Ceiling mounted drop cloths

[onelochevy]

Has anyone ever set up some roll down drop cloths in their garage? What I'm looking for is something I can lower down like a window shade when I'm cutting / grinding on my project truck so keep all of the sparks and metal shavings in one spot instead of being scattered all over my workbench & other tools in the garage. The truck is stationary so I would mount one on the celing down each side of the truck. I just dont know what to use or if they even make such a thing. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[bad_idea]

Get a track from an old vertical blind and get a welder's blanket with some eyelets. Retract to the wall when not in use. I am contemplating something similar.

 

[GMBracing]

make it like a shower curtain ,use conduit for the rod and shower style hooks to hang a curtain. like welding curtains

 

[onelochevy]

make it like a shower curtain ,use conduit for the rod and shower style hooks to hang a curtain. like welding curtains

i like that idea.

 

[Steevo]

make it like a shower curtain ,use conduit for the rod and shower style hooks to hang a curtain. like welding curtains

That is fine for 6' or less, but how do you hang a longer run?

Try hospital curtain track
It can be run any direction, around corners, etc. You then hang the welding screen or curtain fron it with chains of the right length.

http://www.medicalproductsdirect.com/cutrki.html

 

[BWS]

Good stuff above.........

One thing I did was get some cheap-chit "fitted" queen sized sheets.Got some Black ones at chinamart.These are used to cvr up equip on rare occasions when theres airborne "stuff" floatin around.The elastic sewn in around perimeter is what makes them work.


Stored in some canvas totes I stole from wifeypoo.......to keep'm clean.They don't get used often.........but beats the snot out of having to clean up the equip,duh.

 

[wnstwolf]

Steevo we think alike. I was a facilities guy in a hospital for most of my earlier carreer and had been carrying around 6 sections of track to make something some day. When we moved from previous house to this one the Mrs. made me part with some stuff, that was one of the stash's that landed in the dumpster. Amazing when you look back at all of the shoulda coulda times but as we all know a happy wife makes for a happy man! Also had an OR light for some strange reason thought it would be a cool workshop light but decided to trash it. I know someone on here actually went and installed one. Love this Forum!

 

[shannonw]

I used an idea i got from sberry here

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113437

scroll down to end.

I split my garage in two when sanding or anything dusty, roll it backup when i'm done. Keeps tools, bikes etc clean. I like the curtain, rod ideas and thought about that as well ..it's a bit cleaner install, but the above is pretty cheap and quick to get up if you're in a hurry.

 

[Outlawmws]

I used to have some heavy canvas I would hang from the bar on my garage door at my old house (slab type) like a shower curtain.

 

[rkevins]

I use curtain material, (the same thing tarps are made of but has a rod pocket in the bottom) run a 2x2 along the perlins then tack the material to them then use cord to pull the curtain to the top when not in use, sorry no pic its had to take with my phone.

 

[kellymc]

you can also string a cable between two points and use a turnbuckle to apply tension to the cable depending on the run

 

[machine_punk]

Get these things, in the pic below.

They are like the load lockers the truckers use to keep stuff in place in the cargo area of a truck (they use them horizontally, here, you use them vertically). They trap the plastic or drop cloth or welding blanket between the floor and the bottom of the expanding pole and the top of the cloth between the ceiling the top of the expanding pole...

Another thought I have is to build a PVC pipe 'tent' over the truck. Cover the entire outside with tarps or drop cloths, then move the welding blanket around on the inside, to keep the grinder from catching the tent on fire.

 

[6768rogues]

Use something that is noncombustible. A combustible textile hanging vertically where you are welding or creating sparks sounds like a fire hazard.

 

[onelochevy]

Got the rods mounted to the ceiling. I was able to get some 3/4" conduit for free from work, so all this cost me was 2 couplings and a few hangars. About 10 bucks. I just need to get a couple welding blankets and some hooks and I'm good to go. The blankets will be stationary when in use so there was no need for an elaborate rail system that would let me slide the curtains. They won't be hanging when not in use. The rods are mounted just to the outside of the lights.