Any hints on how to find a contractor that understands wood shop dust collection?
I run the wood shop at a non profit (all volunteer collective - there are other areas like metal shop, sewing, 3d printing, laser cutter). I have already been through the chain of mistakes and upgrades before achieving DC joy in my small home shop, I've done all the homework, know what will and won't work for the community shop.
The shop is as bad a dust issue as you can imagine: buried deep in a billing with no open windows or doors (the whole building, that is), no windows in shop, just the door that must stay closed. Shop includes a table saw, bandsaw, jointer, planer, CMS, OSS/belt sander, lathes, all serviced by the same Delta 50-850 with Wynn filter combination I have at home. It is seriously undersized for this... I only get good results (per dylos meter) with a giant window fan and one tool connected at a time via minimal ducting. The Dc there is installed as a central unit with long runs. There is also a jet Dc that gets rolled around as needed. There is a small Honeywell 150cfm hepa and a nice clean room ambient filter that no longer passes much air.
We also have a large CNC router with it's orb undersized DC and duct issues. As you can imagine, it's bad.
There are some non woodworking types in decision making roles that have the common misconceptions. They want a professional to tell them whether this is necessary and how to address it.
My concerns are:
•finding one that knows the domain. Am I correct in assuming that HVAC professionals generally lack this?
•spending money on a professional duct improvements -what the one calling the shots believes is the most we'll need- won't solve the problem. We need a system capable of actually collecting the dust in the first place. The ducts, tool end improvements are relatively easy.
•Systems that would be appropriate will themselves take a serious stretch and member donations, yet can be installed by members.
So, I think we really need a consultant to review and advise plans that we have already come up with. Someone who can say what level is necessary (how much dust is ok?) Whether the general plan is sound and point out broadly if we would be better off making what we have work. Basically advise and correct any high level mistakes in the plan. If that's the case, how much would this cost/hour?
How does one find someone like that? Do they exist below the large industrial air quality companies i see online? Any better ideas?
Thank you,
Fitzhugh
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