Fan in window for casting

Hello
Just want some opinions. I put my casting workbench in my 20 by 15 workshop building right under about 20 inch by 30 window. I put the pot level with the window on a concrete block so I can see the bottom pour spout. I put a 2000 cfm fan in the window blowing outside so it sucks all the smoke and other out when I cast. Does that sound like good enough ventilation. I could put a 3500 cfm whole house exhaust fan in but that might be overkill. I do not have a hood but with that much air flow I do not think I need one? Thanks

Alfred mitchell

Interested as well

If you see ALL the smoke being sucked out the window and don't smell anything with you sitting in the casting position I would be comfortable with the setup

Watch when you flux and see what the heavy smoke does. If its being pulled out and not building up then your good. Another thing that may help is to open a window behind you to allow for airflow. This helps on stopping a vacuum being created with more air going out than can come in.

I cast in about the same size building and cast about 5 ft from the window , but have a small fan in the window blowing out and have had no problems, works great for me

The lead fumes are NON-EXISTANT, but 750* air will cook you from the inside out, sore throat etc. That fan, that close may well cool your melt noticeably. You might need to build a hood. Card board works fine in a pinch, with tin foil on it. You might cover some of the fan. Get another window so as to get fresh air. Play with it a bit. have fun

I've done similar for years. I currently have a small portable a/c in my shed that blows cool air on me while sucking the hot air out, like any a/c unit should do.i still pot a small fan in the window in front of me to get the fumes out.

Lol,I also purchased a portable ac to blow cool air on me as well. It's the only way to cast in alabama in the summer!
Dogdoc

I got a pretty big vent hood at a flea market ($10) I bolted it to the rafters over my casting area in my garage, ran a duct (used dryer vent duct) to get it to the wall and outside. It worked amazingly well. I moved to a different house that has way better ventilation and haven't set it back up yet but I plan to use it again when I rebuild my work space this fall. It really worked great in my old garage.

That should work fine. You don't need a wind or even a gentle breeze. Just enough air movement to get rid of the fumes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dogdoc

Lol,I also purchased a portable ac to blow cool air on me as well. It's the only way to cast in alabama in the summer!
Dogdoc

---

Where in Alabama are you?

Most AC units only recirculate the same air/contaminants. Although some have an exhaust control, there is very little air actually exhausted. While casting produces very little harmful contaminants except when fluxing, a small fan in the window slightly above the pot is sufficient. The use of cardboard for a hood isn't recommended because of the chance of a fire hazard.
As others have said, if you see an accumulation of smoke you need to upgrade. If none is seen, you're golden.

That's how my bench is set up, a window fan in front of the pot pulling air out and the back door open. The only problem I have is if the wind is blowing from the north and blows back through the fan. When that happens I just stop until things settle down

I installed a vent-a-hood over mine when I built cabinets in the casting room , works great .

As mentioned, if you want the exhaust bad air, you need to supply fresh air. Opening a window or door will do that.

I saved a stove vent hood and plan to set it up if I decide to cast in the workshop.

When I converted our old single car garage into my reloading workshop we installed a range hood with 3 speed fan and lights and then plumbed it out through the wall to a flapper style dryer vent. Works great for poor weather casting indoors ...

http://i.imgur.com/fAUXOfA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/D00PzKT.jpg

I have a similar setup but do use a pusher fan behind me. Brings air into my reloading room and pushes toward the exhaust fan.

IMO I would use a kitchen stove vent fan assy( with hood)

Fasted today with 2500 cfm fan in window. All smoke was completely sucked out by fan. I could not even smell it. Had ac blowing on me from behind. Worked great.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Since your room is 15x20x8(?) that's 2400 cf. Your changing the air in the room every minute. AC is gonna have trouble keeping up. Of course that depends on the size of the AC.

My beast

Attachment 201981