Does your bench have walls?

[Ne2]

I am in the process of building a new studio space and would like to build walls around the bench so that the air is effectively channeled across the bench (similar to Somberbear's design (http://www.thegldg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2639)).

While the ventilation advantages are obvious, I am worried that the walls will get in the way while pulling points and cane.

If you have walls enclosing your work space:

How wide is your station?

Do the walls get in your way?

Thank you for your input.

David

[borealisglass]

I was just talking to Andy about that thinking I would use Somberbear's design for our basement studio.....He doesn't have walls at the shop, but there is an over hang all the way around the four stations that frames out the ventilation and he says it always gets in the way and he always hits things on it.......

[Sol]

i would build a bench 10 feet long by 5 feet deep at least.id hold your arms out straight from your sides and say at least that much space.

[Sol]

it also depends on wether or not your kiln is gonna be on your bench or behind you or to the side or whatever

[boxfan willy]

http://www.glassartists.org/Gal7727_Flow_Studios_new_digs___.asp

I "chamfered" my walls at approximately 30 degree angles. I also angled the ceiling at 20 degrees. This creates a "venturi" chamber. As your air flow moves toward the source(the fan), volume is decreased in the chamber which increases velocity, or how quickly the atmosphere in the chamber is expelled. I blow out some smoke and it drifts past the torch and as it moves towards the back of my station, picks up speed and shoots out. I also "softened" the angle on my back wall to a 45 degree so I didn't have any "dead" spots for nasty shit to get caught up.

Works pretty good for me.

Peace,
boxfan

[mistahead]

im just building a bench right now im actually useing boxfans setup as a guideline though i dont know how wide it is? but im gonna make it so the walls dont start till about a foot and a half in the bench so if i want to flame cut big tube or what ever it doesnt get in the way. good luck!

[somberbear]

good info guys....

well my design was built for ease , i cant touch the back of my cabnet and the side and how the torch is set i never hit any thing i never have handles that large any way and most my tubes are cut and split up to easy working sizes , i dont flame cut full tubes... i find this aquard to beagian with ... i did do a few large cane pulls and my natural tendency was to move off the bench any way. so that didnt hurt any thing.

peace
rob

[Ne2]

Mistahead,

Great suggestion.
That is definitely one of the solutions that I am considering.
BTW Boxfan's gallery says that each station is 8' wide by 6' deep.



Sol,

I like to work with my oven next to me, off of the bench.



I spoke with Henry at Glass Alchemy and he suggested using a fiberglass curtain (available at your local foundry supply house) to make walls. That way the ventilated area is normally closed in, but if you need to go big, you can just push the curtain out of the way.

David