Cutting / Sanding Booth Build

General Composites Discussions Equipment Talk
#1

lately i’ve been cutting and sanding all my parts and molds on my balcony outdoors. It makes a lot of noise and a lot of dust that is harmful to breath for everyone around. I wear a good dust mask but that’s just not sufficient for dust control.

So here’s the inspired plan… build a glass bead cabinet, but out of 3/4" thick mdf. It will have thick rubber gloves just like a glass beed cabinet and a nice light inside, along with a thick tempered glass window to see through. I’ll use foam rubber gasket to seal the lid closed along with a latch. I think I can build it for under $100.

The benefits are: much much much less cutting noise; no dust outside the cabinet while cutting; a shop vac and hose can be plumbed into the cabinet bottom or side or a dust collection unit. To eliminate the noise of a dust collector or shop vac i may use a waterfall filter set up… fan blows the airborne particles into a filter that has water running down thru the filter, an inlet filter on the opposite side of the cabinet made of paint booth filter or a heppa air filter. water collects in a tub underneath the cabinet and gets filtered then pumped back to the top. You never need to dump the water as it will evaporate and you just add more as needed.

Everyone is happy, me and my neighbors… it’s a win win thing.

I’m gonna build it 29" wide x 34" deep x 32" high. It will also have legs to support it to the correct work height.

#2

Almost anyone can build one to any size desired… it could be 10 ft long if desired. Just put the door on the end to load and unload long parts… a long glass window, or several shorter windows across the length.

#3

I’ve got another idea for a wet sanding and washing tub. It will be big and just run a hose to it with a valve. I’ll build that out of plastic that is cemented together then sealed with silicone.

#4

sound like good ideas, but a ot of work, which i guess in your situation is the only option. Don’t forget pics of the build and the final product, I’ll definately be watching!:wink:

#5

I’ll have to rethink the filter… like someone else pointed out there could be an electrical risk with the cutting tools. I’ll probably just use heppa filters or paint booth filters to trap the dust and a larger cfm fan. with a filter inlet.

#6

you know I’ve been thinking about this for a while now and have been wanting to buy a air saw to cut the carbon/glass things I make. I imagine since it’s not electrical I could stick it under water somewhat and do all my cutting in the giant tub/sink in my basement. Even if it was just sticking the blade of the saw in the water and making sure that the cutting is taking place under the water line… I wonder how well this would work?!

I guess it would allow to cut indoors if done carefully.

Either way I’ve been wanting to buy an air saw…

#7

i couldnt do composite work without my airsaw…you can pick one up on ebay for about $100 including shipping…get a chicago pneumatics (spelling?) thats what i have…its black, very very small, and works perfectly with no issues or problems

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#8

I bought a central pneumatic, about $30 shipped brand new with 6 blades, pretty sweet deal.

racedout,
How well does it cut CF? how long do the blades last? can you cut right to where you need wihtout chipping?

#9

i have never had any chipping issues…but then again i dont use PER and i only use epoxy with a postcure of 150degrees or more

i buy SUPER fine tooth hacksaw blades and make my own using a table grinder and a cutoff wheel…ill post a video of my buddy that taught me how todo it, you save TONS in the long run…

1 blade usually lasts cutting about 20 parts or more for me, just clean off the blade before you put it away thats all…

#10

I think I might know the video you are talking aobut, it’s on youtube right? the guy makes a bunch of glass stuff and he shows how he grinds the blades…

#11

RC51… i know what you are thinking of… a cabinet for sanding and cutting should have no water in it at all. Build it so it’s dry and has a dry filter system… and an open electric motor fan may not work… as carbon is conductive and may cause a fire in the fan or a short. You can buy “explosion proof” fans made for paint booth use. Those fans are completely sealed so no dust or fumes can enter the motor. or perhaps use a normal ventilation fan on the outside of the cabinet and a filter in between it and the cabinet. Maybe a hepa air filter like 3m makes for air conditioning vent/intake.

so long as your cabinet has gloves and a sealed door you won’t breath any carbon, or plastic dust while cutting or sanding. I’m just waiting to sell some carbon fiber parts so i can build one.

#12

It’ll rust like crazy. It’s still a motor, just a rotor and some vanes. Add water to that, and you will have corrosion and it will not run well. We had issues with humidity in our airlines (with no filter cuz my boss was a cheapass), and ran into sander failure, even with frequent oilings.

If you just put the BLADE underwate, it m ight work. Of course, it might vibrate the water and spray it everywhere :slight_smile:

I still say a good vacuum system, be it an attached hose from a cleaner, or a downdraft table.

#13

Hee…had a dremel tool blow up once from carbon dust.
and it was always used ON the downdraft table to!!

#14

what is the thing south of the airgun?

#15

thats just a cheap angle grinder i bought, 1 day when i get around to it ill use it for sanding and throw an inline regulator to control the speed

#16

an air cutter is deffo better than a power tool like a dremel for the following reasons: 1. the dust it creates is thicker, it doesnt do as much damage i think, its harder to pass through filters etc… doesnt itch as much :stuck_out_tongue: 2.i ve discovered that using a dremel to cut fiberglass sometimes BURNS it due to high temps. 3.its easier to handle, while an awkward movement with the power tool can ruin your creation. 4.the motion of the blade makes it easier to handle, and cut shapes. 5. you dont risk a broken drill bit taking an eye out.

#17

amen to that! and you can make your own blades for VERY VERY cheap using fine tooth hacksaw blades…i use 25 teeth per inch hacksaw blades and get 3 smaller blades out of 1 big blade…

#18

not the Kobalt tool.
the tool that is right below the airgun, looks almost like a caulk gun, missing some parts.
or something.

#19

Riff, I believe that is a gel coat cup gun.

#20

that my friend is indeed a gelcoat cup gun :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: used for spraying tooling gelcoat for molds and white gelcoat for fiberglass parts