Welding protection

[howlingmad]

Let me know if I missed a thread that covers this somewhere, but I'm looking for ideas to protect one area from another (metal to wood).

I've got one bay approximately 12'x40 dedicated to wood and metal with a garage door at one end and a service door about 10 feet from it. I want to put wood in end and metal in the other (near the doors). I do more wood than steel, and sawdust is always around. Since I've spent over a year building the barn, I'm somewhat against accidentally burning it down.

I'd like to find an easy and ideally cheap way to temporarily partition one area from another. The best idea I can think of so far is a tri-fold type partition that's hinged to a wall and has casters that travel with the door.

The main goal is to keep the sparks from the grinder or welder from igniting the sawdust.

Any ideas?

 

[duggie]

First thing ... and the most obvious ... is get rid of the sawdust BEFORE you do any welding (if your concerned about a fire starting because of the sawdust)

Second ... go to a welding supply store and see about getting fire/welding blankets to hang around the welding area.

Honestly though ... I use my shop for woodworking / welding / automotive repair and never have a problem with welding or grinding sparks getting into any sawdust because I give the shop a "once over" to clean up the major sawdust off the floor, benches, etc. ... plus .... have a couple of fire extingushers in the shop and one next to you when you are welding and that will be plenty of protection against a fire.

 

[Roospike]

I do "woodworking" in my metal fabrication shop.......... I cut up logs and put them in the wood stove to keep the shop warm.

kidding aside , ( or was i ) Its always best to clean up the sawdust when finished working with wood OR you can just make a room for each if your not into cleaning sawdust or you always have a wood project going.

 

[brownbagg]

leaf blower, blow the shop out before welding

 

[james]

I think I'd put up a partition and make a 12x20 space for each. Harbor freight has cheap welding blankets, hang one in between the space.

 

[MustangRick]

Get a good saw dust collection system and make sure it gets as much dust sucked up at the tool as humanly possible. I just looked at a house for sale and every nook and cranny had sawdust in it. I started doing some research and everything pointed to getting the saw dust tackled before it can get airborne.