Vacuum dust control for wood floor edgers, which are small and maneuverable compared to floor sanders, is an engineering control that can reduce exposure to wood dust.  Wood floor edgers with vacuum dust control are machines with a rotating sanding disk that is enclosed to allow for the removal of dust created by the sanding process. Air is drawn from the floor and the sanding disk and into the dust port within the machine by an internal fan and a vacuum attachment, capturing dust near the point of generation. The wood dust is then collected and removed from the work environment, reducing the concentration in the worker's breathing zone and the opportunity for skin contact. Cyclonic pre-separators, either as an integral part of the vacuum or as a separate unit, should be used to collect the majority of the particles before they reach the filters.  A cyclonic pre-separator spins the air and dust, forcing particles to outside of a cone-shaped portion of the vacuum and then down into a bag or hopper.  Use of a cyclonic pre-separator reduces the amount of dust that collects on the filter, which increases the useful life of expensive filters and helps to maintain the vacuum’s initial airflow rate.

A wood dust capture and control system is recommended by OSHA and is commonly used in the form of a vacuum dust collector, which allows for the safe removal of most airborne dust particles generated by sanding. Using a vacuum with filters, instead of a dust bag, greatly reduces the risk to operators and other workers on a site.

The following are examples of commercially available wood floor edgers and compatible vacuums:

Bona Wood Floor Edgers

The Bona wood floor edgers are compatible with the Bona Portable Dust Collection System.

• Power Requirements: 115 volts, 15 amps
• Built-in 20 watt halogen work light
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 1.5 inches
• Sound Pressure Level: 87 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average is 90 dBA)

Bona Portable Dust Collection System

The Bona Portable DCS uses a cyclonic separator and a HEPA filter.

• Dust Capacity: 18.5 gallons
• Airflow Rate: 140 cubic feet per minute
• Maximum Static Pressure: 132 inches of water
• Power Requirements: 115 volts, 14 amps
• Weight: 95 pounds
• Vacuum Hose Inlet Diameter: 1.5 inches
• Filtration: primary coarse filter and secondary HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• Sound Pressure Level: 80 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average is 90 dBA)

Essex Silver-Line SL-7 Wood Floor Edger

For dust reduction, the Essex SL-7 wood floor edger can be used with the Oneida-Essex Silver Line Retrofit Handle and the Oneida Vortex vacuum.

• Sanding Disk Diameter: 7 inches
• Sanding Disk Speed: 3,600 revolutions per minute
• Power Requirements: 115 volts, 10 amps (a 220 volt version is also available)
• Weight: 30 pounds
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 1.5 inches
• Sound Pressure Level: not available but likely to exceed 90 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average)

Oneida-Essex Silver-Line Retrofit Handle

The Oneida handle installs on the Essex Silver-Line SL-7 edger and attaches to a Vortex vacuum.

• Uses a cyclone pre-separator, eliminating the need for cloth dust bags
• Filtration: HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• Weight: 10 pounds
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 1.5 inches

Clarke Wood Floor Edgers

For dust reduction, the Clarke wood floor edgers can be used with an Oneida-Clarke Retrofit Handle and a Oneida Vortex vacuum or a Clarke CAV 12 vacuum (shown below).

*230 volt model is available

• Sanding Disk Diameter: 7 inches
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 2 inches (adapter 30563A available for 1.5 inch hoses)
• Sound Pressure Level: not available but likely to exceed 90 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average)

Oneida-Clarke Retrofit Handles

The Oneida retrofit handle installs on the Clarke Super 7R and B-2 edgers and attaches to an Oneida Vortex vacuum or a Clarke CAV 12 vacuum (shown below).

• Uses a cyclone pre-separator, eliminating the need for cloth dust bags
• Filtration: HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 1.5 inches
• Weight: 10 pounds

Clarke CAV 12 Dust Control Vacuum

• Airflow Rate: 137 cubic feet per minute
• Maximum Static Pressure: 99 inches of water
• Dust Capacity: 12 gallons
• Power Requirements: 120 volts, 8.3 amps
• Weight: 31 pounds
• Filtration: Fleece bag with optional HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• Vacuum Hose: 1.5-inch diameter hose and fittings and 13 or 25 feet long
• Sound Pressure Level: 62 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average is 90 dBA)

Cherry Hill U-Sand Mini Wood Floor Edger

The Cherry Hill floor edger uses 3 circular sanding pads.  The edger is compatible with the Cherry Hill U-Sand VAC Mini (shown below) and other vacuums that connect to a 1.25 inch hose fitting.

