What do you do to keep the dust out of wet epoxy?
I live in NYC and its EVERYWHERE!
I 'm working on a clean granite counter , and the only thing on it is the rod,
dryer, & aluminum foil to pour the mixed epoxy on.
It seems like every piece of dust and lint in the city wants to seek out and
drop into my epoxy AFTER its been applied.
The doors and windows are closed- I'm pulling my hair out with frustration!
Does anybody know if a french polish would take it (dust specks) off ,after its cured without hurting the
the epoxy? I'm using Flex coat lite. This is the only problem that I can't seem to get rid of.
Thank YOU!

i'm sure more will weigh in with probably proven solutions to this imaginable frustrating scenario but it's approaching midnight and i've only had 2 hours of sleep total over the past two nights, i haven't showered at all today and i've just poured myself another cup of coffee, an entirely questionable action in my current situation, but i feel like sharing :-)

try moving the lab to the bathroom? leave shower on for awhile, fill the room with steam, enclose thyself within behind door, entombed, await clearing, epoxy. ???

ahhh, never mind.

eric
fresno, ca.

Is your work area in the path of or near a heating or cooling ventilation duct? If so that could be your source and you could make a temporary filter to put up over the vent while you work. If the dust is just "in" your home, you my want to try a humidifier. Also, be sure that you do not have any ceiling fans going or windows open near your work area. Good Luck.

you could build some sort of "roof" over the rod when it´s curing. Like some sort of plexiglass or similar, apply epoxy then put your "roof" on and let cure. Hope this helps, thanks.
Kim

I wet the area by spraying ( EVERYTHING ) with water from a spray bottle. Turn the fan on, shut it off after about 5-10 min. You don't want any air current that will carry dust. The wet spray will hold a lot of the dust down.

Don't let people walk around, they will kick up dust.

Small room would be even nicer?

I also try to do late at night when the movements in the house cease.I have FHA heat that lowers at 11:30 so if possible I try to do it then so a heat cycle wont cause dust to fly(tyr to do when its warmer outside so heat dosent have to come up.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

You can make an inexpensive filtration unit by taping a furnace/AC filter to the back of a box fan. It will pull the air in the room through the filter and clean out the dust. I have two in my shop and usually run them for several hours in the morning and then apply the finish after lunch. I have to turn them off about two hours before I start finishing to let the air calm down.

I you run a portable humidifier it will help remove dust from the air. The box fan filter is a great idea.

John
God bless the troops and USA

I solved my dust problems by doing 4 things; I had problems in the winter-very dry air and lots of static!!

1. I built a hinged lid that lowers from the wall over the rod as it's turning. This is made out of an old screen from a screen door. I removed the screen, cut the frame to my dimensions, and put tack cloth in place of the screen. Tack cloth attracts dust. I also set another tack cloth over this, hanging in front of the rod.

2. I put a piece of tack cloth over the heat registers in and near my rod room while the rod is rotating, then take them down.

3. I spray water on the felt supports that the rod is rotating in.

4. Clean room!!!!

I'm fortunate to have a room with no heating or cooling vents. I keep the door closed when I'm working with epoxy. So far, I haven't had any trouble with dust at all. I do have to turn on my 1500 watt electric oil filled heater about 45 minutes before I want to mix epoxy, but other than that I like this setup. And with no ventilation, I tend to stay away from using stinky stuff, so other than the brain cells you lose from becoming addicted to rodbuilding, I might have about as many as when I started.

Thanks to one and all for the wonderful input!
I live in a wide open loft so I can't take advantage of most of these suggestions ,However.....
Thank you putter for the bit about wetting the felt on the felt supports and Eric-for the bathroom trick...
IT REALLY WORKS!!! -Now if I can keep everybody out ! LOL ;^)
Problem solved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to build another bathroom?? LOL

I don't know if you have them in the States, you probably do. I have seen a cloth that can remove static in objects out here in Australia, do a search on Google for other ways to remove static charged objects.

I also keep a spray bottle of water handy...spraying everything, including just the air, before I begin applying epoxy.

Jay

Bought a used HEPA air filter/purifier on @#$%& which I turn on for a hour or so before setting up to put finish.on the wraps. Let things settle in the room for awhile (tIMPORTANT! ..........throw the cat outside for the whole time rod is turning) Keep room closed and activity to a minimum. I know there are more technically effective fixes but this seems to work for me and it did cut down on the dust problem. I guess I'm also lucky not to have forced air heat