house, and pooping on their picnics on their deck.  I live on the side
of a mountain, where there is a fairly constant wind from the west that
disperses the dust before it can accumulate very much, though
occasionally I have come out the studio door to see
grey/white/pink/brown trees and my car a different color.  Have yet to
receive any complaints, but I did recently add a bend to the outlet to
direct the dust more into my backyard.  If you live in the city, this
may be more of a problem, but you can direct the exhaust straight down
into a trough of water, which will catch a lot of it.  Dispersal is key.

Galvanized duct systems can be built to direct the exhaust wherever you
want, like up to the roof, or down a storm sewer grate, or into the
bathroom window of an obnoxious neighbor!  Kidding. Really.  No, really!
I guess it constitutes pollution of the neighborhood, so I try to be
discreet.  But then I think about what I used to put down the sink when
I was a photographer - heavy metals, acids, strong bases, etc. (Kodak
said it was ok!).  Stone dust seems benign by comparison.

Bill