Ventilation in a garage

redemer123 · #1 2013-08-13, 3:18pm

So I'm new to this hobby as some of you may know, I have been pondering ventilation today. My dedicated work space will be in my large garage next to an open window about 4 feet away from the large garage door. My question is since my area is already well ventilated is a fume hood and fan necessary? could I just set up a normal house hold fan to blow fumes out of the window or door? would this interfere with my work in any way? There are also plenty of additional windows and doors for clean air to come in.

TJ · #2 2013-08-14, 1:34am

Does weather make it not possible to have the entire garage door open while you work?
That would be ideal, I think.

Be sure to read through all of Dale M.'s posts in Safety, he is the ventilation guru!

Elizabeth Beads · #3 2013-08-14, 6:07am

I'm in a garage, only work with the door up, and still use a ventilation system. I want all those fumes and particles sucked away immediately.

Raimond · #4 2013-08-14, 8:11am

On a calm day without a hint of wind there will be no air exchange no matter how many doors are open without a ventilation system.
Open doors are great, air exchange, escape route, natural light... But a ventilation system that will do the job 100% on its own is the best bet. Always plan for the worst.

redemer123 · #5 2013-08-14, 1:42pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raimond

On a calm day without a hint of wind there will be no air exchange no matter how many doors are open without a ventilation system.
Open doors are great, air exchange, escape route, natural light... But a ventilation system that will do the job 100% on its own is the best bet. Always plan for the worst.

Ha, I live in Michigan! the climate is bi-polar, no calm days here lol. In all seriousness, I think there will always be some air exchange it's just hard for me to justify setting up a full fledged ventilation system when I think a fan blowing away fumes through a massive opening may suffice. Given, I could be terribly wrong so I will continue to research the topic and when I set up the studio/bench I can use the "smoke test" I've read about on various threads to test my air exchange. Thanks for your input, it is much appreciated.

redemer123 · #6 2013-08-14, 1:42pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth Beads

I'm in a garage, only work with the door up, and still use a ventilation system. I want all those fumes and particles sucked away immediately.

What does your ventilation system consist of?

redemer123 · #7 2013-08-14, 1:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ

Does weather make it not possible to have the entire garage door open while you work?
That would be ideal, I think.

Be sure to read through all of Dale M.'s posts in Safety, he is the ventilation guru!

Aside from being cold in the coming months no, I'm sheltered from any rain, snow etc.

artsyuno · #8 2013-08-14, 1:49pm

An open door is not ventilation. There's no guarantee that the fumes are going to leave. You need an active ventilation system. If you can put that in far enough away from the garage door, you can use your garage door for makeup air.

redemer123 · #9 2013-08-14, 1:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsyuno

An open door is not ventilation. There's no guarantee that the fumes are going to leave. You need an active ventilation system. If you can put that in far enough away from the garage door, you can use your garage door for makeup air.

I just don't see setting up a fume hood and drilling holes in my parents garage an option, are there any other methods for ventilation?

Raimond · #10 2013-08-14, 2:52pm

No one here is making money on your ventilation system. It's free advice... Being safe is not always the easiest way to do things...
You are the one that has to make the decision on which way to proceed. Years from now you will look back and say one of two things...

Ha, I saved a few hundred dollars.
or
Damn, I wish I had listened to those suggestions, I thought the wind blowing was enough.

Hopefully for you it's not from a hospital bed...

artsyuno · #11 2013-08-14, 4:29pm

There are ways to set up ventilation through a window (look at Andrea Guarino-Slemmon's website for an example) so that you wouldn't need to cut a hole in the wall, but you'd need make up air 10 feet away. If you can duct your bad air to a location that's farther from your garage door or block off all but the far end of your garage door, that could give you some options. Your fan would need to be strong enough to account for the longer ducting and the turn in the ducting if you want to run it along side the wall it comes out.

AmorphousDesigns · #12 2013-08-14, 6:09pm

I also have my torch set up in the garage, originally I thought I would keep the door open, but it turned out that breezes were moving the flame around too much and the neighborhood kids were a little too interested in the process. I only had to cut an 8" hole in the side of the garage for the exhaust fan, the hole can easily be repaired later. In my opinion, it is better safe than sorry.

redemer123 · #13 2013-08-14, 6:32pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raimond

No one here is making money on your ventilation system. It's free advice... Being safe is not always the easiest way to do things...
You are the one that has to make the decision on which way to proceed. Years from now you will look back and say one of two things...

