Balsa dust (cough cough)

[Clint Ormosen]

I was hollowing out the top block and cowling on the Chipmunk tonight. I'm finding it harder and harder to sand balsa these days without gagging myself to death. I already wear a dust mask, but I'm about ready to go buy some SCUBA gear. It doesn't help that I don't have an exhaust fan in the shop. Just a window to open. After about 10 min., I need to get out and recover. If I had the time while it was still daylight, I would just do it outside.

[Perry Rose]

Me Too. I put a large window fan in the only window and have it blowing out of course. When I feel a draft from the fan sucking air out I sand. Any other time I choke.
Perry Rose

[Bill Hodges]

The balsa dust now affects me to the point that I do all my sanding outdoors and I still have to wear a mask if doing very much at one time.  Also, I usually keep something to drink handy to wash down the dust that gets past the mask.  I keep telling myself that I need to build a sanding table with a vacuum system, but it hasn't happened yet.  Maybe someday.

Bill Hodges

[Jim Kraft]

I've been breathing balsa dust and dope fumes for over 50 years, and have not noticed any side affects, well! except for this strange desire to wear checker board silk shirts, and run around with my arms out, making strange engine type sounds.

[Keith Spriggs]

strange desire to wear checker board silk shirts, and run around with my arms out, making strange engine type sounds.

Oh Man, Please don't say that is strange......................

[Jim Oliver]

I, too, thought that to be normal behavior!!   

Jim

 

[Mark Scarborough]

I just made a really simple cardboard box with a furnace filter on it, and cut the other end out to fit an expandable window fan, you konw the k9ind with two little motors and fans about 10 or 12 inchs across. variable speed for light sanding or tornado speed for extreme sanding. I set it on the back of my bench and sand in front of it, my workbench is in the living room and I havent any complaints from the peanut gallery about the dust. really cheap and works well

[Louis Rankin]

I do what Mark does with this variation: Take a standard Wal-Mart window fan and tape or wire a central A/C heating filter to the front side.  Place near where you are sanding.  Sucks down almost all of the dust.  The fans and filters are cheap.

[Randy Powell]

I got carried away a few years ago and bought a Jet vac system from Cosco. I build a sanding table with a grill on the top. I hook up the vac and flip it on and sand over the grill. Sucks all the balsa dust into the bag. It works very well and I don't even need to use a dust mask anymore. Sure saved me.