32
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
Vacuum near the point of drilling
Have someone to stand next to you with the nozzle of a (running) vacuum cleaner, and position it very carefully near the where the drill bit enters the wall. ...
- 2,657
30
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
Get it wet!
When drilling or cutting stone, using water to cool the bit will help cut faster and smoother and prolong the life of the bit. When drilling in the wet hole, you don't need a special ...
- 27.7k
26
votes
I've released a lot of lead-paint dust in our house. What to do?
This should have been detected or suspected earlier by your contractors. There are specific guidelines for dealing with lead-based paint repairs and coverings that are mandated by law, in many states (...
- 4,387
24
votes
Accepted
Is concrete dust from remodel dangerous?
My layperson's view:
The link between silica dust and lung cancer exists primarily in industrial settings (mine, refinishing, construction).
The people who grind down the concrete in their usual ...
- 15.8k
19
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
In addition to the halved tennis ball trick, when drilling walls, I usually use Post-It notes. Take one sheet, fold it horizontally away from the sticky side, then stick it to the wall just below the ...
- 451
19
votes
I've released a lot of lead-paint dust in our house. What to do?
Shut off all ventilation.
Mask up (Where will the average person find a mask? LOL)
Vacuum like a madman (a HEPA vacuum is a good choice).
Get very clean water and very clean rags/towels, and wipe down ...
17
votes
Would you expect a plumber to put up plastic to contain dust for a basement bathroom rough-in?
I will tackle this from three ways.
I work as a general contractor when doing flips. I would hope to remember to put up plastic or block off areas. First because I do not want things in other ...
- 47.8k
16
votes
what mil thick plastic to hang for dust management
I can comment, from tons of experience, that trying to secure the plastic with blue painters tape is highly likely to lead to a great disappointment in performance. Taping up even the thinnest plastic ...
- 64.1k
16
votes
Do I really have to use special primer to encapsulate lead paint?
The main risk with lead paint is disturbing it, the encapsulating primer can stick to weathered surfaces without the need to sand the surface first,
If the surface you are painitng is a fresh surface (...
- 19.1k
15
votes
Accepted
How can I make my electrical box dustproof?
Use a weatherproof box and a weatherproof extension ring (or rings if you need a lot of depth) if you cannot find a weatherproof box to suit.
Or, just seal up the box with duct seal (non-hardening ...
- 203k
13
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
I am using this tool (Kärcher DDC 50). You put the drill through the hole on the right, and the battery-driven vacuum not only sucks the dust into the storage container but also sucks the entire tool ...
- 231
13
votes
Is concrete dust from remodel dangerous?
It's not a major hazard (unlike asbestos). If you live in a big city, its not uncommon to find your car coated with similar dust from construction and demolition work. The risk is primarily to the ...
- 778
11
votes
I've released a lot of lead-paint dust in our house. What to do?
There are two answers currently saying essentially, "It's only lead. It's not a big deal."
This is bad advice in my opinion. I would describe lead as more dangerous than plutonium. Not ...
- 313
10
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
A combination of my "vacuum near drill point" answer and @mrks' mini-vacuum Karcher device answer: You can get a (hopefully) universal vacuum cleaner collector attachment for collecting drilling dust:
...
- 2,657
10
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
Squirt bottle
Wet the wall area just as you start, then as soon as the bit is seated, use one hand to squirt a small amount of water at the hole in frequent intervals. This will assure the stuff ...
8
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
Cut a tennis ball in half. Drill a hole in the center of one half, slide the half over the drill bit, line up the drill and bit to where the hole is to be. Slide the half ball up against the wall and ...
- 78.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Apartment dust mystery
For those who may have the same problem, the dust was fiberglass from inside the electric range. When burners were on, convection was sending tiny bits of it in the air.
- 179
8
votes
Accepted
Connecting a Makita jigsaw (4351) to dry vacuum cleaner (Dyson)
The main problem with using something like a Dyson or any other "floor vac" is that their filters (and warranty) are not made for sucking up a stream of sawdust or other "shop dust". I imagine you ...
- 27.7k
7
votes
what mil thick plastic to hang for dust management
Any thickness of plastic will stop dust from going through it. The only reason to use thicker plastic as opposed to thinner is that the thicker plastic holds up a little better to punctures and ...
- 6,905
7
votes
Accepted
Gray "Dust" On Pink Insulation in Attic
I've been in no less than 300 attics and every one of then has had dust, grey dust, in them. Your attic has soffits installed to vent the attic. You also have vent pipes going through the roof to vent ...
- 78.8k
7
votes
Is this asbestos insulation in my attic?
That looks like standard cellulose insulation. It's not particularly hazardous.
We can't completely rule out asbestos from here. If the house is in the US and was constructed in the last 40 years, the ...
- 9,302
6
votes
Connecting a Makita jigsaw (4351) to dry vacuum cleaner (Dyson)
It won't work well and you don't need it
A jig saw work doesn't create the same dust and mess problem like other woodworking tools such as a sander, router, skill saw, etc. A jig saw does not create ...
- 5,709
6
votes
Do I really have to use special primer to encapsulate lead paint?
One recurring theme here is "pop" home hazards being treated like plutonium, while genuine ones that will kill you being completely ignored. The person in a fuss about asbestos will later ...
5
votes
Accepted
What is this white powder coming out of my baseboard?
It looks like drywall dust. There were probably cuts made with a rotary tool which left dust inside the wall, and now it's working out, possibly due to air pressure in the wall from an HVAC duct or ...
- 130k
5
votes
What kind of wall material produces orange dust, and how should I work with it?
Looks like brick dust.
As for the other two holes, they probably went into the mortar joint between two bricks.
- 26.3k
4
votes
Would you expect a plumber to put up plastic to contain dust for a basement bathroom rough-in?
Would I expect a plumber to do it? No. Would some plumbers do it? Probably.
If there's a general contractor, I'd have expected them to delegate the task. You should definitely discuss this with them, ...
- 131k
4
votes
Would you expect a plumber to put up plastic to contain dust for a basement bathroom rough-in?
I've learned over the years that when starting any job communication is the key factor. If I sense the home owner is not asking pertinent question I will briefly lay out the work for the day. ...
- 10.9k
4
votes
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
I saw a similar question asked somewhere (possibly here, though I'm not about to be that "marked as duplicate" guy), and I suggested the post-it method already mentioned. Someone else then commented ...
- 195
4
votes
Accepted
Cut granite in home...help?
~ 20 years ago, I decided to replace my oven. My old (broken) oven was a single ~ 24" oven in a brick wall. My new oven is a double 27" oven. So that meant cutting out bricks, blocks, ...
4
votes
I've released a lot of lead-paint dust in our house. What to do?
From the EPA brochure: Contractor Lead Safety During Renovation
What to Do When Working on Interior Jobs
• Remove furniture and belongings, or cover them securely with heavy
plastic sheeting with all ...
- 140
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