Ha, I saved a few hundred dollars.
or
Damn, I wish I had listened to those suggestions, I thought the wind blowing was enough.

Hopefully for you it's not from a hospital bed...

It's not really about saving a buck it's about telling the parental units i'm about to cut a hole in the garage lol, Just trying to find alternative methods if possible.

redemer123 · #14 2013-08-14, 6:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsyuno

There are ways to set up ventilation through a window (look at Andrea Guarino-Slemmon's website for an example) so that you wouldn't need to cut a hole in the wall, but you'd need make up air 10 feet away. If you can duct your bad air to a location that's farther from your garage door or block off all but the far end of your garage door, that could give you some options. Your fan would need to be strong enough to account for the longer ducting and the turn in the ducting if you want to run it along side the wall it comes out.

Just got a good idea from the post on Andrea's website, thanks a lot!

Elizabeth Beads · #15 2013-08-14, 6:46pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by redemer123

What does your ventilation system consist of?

Hood, fan, ducting. I'll snap a photo tomorrow.

Alaska · #16 2013-08-15, 1:42am

Since it is your parent's home get them involved in the process. Have them attend a lampworking workshop with you so that they can get the feel for the art. Plus the workshop will give you a feel for the art yourself.

Once they understand the process they may be willing to assist in your venture.

redemer123 · #17 2013-08-15, 2:46pm

So i'm thinking i'll probably get a 6-8" in line fan and just use a few feet of tubing to shoot the fumes strait out of the window. I am liking the setups that suck the fumes in front of the torch rather than making a fume hood. The trick will be to figure out how far to position the sucker upper from the torch

redemer123 · #18 2013-08-15, 2:53pm

Would a fan like this be adequate? http://www.menards.com/main/heating-...776-c-6872.htm

artsyuno · #19 2013-08-15, 3:18pm

If you're talking about a funnel type fume catcher, it should be pretty close. They lose their effacy with distance. Also, keep in mind that fumes rise so it is better to have the funnel a bit above the flame.

redemer123 · #20 2013-08-15, 3:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsyuno

If you're talking about a funnel type fume catcher, it should be pretty close. They lose their effacy with distance. Also, keep in mind that fumes rise so it is better to have the funnel a bit above the flame.

noted, thanks for the comment.

Rough_necked · #21 2013-08-15, 4:21pm

I would not recommend that fan at all. It is not mention to draw air out of an area only to move it threw a duct.

If you want an inline fan you should try a hydroponics store. The ones they sell are meant to draw air out of an area. They have a bigger can with a better blade setup. Something more like this: http://cheaphydroponics.com/store/vi.../prod_172.html

Chuck

Metamorphi · #22 2013-08-15, 4:25pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by redemer123

Would a fan like this be adequate? http://www.menards.com/main/heating-...776-c-6872.htm

This is a good start if you are not torching for long hours on end.

Since you're worried about poking holes in walls of the garage. This can be mounted into a piece of wood and placed in a raised window. Take it out when you are not torching and close the window.

If you place your desk in front of the window, you can also make an extension with a hood that will draw fumes from across your desk. Example http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8OzMwrjNr6...rchandvent.jpg

This will give you the ability to have your studio, but not have to destroy the place to get your ventilation in.

redemer123 · #23 2013-08-15, 5:01pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metamorphi

This is a good start if you are not torching for long hours on end.

Since you're worried about poking holes in walls of the garage. This can be mounted into a piece of wood and placed in a raised window. Take it out when you are not torching and close the window.

If you place your desk in front of the window, you can also make an extension with a hood that will draw fumes from across your desk. Example http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8OzMwrjNr6...rchandvent.jpg

This will give you the ability to have your studio, but not have to destroy the place to get your ventilation in.

Yeah that's exactly what I'm going to do, my desk will rest directly in front of a window so I think I can get a good ventilation system sorted out with relative ease.

lenora · #24 2013-08-15, 6:44pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metamorphi

This can be mounted into a piece of wood and placed in a raised window. Take it out when you are not torching and close the window.

This is excellent advice!