Ventilated Casting Cabinet?

[CiDirkona]

(Mods, feel free to move this thread if I didn't pick the correct subforum location.)

The time has come to look into a more stable casting desk with a little bit more space and a lot more ergonomics.

The idea is to take one of these:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202996399 (or similar)

Make three walls of concreteboard for flame resistance (fluxing flare-ups) and stick a lighted oven vent on top, then use drier ducting or similar to get the fumes well out of the garage. It has to be 20" or narrower so I can put it on the side of the garage and still get both cars in -- but I don't want it just bolted to the house with a fold up/fold down table if I can avoid it. Mobile to put me towards the middle of the garage seems a bit safer.

I like casting inside the garage with the door open to stay out of the sun (casting is hot enough,) but don't like how the fumes tend to swirl even when I've got a fan blowing at me from behind.

Any other ideas?

[shadowcaster]

The time has come to look into a more stable casting desk with a little bit more space and a lot more ergonomics.

3 walls of concrete board sounds like it would make a good safe set-up. I would suggest though, that if you are going to build something like this.. leave it against the wall. Having to move a loaded table will be a pain. If you make your bench out of cinder blocks and 2x8's for a shelf in the middle, then all you need is a top. Cinder blocks are only 16 inches long so that would keep you under the 20 inch mark. Make the top out of plywood with a piece of sheet metal on top of it. This makes it real easy to deal with lead spatter. The kitchen vent hood should work fine for casting. It will be much stronger, and you will have a lot less invested in your bench set-up this way.


Here is my set-up for casting and smelting......

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_194224f5422eb8793c.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=4258)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_194224f54231f9666e.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=4259)

I do all of my casting and smelting indoors.

Shad

[afish4570]

Now that I got my blood test results indicating I am on the high side,I hate to think what it would be if I did my hobby inside a garage. Careful. I do mine outside, casting by garage entry way with a fan blowing face. Smelting is done in back yard far enough from house and other neighbors houses too. Smelting is in off season when nobody will see or object to smoke while in their yards......Cold days in winter are the best for me.afish4570:cbpour::cbpour:

[Walter Laich]

re: lead levels

I cast outside under a covered driveway. Do this because I want to as much fresh air as possible around the pot and me