Workshop Air Quality Meter, Explained.

[@jmpattillo]

Ok. Bought the meter and it works great. I had it set up about four meters from my table saw and the readings shot up within a couple of minutes of cutting plywood without my dust collector turned on. I built a 5-sided Corsi Rosenthal filter with a 20 inch “Air King” box fan and Merv 14 filters. With the fan on high my pm 2.5 levels drop to single digits within five minutes. This is after intentionally running up the reading to 30 or so by blowing dust around with my air compressor. Without the filter the levels dropped very slowly. For reference my shop is 20x30 feet with 10 foot ceilings.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😃 Excellent 😃. Sounds like your filter box is working a treat 😁👍. Its a great little meter and ideal for this kind of experiment. It makes it so easy to put some numbers to how clean the air is your breathing. Thanks for taking the time to comment again, much appreciated. If I can find out how I will pin this comment 😁. Thanks again John 😁👍

[@anyfoolknowthat]

Isn’t the problem in those 5 minutes when the air purifier is going to pull the dusty air up past your face? Shouldn’t they be placed closer to the floor (so you’re not caught in the exhaust path)

[@paulcooper9187]

Thanks Frank , a very sobering review. I think I need to change some of my practices in my workshop......

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Its very easy to get a bit sloppy with dust extraction when your busy making a project (we all do it). So I guess we have to force ourselves in to good habits... "save your lungs, not the time" 😁. Thanks for watching Paul 😁👍

[@PhilsWorkshop1953]

Thanks Frank food for thought my friend

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Yep, its a bit of an eye opener to actually see what rubbish is airborne in the workshop. Take care Phil and thanks for watching 😁👍

[@garvielloken3929]

Awesome mate! Definitely an eye opener!!!! thanks, much appreciated

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks Garviel. I'm actually using it more than I expected. Its great to "see" what the air quality is doing. Thanks again for watching 😁👍

[@Dr.Scorpio]

Great video. Thanks for the info and advices. Best wishes.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😆 Thank you Dr. 😁. Its a great bit of kit and I would highly reccomend getting one even for just around the house. Its a great way to "see" the amount of particles that are floating around you. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@Dr.Scorpio]

@@frankslittleworkshop I ordered one without hesitation after watching your video 😀 Please keep making videos. Thank you so much and best wishes always.

[@Tminsquero1975]

Great video Frank, very well done sir

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks Tony. Its a great little meter. I would recommend getting one 😁. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@stevejeffery4951]

Thanks Frank. I’m guilty of missing the obvious. I put on a mask to work with all types of woodworking machines, but never when emptying the shop vac. So that’s one thing to change. Also I put my mask on to do the work but take the mask off as soon as I finish sanding/routing etc, and not allow for the dust to settle. Plenty of lessons learnt and your 20 minute video might have saved my life. Or lengthened it at the very least. My new habits start today👍🏼

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks Steve. Hopefully it will help us all to think twice. I was surprised how long it all remained airborne. I am always cutting, then immediately taking my mask off to talk to the camera.... think ill take a bit more time from now on. Thanks for watching Steve 😁👍

[@patricklavoie8719]

Great video! This helped a lot to understand how air quality monitors work!

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Your welcome Patrick. I'm glad it was of some help. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

7:16 PM 2.5 maximums are in 2023 EU 25 UK 20 UN 10

[@davidwicks3334]

Great video Frank, Amazon here I come 😊

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks David. I'm so glad I have one. Its quite an eye opener to put some real numbers to what is floating around in your workshop. Thanks for watching and stay safe 😁👍

[@carloscarrillo4841]

Great video! Thanks Frank. You missed the explanation of the info on the second screen that shows after pressing the vsck button. Great video! Thanks for all the tests!!

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks Carlos. I had to edit out a lot of the footage as the video was getting a bit long. So I just covered the important bits. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@FixitFingers]

Excellent video Frank! When I got my room filter I want one of these as well. Top stuff!

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks James. I'm trying my best to keep the numbers low.... by breathing in as much dust as I can 🤣😂. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Reedys_Digest]

Thank you, good video. Bought one!

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Excellent choice. Its one of the most useful things in my workshop. And a great benefit now I have my laser engraver which is quite nasty when its engraving or cutting. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@runningpanda6570]

Great vid !

