Busting the Dust Problem in your Workshop

Wood dust and shavings are the bane of most workshops. In years gone by, woodworkers only had a broom and dustpan to tidy up the workshop floor. Nowadays we have sophisticated dust collectors suitable for hobby workshops right through to commercial factories.

The Problem with Dust

Sawdust was once just a messy nuisance but with improved medical knowledge we now know that dust is harmful to our health. Working in any kind of dusty environment can lead to significant health problems and sawdust is no exception.

The tiny wood dust particles in the air that are breathed in over long periods of time are considered to be potential carcinogens. Dust from MDF and imported wood can also cause allergic reactions in some woodworkers. With a good dust extraction system, you can now use power or hand tools all day and be able to breath clean air and not need to ever pick up a broom; something our forefathers could have only dreamed about.

Collecting the Dust

There are many products on the market that you can use to keep the air and workshop floor sparkling clean.

Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner

A good addition to a workshop is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Having a vacuum cleaner that can clean up spills as well as dry dirt can come in handy. The SWARTS Tools Wet & Dry Vacuum is ideal because it has a HEPA filter.

The filter forces air through a fine mesh trapping 99.97% of tiny particles. There is a cover over the air intake to ensure water doesn’t get sucked into the HEPA filter. A drainage plug at the bottom of the barrel makes for easy emptying of the water.

Air Filter

An air filter room cleaner will remove small particles from your workshop air. For the most efficient results, fit your filter to the workshop ceiling where most of the ambient dust is. A remote control and timer means you can turn the unit on and leave it on for two hours after you have finished in the workshop. This ensures that less dust settles on workshop surfaces after you have finished for the day.

If you are working in a dusty environment, take some measures to keep the dust out of your lungs, eyes and ears.

The most efficient way of keeping your workshop air clean is to collect the dust at the source not once it’s floating in the air and all over your floor.

Dust Extractor

A dust extractor will remove dust from machines such as a table saw, band saw, lathes and sanders. You can choose a dust extractor that suits the size of your machine and how much you use it. Dust extractors are available in 1HP, 2HP, 3HP and industrial sizes.

Some new tools and machines have dust exhaust ports but you can still use a dust extractor with old tools by adding ports and improving hose fittings. If your sander has a dust bag or canister, remove it and attach a dust extractor for better quality dust collection. You can buy a range of dust collection fittings and connectors.


Clean up your workshop environment by investing in a dust extraction system. Not only will you save time by not pushing a broom around but your lungs will thank you for it.