Small grinding room (closet)

I

ItsNick

Joined
Nov 12, 2023
Messages
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Hello,

Long time lurker, first time posting. I posed this question over at Iforgeiron, but I figured I’d get more traction here.

So i’ve about had enough of the constant layer of metal dust on EVERYTHING around my small shop. Ive cleared a small corner to build a simple grinding room (closet in this case) and I have a few questions for those of you with such luxury’s.

What is the smallest area you’d feel comfortable with around your grinder? I’ve cleared about a 5x5’ area in a corner, and that’s about the max I could go. Is hoping to squeeze a 2x72 and myself in there a bad idea? I don’t frequently work on anything long enough to bump walls. To be honest, I don’t even forge knives all that often, instead focusing on ornamental work. But I find myself using the grinder for all sorts of odd tasks. It’d be really nice to squeeze a vice in there aswell for the angle grinder, but i don’t think I’ll have the room. I do think just controlling the 2x72 will make a massive difference.

Proper PPE will be worn at all times. I can see a space that small getting filthy FAST. I’d also install some duct work with a fan to evacuate most of the dust through a wall to the outdoors. Maybe pipe it to a 55 gal drum with water as to not cover my neighbors or my property?

anything I’ll missing/should be aware of?


thanks!
Nick
 
An evacuation system is wise. Make sure you have a duct bringing in fresh air, too.
5X5 should work fine. I started (and still use) with a 7X8 shop that had all my gear in it. The actual area that was for the grinder was about 5X5. I put the grinder in the corner at 45° so I had the most room behind me and to each side of the grinder.
Be sure to dust yourself off after grinding before exiting the booth. Also, vacuum then place up at the end of every day's grinding.
 
if you'll be grinding stuff that's toxic for you to breath, you ought to consider using a filter so you don't end up blowing it outside
 
Yeah it's really more about ventilation and filtration. I like the idea of a small segregated space if you could figure out a good way to bring in fresh air and get rid of the dust.
 
A fresh air intake is a great idea. I don’t mind if it pulls from the rest of the shop, like the return on some home ac systems. I was honestly thinking the crack at the bottom of the entry door might be enough, but if it’s not it would be easy to install an air conditioning grille with filter.

Im not looking for hospital levels of cleanliness in the rest of the work space, there will still be dust from the forge and welding out there. Unfortunately, part of my shop has to double as storage space as well. Just trying to avoid having to blow half an inch of crap off the camping gear every time we want to use it.

I would also like to use a filter on the discharge side, so I don’t blow everything all over my yard or the neighbors. I’m sure I’ll go through cheap AC filters regularly doing this. Small price to pay I suppose.

My only other concern would be prevailing wind creating a positive atmosphere in the grinding area. Seems to me that would defeat the purpose entirely. Not sure how much of an issue this would be. Maybe some heavy duty rubber flaps or something over the exhaust exit?
 
Seal your grinding room off. Install an intake from the rest of your shop (with a filter,) and an exhaust fan (with a filter) back into your shop.
If you discharge outside, you need a fresh air intake. If you heat or cool your shop, this will be a problem.
You can use washable filter media.
 
Great advice Bill. This is exactly the type of information that makes Internet forums a great resource. Thank you for that.
 
I would not worry about spraying the debris all over the yard. I find it travels a few feet and drops in the grass. It isn't usually visible unless you have been doing a lot of handle grinding on white colored wood. The belt grit and metal dust is actually very little in quantity. I doubt a day's grinding will be a pound of debris. Wash the area down with the hose if you see stuff on the grass. The metal dust will make the grass greened in that area.
 
Fireproofing: my shop is your typical stick framed construction. I was planning to employ the water bucket trick for most of it. Otherwise, I am considering either hardy board or drywall to keep costs low. In the case of drywall, I see no need to tape and mud. One reason being I am a total hack at finishing drywall (it really is an art) the other being simplicity. Anything else I should be aware of?
 
Any smooth and not particularly flammable material will be fine for the interior of the booth.
Putting a metal plate behind the grinder is wise, though.
Placing a curved shield with a vacuum port in it near the back of the grinder can trap a LOT of the grit and dust. Used in conjunction with a spark bong/trap is both keeps the grinding area clean and makes fires much less likely.
 
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