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thank you Panda. I hope it was of some help. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@handyjim]

never empty shop vac in the workshop alwas outside good video frank

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 I normally do it in the door way with the workshop door open. But wanted to do it in a controlled area to see how much dust could happen... won't be doing that again 😁. Thanks for watching Jim 😁👍

[@InTheWorkshop]

Think I will ask work to get me one of these, I have to cut loads of MDF (Hate the stuff). Thanks Frank, like your detector and your pencil ✏😀👍

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks David. I think you need two sensors.. one for your main workshop and another for your little workshop.... oh and don't forget one for work 🤣😂. Thanks for watching David. Take care 😁👍

[@SteveMonk1956]

Brilliant Frank, thank you for doing this video. Personally I try do do all my sanding outside, and any sawing, drilling etc I try to remember my mask, but your video is an eye opener and I will certainly have it in mind and hopefully learn from it.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks Steve. Always a good idea to do all the really dusty stuff outside, but we all know its not always possible and sometimes we don't remember our masks until its too late.. but this was also an eye opener for me. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@stevebettany8778]

Well worth making the video the sanding test was alarming with how fast the meter reacted. I might be sanding outside in gale force wind from now on. Thanks.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

🤣 Thanks Steve. Just make sure the wind is not blowing into your neighbours house 🤣😂... that would be bad 🤣. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@SujMenon]

Good explanation Frank. Its alwaye the sander that kicks up dust. I had bought the raspberry pi equivalent components last year, but still haven't connected it.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

Sanding is the worst 😕. It would be interesting to see what happens with things like spray varnish or other finishes 🤔. I think you should finish the raspberry Pi version to see how well that works 😁. Thanks for watching Suj 😁👍

[@anyfoolknowthat]

Do they make outdoor sanding tables, with bench dog holes?

[@orandaadnaro]

Brilliant - thats got me very worried!

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Opps... sorry 😁. But its good to know what your breathing in 😆. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@RuudyL]

One of the best reviews. How accurate will it be after a few months because of dust collecting in the unit

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 I occasionally give it a gentle blow across the sensor (NOT with an air line). And although my shop is very dusty it stays fairly clear. So although it is used every day it is still very quick and representative of the amount of pollutants in the air. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@carlos.galhano]

Hello frank, very good video. Can you tell the reference sensor or the web page to buy it. And can someone help me on how can i save the data for instance every minute? Thanks

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😃 Hi Carlos (again 😁). This particular air quality meter is available from Amazon. But you can also get it from eBay. Other simular sensors are also available from lots of sites on the Internet. Just search for "air quality meter". There is no data logger output on this particular meter so if you wanted a running record then you would need to manually record it (pen and paper). I imagine other sensors are available with data logging functions but they will be much more expensive. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching Carlos 😁👍

[@espaspascal]

Thank you for the explanations, great ! Did you find the reading accurate compare to other products overtime ? thanks and have nice day !

[@frankslittleworkshop]

@espaspascal 😁 Hi Pascal. I haven't been able to do a direct comparison with other devices. But its detection has always been excellent (I.e. small squirts of an aerosol from the far end of the workshop). I also used it in a recent video where I tested a dust mask. So for my uses it has been an excellent addition to the workshop. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@espaspascal]

@@frankslittleworkshop Thanks

[@benjaqsonworkshop9974]

Brilliant explanation. I do always wear a mask but now I know how much I need to. I didn't realise the particles below 1.0 could enter the blood stream - definitely glad I stopped doing short bursts of sanding without attaching the vac a while ago. Last time I empty the vac in the shop, mask or no mask.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks Ben for your great comments 😁. I think we are all guilty of the "its just a quick sand, I won't need the vac or mask" thought. But now having seen the air quality as numbers... we all need to think twice. Thanks for watching Ben 😁👍

[@o.g.bwoodwork]

Great stuff Frank! Might have to get one of these. Think it might push me to get an air filter as well after seeing the high numbers.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Its well worth the investment. There are a lot of alternatives in a range of prices but this one is just perfect for me. I think air quality is even more important in our small workshops... you only need to wave your arms around and it disturbs a measurable amount of dust..... think we all need bigger workshops 🤣😂. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@o.g.bwoodwork]

@@frankslittleworkshop bigger workshops sound fantastic! Keep smashing it Frank

[@frequencywatchers]

What A COOL DEVICE, WOW ! Thank You For The Review. Can You Test Them With Smoke And Such? CO2 And CO ?

