Concerns about ventilation

[briskbata710]

Hello,

Me and my wife have only been glassblowing for a few months. And we have been hearing a lot about glass blowers having earlier deaths then most and we are worried for our health, but still want to continue this wonderful art. We both bought respirators but I am starting to blow bubbles and such so I am not wearing one all the time.

I am running on a Alpha with a 10LMP oxygen concentrator in a pretty large garage (25ft L, 15ft W, 15ft T). Right now we only use the one bench but when second fume hood comes in the other bench will be fully functional too.

I am running two fume hoods with 8" inline fans over each of our benches ( 720 CFM each ) and both of us also have a fume funnel as well with 6" inline fans (460CFM each) and one duct fan rated at 500cfm above the fume hoods. All this is throwing air out the far side of the house. (I live on the lake so winds are pretty strong out there) and I will be bringing fresh air in that is away from the contaminated area with a 200 CFM fan.
In total I will be running (2860CFM pushing airout ) The total area of my garage is 15ftx15ftx25ft=5650 ÷ 2860cfm =1.96

Now that you know my set up my questions are;
Is there much glass dust (silica) produced during blowing glass?
Would my ventilation get rid of that airborne dust and such or do I have to beef it up some more? Is it even possible to have a 100% safe environment?
How do I clean the glass dust efficiently?
Any tips on improving my setup will be greatly appreciated, also ask any questions you have about it.

Thank you for reading.

[Swim]

you have probably inhaled enough glass dust (silica) to be high all day. I know I have

[snoopdog6502]

Unless you get the top of the line inline fans 95% of them are garbage. 720cfm fan is a joke even 2 of them. use them in your grow room not a glass shop.
Then you hook a wimpy fan to ducts and elbows and have nothing.

Glass dust is why I run a 1,600 CFM fan for me alone, its in a high window so there is no ducting, the bad air gets shit out instanly. There is still glass dust, you can see it in bright light from clipping glass and cracking glass. I flame cut a lot more and try to work neat.

3 Smoke bombs..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwWqj_HuDsg

[somewhere]

Really "glass dust" ?

Rest assure that is not why we ventilate a glass blowing studio. We use ventilation to remove bad air. Glass dust may be a nuisance but certainly won't kill you or give you cancer.

[dustyg]

Really "glass dust" ?

Rest assure that is not why we ventilate a glass blowing studio. We use ventilation to remove bad air. Glass dust may be a nuisance but certainly won't kill you or give you cancer.


On the bead maker forums it's a pretty common idea that you need extra-good ventilation if you're going to use frit or enamels, because of the dust and the silicosis it'll give you. No idea if there's any truth to it.

[somewhere]

On the bead maker forums it's a pretty common idea that you need extra-good ventilation if you're going to use frit or enamels, because of the dust and the silicosis it'll give you. No idea if there's any truth to it.

I'll try to explain.

Glass dust is in fact silica dioxide. Glass dust in the shop is not the problem.

But you know what is? Crystalline silica dioxide. You know the stuff that cement board is made of. Yes that stuff can give you silicosis. That's the dust that can kill you it also in all the refractory products we use like kiln bricks. So if your building a kiln and cutting ifb (insulating fire brick) please do use a respirator. If your handling fiber insulation that was ever heated to 1,000 f it is also a hazard. Once fiber insulation and some board insulation is heated it will become cristobalitic at that point it is a crystalline silica and should also be treated accordingly.

Everyone should get to know the materials you are working with. Glass being way up at the top of the list.

[BORO]

I'll try to explain.

Glass dust is in fact silica dioxide. Glass dust in the shop is not the problem.

But you know what is? Crystalline silica dioxide. You know the stuff that cement board is made of. Yes that stuff can give you silicosis. That's the dust that can kill you it also in all the refractory products we use like kiln bricks. So if your building a kiln and cutting ifb (insulating fire brick) please do use a respirator. If your handling fiber insulation that was ever heated to 1,000 f it is also a hazard. Once fiber insulation and some board insulation is heated it will become cristobalitic at that point it is a crystalline silica and should also be treated accordingly.

Everyone should get to know the materials you are working with. Glass being way up at the top of the list.

thank you ^^

[Swim]

sorry for being a smartass. redundant posts have made me jaded. :o:

[snoopdog6502]

Try and work neat and not be a slob blowing big bubble trash and you will be just fine, dont snort line in your frit tray.

[Mike_Aurelius]

https://mikeaurelius.wordpress.com/ventilation-primer/