• Sanding Disk Diameter: 5 inches (3 random orbiting disks)
• Sanding Head Width: 9.5 inches
• Sanding Disk Speed: 3,300 to 4,500 revolutions per minute
• Power Requirements: 120 volts, 8 amps
• Weight: 19 pounds
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 1.25 inches
• Sound Pressure Level: not available but likely to exceed 90 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average)

Cherry Hill U-Sand VAC Mini

The U-Sand VAC Mini attaches to the U-Sand Mini edger.

• Airflow Rate: 120 cubic feet per minute
• Dust Capacity: 1.5 gallons
• Power Requirements: 120 volts, 12 amps
• Weight: 11.5 pounds
• Filtration: HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• Diameter of Connection to Tool: 1.25 inches
• Sound Pressure Level: not available but likely to exceed 90 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average)

Oneida-Lagler FLIP Retrofit Handle

The Oneida handle installs on the FLIP sander and attaches to a Vortex vacuum (shown below).

• Uses a cyclone pre-separator, eliminating the need for cloth dust bags
• Filtration: HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• Weight: 10 pounds
• Diameter of Connection to Vacuum: 1.5 inches

Oneida Vortex Dust Collection Systems

*The vacuum is shown with a sander but it is also compatible with edgers

The Vortex dust collectors attach to the 1.5-inch connections on any retrofit handles from Oneida. Using the airflow provided by the sander, the dust-laden air is passed through the cyclone on the handle, removing the majority of wood dust, before passing through the handle’s HEPA filter. The Vortex vacuum pulls the dust captured by the cyclone through a hose to the remote cyclonic separator where the dust is captured in a waste container. The air is passed through a HEPA filter at the vacuum before being exhausted.

*Approximate airflow rate were provided by the manufacturer but are not published

• Cyclonic separator
• Dust Capacity: 35 gallons
• Filtration: HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles (the most penetrating size)
• 1 ½ inch static dissipating hose
• Sound Pressure Level: approximately 75 dBA (OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time-weighted average is 90 dBA)

Vacuum dust collectors should have a positive effect on productivity and definitely improve the quality of the work by removing large amounts of dust, which provides a cleaner environment for operators and reduces the effort and time required for clean-up. In some cases, particularly where work is intermittent or in an area with general ventilation, use of dust collectors may be adequate to reduce the need to wear a respirator, and the need for an employer’s respiratory protection program.

There are additional conditions and practices that can improve the performance of dust collectors and reduce dust exposure: 

• Keeping your head away from dust created by the process and using adequate ventilation are keys to controlling exposure to airborne dust particles.
• The Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL), which was established by the European Commission, stated that exposures greater than 0.5 mg/m³ of wood dust could cause pulmonary effects and should be avoided.
• The particles that can do the most damage in the lungs are small enough to penetrate or bypass the filters found on many shop vacuums. Additionally, some inexpensive shop vacuums pull the dust through the motors, which can destroy the vacuum on really dusty jobs, eliminating any initial cost savings.
• Vacuum performance must be monitored on a regular basis. A vacuum with a pressure gauge allows for frequent and easy monitoring of air flow. For high dust generating tasks, dust caked on the filter may reduce flow to a level where it no longer provides adequate dust capture. Automatic and manual filter shakers and coarse pre-filters are available with some vacuums and may help maintain the air flow rate.

Large electric vacuums commonly require 20 amp electrical circuits. Cords and extensions must be rated for the tool's power requirements, be inspected regularly, replaced when damaged, and used in combination with ground fault interrupt circuits.

Some large vacuums, cyclonic separators, and exhaust ventilation blowers can be very loud. Noise levels may be high enough to cause significant hearing loss over a work lifetime. Buy quiet devices and maintain them properly. Noise exposures can be reduced by working further away from the noise source, enclosing the noise source, or using ear plugs or muffs.

As is the case with any construction equipment, users should follow manufacturer scheduled maintenance and safety recommendations and comply with any applicable regulations.

• Residential Construction
  • Install and finish flooring
    • Wood dust