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁Hi, you could use it for smoke, but only to determine the size of the pollution particles. As far as CO and CO2 are concerned I think you would be better to get a dedicated detector. I assume the actual sensor would be different and more "tuned" to CO and CO2. Hope that helps 😁. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@joohnny59]

Frank, Brilliant video, it reinforces what we all probably know just don't act on. I'm glad you shared your findings. One thing I don't know is how the sensor works, does it have is own filter that needs cleaning or is it something like two plate or optical sensors and the particles flow between them and get detected. Lastly, I use and find the Abranet sanding discs excellent. They are a mesh and so when used with a vac the air/particles get sucked through the pad and can leave the sanded surface dust free. Worth a try. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Hi Malcolm. Hope the video was of some help 😁. I haven't had a very very close look at the sensor. There is not much to see without disassembling it (dont think ill do that.... yet). The instructions that came with it were shorter than my address, so not much info there. I can only assume it is an optical sensor... but that would be a guess. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@jmpattillo]

Hi Frank, I just found your channel while doing some research on improving my shop air. I’m definitely going to get one of those meters. I have a dust collection system with a cyclone but it is home made and far from perfect. I was thinking of making a Corsi-Rosenthal type air cleaner and I want to see how well it works.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Hi John. Hope you like my channel so far 😁. A Corsi would be a great solution and this little meter would be perfect for monitoring how well it performs. Drop us another comment to let us know how you get on. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@carlos.galhano]

I don't have a window or a way out to the streat, can you tell me what kind of dust colector can i bought?

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😃 Hi Carlos. You have to be careful as there is a difference between "dust collection" and "air filtration". Dust collection is for collecting the much much larger sawdust or chippings directly from your woodworking machines, so for dust collection you need a shop vac or a chip extractor. However if you are looking at "air quality" you need air filtration which will remove the fine "airborn" particals. For this you will need a "two stage" filter like the Record Power AC400, or the Axminster AW15AFS. Or if you have a bigger budget then the Axminster AP25AFS. There are other cheaper brands but this type of two stage filter is what you will require to clean the air in your workshop. I hope that helps Carlos. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@WoodworkJourney]

Great video Frank, so now I want one of those 😂 Some close grain hardwoods I imagine would produce similar results to the MDF 😮

[@frankslittleworkshop]

🤔 That would be an interesting test to do as a comparison 🤔. I suspect the readings you would get would be simular but I think the MDF particles would be slightly more fibrous, so a bit more "nasty" in the world of particles Vs lungs. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Thanks for the link @woodwork jouney. I believe the MDF dust is much finer and also contains glue and other narsty stuff. Try to avoid the stuff, it could become the asbestos of this age.

[@ErrorAcquired]

Awesome video. How has the unit performed over the past year or so?

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Hi Deem, its still working great and I now rely on it more now I have my laser engraver. Its great and would still recommend it 100%. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@dovetailsnotnails8090]

Both interesting and quite scary Frank! Thanks for sharing. My method for emptying the workshop vac, is to remove filter very gently, place it into the rubbish bag and twist to seal, then shake it like a Maniac! Then I leave it several minutes before gently getting it out and tipping the rest of the container into the bag. Do you have a mitre saw? Would be interesting to see how badly they pollute the air as there is lots of visible dust. I’ve just done some mods to mine to improve it dramatically.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Hi Tim. I must admit I normally clean out the shop vac with a little more finess and normally with a bit more ventilation... but where is the fun in that 😂🤣. I was going to include my mitre saw in the tests but the video would have ended up being too long and nobody would watch it. My mitre is a massive offender, and as you say, by the time you have do 20 to 30 cuts in one session you end up with a massive amount of chippings and dust. Watched your video earlier and looks like your 50p hack could be worth a shot... just got to save up a bit more 🤣😂🤣. Thanks for watching Tim. Stay safe mate 😁👍

[@dovetailsnotnails8090]

@@frankslittleworkshop best you set up a just giving fundraiser for it! 😂

[@frankslittleworkshop]

@@dovetailsnotnails8090 😂🤣😂👍

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Excellent information thanks. I have the Record Power two stage air filter and it would be really useful to know how quickly it can bring the dust down to acceptable levels (currently I exit the workshop and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes when I "think" the dust levels are too high). Will definitely buy one when funds are available.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Its money well spent if you can get the funds together. I imagine the RP two stage filter should do a great job. I only have an old Red Scorpion fan (with a carbon filter fitted) and its great to see (in numbers) the air quality improving if you leave it running for a while. Hope you get one soon 😁. Drop another comment on here if you get one to let me know how you get on. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Will do thanks : ))

[@funkiEst]

Hi ! i've seen in some other videos this particular Temtop is a very well performing for its price device BUT highly probable to fail with time ! is yours still working properly after 2 years ? thank you !

