How Often do you Sweep your Shop?

[Ryan Hellmer]

Not that I make money (or much of anything else) in my shop, but when I was working construction my boss always said "a clean jobsite is a happy jobsite." We kept things cleaned up and I can say without hesitation that it helped. Helped find things when we needed them, helped keep it safe for ladders or carrying things and generally just kept us from banging up a house as we were building it. By the time we were putting up trim, boots and toolbelts were off limits in the "finished" part of the house.

Ryan

[JimT Thompson]

Mask and ceiling filter when I work wood and chemicals, long hoses on my DC and shop vac make cleanup a breeze, so do it as I go. Detailed cranny cleanup every 1-2 weeks takes half an hour. Tools back in their spots after use. Just becomes a habit. Didn't work that way for years, but seems much safer, faster and more pleasurable this way now. Too bad most of us can't afford DC until later in life.

[Ole Anderson]

Too bad most of us can't afford DC until later in life.

You really can't afford not to, but it seems to be just how it works out. Hopefully these threads on dust collection will encourage folks to install good dust management systems sooner than later.

[Rich Riddle]

I sweep up constantly while working. I'm a bit OCD and hate walking around on shavings!

I do the same and was fearing no others did it. Waste and objects on the floor make working more hazardous and I already have enough minor accidents.

[Andrew Joiner]

You really can't afford not to, but it seems to be just how it works out. Hopefully these threads on dust collection will encourage folks to install good dust management systems sooner than later.

Yes, this was why I started this thread. It's been really helpful. I really wanted to know how effective peoples dust collection is. Dust that settles around a shop is dust not collected.
Knowing when and how much people sweep or vacuum helps me keep my sanity.
In the past my attempts at dust collection in a commercial shop had me more frustrated with the missed dust than happy with the collected dust. I just don't know when to say " ok, that's as good as dust collection can get" so I had to stop and get my paying jobs done.

I was researching dust collector efficiency a while back and found that Bill Pentz recommended wearing a mask, even with the best dust collection.

Here's what he said in a 2006 Sawmillcreek post:

" Unfortunately,one of my big upsets was learning what kicked my tail was previously made fine dust that my dust collection, tools, and air compressor launched while I was not making fine dust and not wearing my mask. If you have your dust collector or cyclone filters inside, then that residual dust either has to be gotten rid of, or we need to leave the mask on when working in the shop."

I don't have dust collection in my current hobby shop. So I just wear a mask often and vacuum once in while. Vacuuming the shop thoroughly is one of the dustiest jobs in my shop. This had me wondering if people with dust collection did it much.

[Tom Boardman]

I turn in my garage. Clean up after session. Sweep up all remaining shavings. Then I Blow it out with leaf blower. Tom

[Andrew Joiner]

I added this good thread started by Ole to keep all this info together:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...ction-How-Good

[Ole Anderson]

Just an update since I recently installed laminate flooring in my shop. I find that I sweep more frequently for a few reasons: 1. I can see the dust easier, 2. The horsehair push broom just glides over the new floor, 3. Dust is more slippery on the laminate than on the old concrete floor, 4. The floor looks so darn good, I hate to see it dirty.

[Jim Neeley]

Especially the latter, Ole! :-)

[Bud Millis]

Depends on what I'm doing in the shop. I'll vacuum at the end of the day when I use machines. I can't remember the last time I swept - it just kicks up the dust.

[Phil Erup]

Pretty much never... but I do vacuum frequently because I hate walking on dust/grit. When I'm just hanging out after dinner, I'll sit on a rolling stool, stream tunes through bluetooth earphones, enjoy a glass of wine and clean. Pleasantly relaxing

[marty shultz]

I clean up as I go. Then at the end of the day or every other day depending on my mood and what I'm doing the following day.

[Robert Willing]

I clean as I go and put my tool away if I am not going to use them. When I get really serious about cleaning out comes the leaf blower. I open both garage doors , pick up the light weight items and blow the dust out the door. I save my dust collection and shavings for a guy that sells eggs and we swap shaving for eggs. I use to dump the shaving in the woods (I have 40 acers of land).

[Rich Aldrich]

Who are you guys? Martha Stewart? Sheesh! If my shop doesn't have some sawdust here and there I would think there isn't any work being done. I cleanup maybe once a week, or just before it gets knee deep.

I am with you on this one. I dont clean as often as I should, but make sure it somewhat managable.

[Andrew Joiner]

Pretty much never... but I do vacuum frequently because I hate walking on dust/grit. When I'm just hanging out after dinner, I'll sit on a rolling stool, stream tunes through bluetooth earphones, enjoy a glass of wine and clean. Pleasantly relaxing

Good idea on the rolling stool and headphones, Phil. I did this over the weekend. I wish I could say it was relaxing, but I got impatient. I kept telling myself do I need to move this to vacuum behind that. I had to say " it's not a doctors office it's a woodshop".
Eventually it helped to be on the rolling stool and my shop is cleaner than it's ever been. Thanks for the tip.