Small shop ventilation

It's a mixed blessing. In a garage that small you can exchange the air relatively quickly, and it won't cost you too very much to keep it heated, but whether it's through the roof or through the window, you MUST have fresh air coming in and a way to evacuate the fumes.

At the very least, you need to have a ventilation tube directly over the workpiece with sufficient suction to remove all of the fumes and shielding gasses.

Of course, just hanging the exhaust hose out the window and allowing the "fresh" air to be drawn in through the same window will not be enough.

--- Rich

You should consider a downdraft welding table. These units are quite expensive but when used with a HEPA filter no heat needs to be exhausted outside. I had some info from a company in Mpls. and will post it if I find it Another option would be to build a downdraft table that would suck the fumes outside and pull makeup air from your attic. Pipe the air directly above your welding table. Steve

Where in Minnesota are you? I live down near Rochester.

JW

BTW: California OSHA requires minimum 2,000cfm

--- Rich

Yes, that sounds like the idea I was looking for. I had thought of something close to that, but I could not determine where I would get the make-up air from. Good advice! Thank you very much. Mike

Ok, Thanks for the info Rich! Mike.

I'm just south of Easton, JW. Between Easton and Frost, middle of nowhere! Mike

Thats gonna be problematic if you wear a hat....

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. H. L. Mencken

Although I can't find the lituature for the table this is the type of unit I am referring to. It appears one could construct a table similar to this but special care must be taken building the spark trap as downdraft welding tables have been known to catch fire. ( I am not saying the company in the link has these problems)

I have a down draft table exhausting the dust from my CNC plasma table. This winter I installed a air makeup duct in the ceiling of the plasma cutter room and sealed the doors to the shop better. I have cut when it was -10 and the shop stayed reasonably warm. I think if you had a foot operated switch so you exhaust fan ran only when you are welding or grinding you should be able to retain quite a bit of heat in your shop. Steve

I am going to be at the Swap Meet at the LeSueur Pioneer Tractor grounds east of LeSueur in April 22, 23 & 24th. If you happen to go there I will be set up with my wares in an open porch on a building just off the road on the way in. Kettle River Ironworks Steve

For an efficient transfer of heat you can get a fresh air exchanger that has a filter on the intake. It passes the warm out outside while sucking the cool air passed the warm air and heating the cool air. A very quick search came up with this I am sure you can find better or worse units..

Hello Steve,

I'll put the dates down on my calendar. Just to make sure you got my earlier response, I'm down here just south of Easton. Between Easton, and Frost. LeSeur Pioneer Tractor grounds east of LeSeur, I'll have no prob getting to LeSeur, as I lived over in Nicollet at one time, so I am familiar with the area. But I can't say that I have ever been to a swap meet in LeSeur. Reckon they'll have plenty of signage up showing folks the way to go? Sounds like a good time already, as I've about had my fill of winter this year. Kettle River Ironworks, well I'll be looking forward to meeting you. Mike.

I had never heard of Frost, Mn before so I did a Mapquest search. Here is a link to the LeSueur show. See ya there! Steve