How Often do you Sweep your Shop?

[Larry Frank]

I love having some chips on the floor. I think it makes a difference if you have a dedicated shop or not. I clean up when it gets too bad. However, if I am working with something that has fine dust or is obnoxious dust I will clean it up every day.

My wife would think something is wrong with me if I started cleaning each day. But, it all depends what makes you happy. For many people, if the tools are not put away and there is dust on the floor they are uncomfortable. Woodworking for the hobby person is about being happy and doing something you like. If you run a business, then you need a sharp looking shop for your customers.

[Leo Graywacz]

If my shop is clean I'm not making any money. That is if I have time to clean then I don't have much or any work.

[steven c newman]

Actually, I swept the Dungeon Shop this afternoon. Raised a big dust storm, guess the floor was a little dirty from stuff other than the sawdust items...

[Alan Melbourne]

i was out there yesterday doing a bit of duct work.
i wasnt creating any dust etc but i counted 4 times i swept the floor where i was working. not a total sweep but all the loose bits and bigger bits swept into a pile

[Alan Melbourne]

If my shop is clean I'm not making any money. That is if I have time to clean then I don't have much or any work.

thats strange.
im the opposite.
if my shop is dirty ,dusty, crap all over,etc then i cant make money.
if my shop is dirty i know im not making money because im not in there doing anything.
i find that if i tidy as i go and put away things as im finished with them then that 15-20 minutes spent keeping the shop right will save me double or triple that in saved time.
i have walked into my shop at night and just wanted something small , i didnt turn on the ligh , i just walked over and picked it up.
i couldnt see anything i just knew where it was because it is always there.

[Bernie May]

Sweeping is one of the most dust raising tasks in the workshop. Wear a mask. If you have a Dylos air monitor (and good dust collection at your big tools), you will see the highest readings (6000+ and 4000+).

[Alan Bienlein]

I haven't used a broom in my shop in years. It makes to much dust and doesn't do a very good job. I use my shop vac and cleanup whenever I'm done working for the day.

If I'm in the middle of a project and find myself searching for a tool I'll stop and cleanup and then get back to work.

[Leo Graywacz]

Usually when I have to search for a tool it's not because its hidden or buried somewhere. It's that I am getting old and forgetful

[Phil Thien]

All my DC is via shop vac, one of my separators, and a 2.5" clear pipe network (works better than you'd think).

I don't sweep much. I prefer to use a Fein hose and Festool extensions and floor tool. It goes fast, and is a cleaner operation than sweeping.

[george newbury]

Usually when I have to search for a tool it's not because its hidden or buried somewhere. It's that I am getting old and forgetful

I was that way for 30 years, greatly assisted by children "borrowing" a tool.
Now I just usually jot it down and buy a Harbor Freight copy. Once you have enough copies one will always turn up.
I've got a pushbroom for every shop, plus 1. That's 5 pushbrooms.

[Bud Millis]

My goal is to put everything away, and clean up at the end of the day. I try to keep it clean as possible.

[Jim Underwood]

Sweep? You can do that?

[Larry Fox]

As needed during a project and completely after the completion of a project.

+1 on what Jim said. That said, I do clean up more frequently when there are shavings from hand-planing involved. They make a mess of things and when they are thin enough the static makes them stick to just about everything and my wife gets pretty angry when I accidentally drag them into the house on my clothes / boots. I also try and tidy up a bit after doing a glue-up while I am waiting for things to set.

[Jim O'Dell]

I find that a nice layer of shaving helps soak up all the blood...and wine.

In that order? Or is it reversed???

I sweep up, or vacuum, when I start sliding going around a corner. As long as I can get traction, I leave it alone. Jim.

[John Coloccia]

In that order? Or is it reversed???

Whatever it takes....