Brilliant Idea For Catching Steel Dust?

redsquid2

redsquid2

Free-Range Cheese Baby
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Aug 31, 2011
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Some time when I have some more rare earth magnets, I am going to take and glue several of them on a piece of plywood, or maybe a steel plate, and then situate that plate at the end of the grinder where the dust is freshly coming off of the stock.

I imagine an array of about 7" X 7" would capture everything. These little magnets are VERY powerful.
 
Just keep in mind that a lot of the dust is the actual grinding grit and won't be captured by magnets. And the grit dust is at least as harmful as the metal dust. You want to avoid things that can lead to "potters rot" of the lungs.
 
Along with what Nathan said, here are two problems I see:
1. The metal dust will most certainly catch fire. I use a metal bucket under my grinder and have a magnet on the back side to do what you are talking about. Every so often I'll smell something, look down, and see the metal dust smoldering. No big deal for me since it is suspended over water, but it might be a big deal on plywood

2. How would you clean the magnets off once they get loaded up?
 
Dust collection system with a grinder bong.
 
I buy rare earth magnets in volume and pay roughly 2.00 per .50 square inches. That works out to 200 dollars for the 7" x 7" magnetic metal shavings catcher; which is a good start on a proper vac.

Fred
 
Thanks for all the replies. I guess every brilliant idea needs a reality check. I'll just wear a filter mask and sweep up periodically.

:)
 
If anything grab a wetvac and put a little water in it then lay the hose by the grinder. It helps some (actually quiet a bit), I do that as well as wear a mask usually.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Just keep in mind that a lot of the dust is the actual grinding grit and won't be captured by magnets. And the grit dust is at least as harmful as the metal dust. You want to avoid things that can lead to "potters rot" of the lungs.
Click to expand...

Agreed

Belt abrasive grit.

Wood dust

Micarta, G10 and laminate dust

Brass, nickle silver, stainless dust.

Shop vac or cyclone vacuum system.
 
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I use a similar method to your thoughts. I buy the big welding magnets at HF when they are on sale. I set them around the bench to trap the shavings that don't go down the vac hose. When they get to be a ball of metal fuzz, and I just use a gloved hand to wipe off the metal dust. Once in a while one will catch a spark and start glowing and smoldering. I just dunk it in the slack tub and wipe off the shavings. This system keeps a lot of metal from getting everywhere. The new shop will have a much better dust collection system, but I will probably still keep the magnets sitting around the grinder.
 
Been using an old magnet of unknown origin laying just behind my burr king on the bench for some time, catches most of the metal dust, shop much cleaner. The magnet is sitting on a thin piece of sheet metal, glows sometimes, but you can see it and has never caught fire. Works great for us. But remember the only steels I grind are 52100 and 5160, sheep horn is not toxic or very flammable, the rare times we use any micarta it is always with a mask, but this happens only once or twice a year.
 
I use a dust collector system with a steel bong like Stacy suggested. I put about an inch of water in the bottom to prevent steel dust fires, I did have one and they are not fun. Also I have a large magnet stuck to the lid. This picks up a great deal of dust. The biggest collector of dust though is the water bucket right below the grinder. It catches a large majority of the dust. Just put some dish soap in it to get the dust to sink quickly.
 
Anything that catches ANY particulate matter is good. I suggest plastic wrap over the magnet. Peel it off and throw it away, then replace it.
 
What I use when "magnetic vacuuming" the bench and floor is several big magnets put inside a sealed Zip-lok bag. Run it all over the place and when the outside is covered with steel dust, turn it inside out and remove the magnets. Dump the dust in the trash bin and then put the bag back on the magnets.
 
Its the suspended particles around the grinder that concern me; they are the ones that get inhaled. I use cross ventilation along my line of grinders in the shop; screened window on one end with a 30" high volume shuttered exhaust fan on the other end. A sheet of paper in its airstream goes horizontal.
I picked up a twin motored car wash vac a few years back; its my main pick up of particles coming off the belts.
I have a shop maid that comes in once a week to vacuum up the loose stuff and top up the beer in the refridge. :rolleyes:
 
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