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This article is a very good read for all who are interested in the subject of small home shop dust collection and PVC ducts.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Thanks for posting the link Bill.
A good read.

Howdy Filippo,

Certainly some good questions and thoughts on your part in regard to the article, thanks for raising them. On the matter of his article, I agree with your thoughts on the things you brought up and in fact, in regard specifically to emptying the collector daily, I think it was a suggestion to the fearful minded. He seems to do that a lot in the article to err on the extreme side of safety. For years, I've emptied my collector when the bag (clear poly) is visibly about half full. Mainly because it becomes quite heavy after that point. That would amount to about once every 6 months.

I am by no means an expert or a scientist in regard to static charge and the explosiveness of concentrated dust (or not). Through many years of use of dust collection in both private and industry, I do know that I have never personally experienced any explosions or flash fires. I have however heard of them in grain mills but not in cabinet or furniture shops small or large. My experience covers over 3 and 1/2 decades and I know of some in here that have much more than me. I hope to hear (especially from those professionally or with longevity) who have experience and or factually supported knowledge in regard to this matter.

He cites the 10 references at the bottom of his article but I have not endeavored to investigate further due to very limited time on hand. Thus the reason for activating this discussion in which I hope to find many interested enough to participate and opine.

Here are the references he offered;

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Exactly Filippo, thus the reason for this hopefully to be active discussion. I would like to hear from those who have scientific knowledge or data on this (if there is any). As I mentioned above, I empty my dust collection bag when it reaches half full, about 1 time every 6 months. I also use PVC ducting and have no fear of fires nor of explosions whatsoever unless someone can convince me otherwise with hard factual data. Thanks for being a part of this because I greatly enjoy your intelligent and inquisitive thinking!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Bill--Thanks for posting this link. It confirms what I'd seen elsewhere, but it does a more thorough and convincing investigation than the things I'd read. The author's credentials add some credibility too.

Fillipo--I can't agree with your criticism. He follows the impractical advise about daily emptying, with what sounds like a very practical suggestion: have a metal dust bin with a metal lid, and put a sprinkler above it. You'll notice that these suggestions have nothing to do with the theoretic possibility of a dust explosion. They are aimed at preventing a smoldering fire that might break out at night while you were sleeping, a fire that might be caused by any piece of metal hitting a fan blade, or by a spark from a grinding wheel. He sights two real cases of this happening. It happened twice in my neighbor's shop.

The genii at the Pentagon have been working on dust bombs for years. Just because of grain fires being so destructive. Do we have a dust bomb today.... no!!! The parameters of dust explosions are so specific that it's almost impossible to meet exactly...unless.... in a grain mill.

As for changing out the dust collection...very good idea! I've seen one smoldering dust fire from somebody throwing a "thought extinguished" cigarette into the dust collector!

Yes! The boogie man does exist!

PVC initiated explosions?

Nevah hourd of it!

And I've used PVC for decades in work and at home! It's safe, it's convenient and it has a great tap tone! ......Huhm!!!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Tell the DoD http://www.defense.gov/pubs/dod101/

A dust fire is pouring a little flour on a candle in your kitchen ....a dust explosion blows your kitchen to hell!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

'zactly!!!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

The guy who works down at my local Woodcraft used to be in the military as an explosives expert, he told me when I was setting up my system that it wouldn't be a bad idea to ground myself when using my dust system, based on his knowledge of explosives.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

That ought ta do it!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

If you keep your fingers in your ears, that way, your head will explode! Never mind the dust collector!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

There is about 30 miles from my house an old fella who has a woodshop. he builds cabinets and odd stuff . In his PVC dust system about every 6 feet he ran a standard 1/4" bolt through the pipe and tightened it down , under the head of the bolt he ran a piece of wire that runs the entire length of the system and that wire is grounded .

No shocks , no sparks , no problem . Solution? dont know , works for him.


BTW Filippo , is that a self portrat ?

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