[@frankslittleworkshop]

@funkiEst 😁 Hi funkiest, the quick answer to your question is "yes" it is still working perfectly 😁. I leave it on continually in the workshop so it is always displaying. I give it a clean regularly with a small soft brush or a gentle blow with air just to keep it dust free. It's still working great after all this time... hope that helps. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@funkiEst]

@@frankslittleworkshop It definitely helps ! that's great to know because the price difference is not small with its performance range competitors... i will seriously take in consideration ! i think it's comercialized under different chinese brands... i'm also considering the amazon one which is much more expensive actually but... maybe second hand... the main reason is the amazon can also detect CO and here wer are having a neighbour heating/combustion filtering serious problem... THANKS A LOT and keep that monitor alive ! haha

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

But does that sensor go up in value if you open solvents alcohols?

[@frankslittleworkshop]

🤔Hi Pqrst, I have never used it near solvent alcohols (I normally only use any solvents outside because my workshop is integral to my house). But I can only assume that if the solvent releases any particles in to the air then it will detect them. I just quickly tried an experiment and sprayed some CA glue accelerent near the sensor and it detected that with no problem 😁. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@xBLACKxOPSxSECRETSx2]

Is it normal pm1 reading is always lower than 2.5 and 10? I would think there's more small particles than large

[@frankslittleworkshop]

🤔 I'm not really surprised that the pm1 reading would be lower in my shop. I imagine if I were to use more arasol based propellants in the shop it would be higher. My shop has more of the slightly larger dust particles due to the type of work I do. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@jaimefaundez7204]

wow rescue the data of is pm monitor?

[@jbuitendam9236]

Ok

[@cportage556]

Let me be frank, Frank. This meter could not have been explained better than you have done here. Might I suggest you do an Amazon review, and post a link to your video. Your video answers many questions people have, and they get a bit of Frank-ertainment in the process. My son Dan,(step son David's camera man from Make Something), does his bit in a tiny little basement and even though he has built an extractor, you have me wondering. He has turned a lot of acrylic balls and such, and that can't be good for his air when sanding. Now on to the next video. Retirement has it's perks.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😃 Thanks again Chris for taking the time to watch my videos. I've just watched this one back again..... and even I learned a thing or two (yes the brain is the first to go 😆😆). Ill see if I can post a review on Amazon, but may be tricky as Mrs Little Workshop bought it for me 🤔. Ill see what I can do to add a link 😁👍. I didn't realise Dan was your boy (his camera work is excellent) 👍. We all know he must be the brains of the "make something" duo 😁. I've even herd David say that things always go wrong when Dan's not there and he is left to his own devices 😆😆😆. Thanks again for watching Chris, stay safe and happy Christmas 🎅👍

[@jafinch78]

Great video and presentation! I recently received and have been using. Prior I ordered a VT-6IN1 off Aliexpress that is mostly useless other than HCHO, TVOC's, CO and CO2. I am wondering about the ease of replacing the sensor with a PMS5003 or -ZHS-002- ZPH02 PM detector. Would be great if swapped and was plug and play, though I doubt that will be the situation. I did order two other items to compliment, a DeWalt 20V to 18V adapter off eBay "For Dewalt Battery Adapter DCA1820 18V/20V Li-ion Convert To Ni-Cad DC9096 Ni-MH" from "batterytool" store and a more versatile "DC 6V-40V To 5V 3A Double USB Charger DC-DC Step Down Power Converter USA Ship" from ks_cables_n_more. I use DeWalt batteries mainly, so went with that adapter to have. Next up will be some sort of packaging to make all neat. Thanks for sharing!

[@frankslittleworkshop]

😁 Thanks for the compliment 😁. Glad you liked the video. Hopefully it will help others keep there workshop air just that little bit cleaner 😁. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@jafinch78]

@@frankslittleworkshop Your welcome. I subscribed too. I should note, that VT-6IN1 is handy for chemical vapors and somewhat gas detection (seems to respond to farts as CO2) and I notice CO2 also tops out and CO increases dramatically when I use 90% IPA for cleaning and disinfecting items I'll bring home to restore with I guess reasonably related increasing values for TVOC and HCHO. Now, if only the price of PAPR's would go down to like free almost (or actually) for the masks here post COVID. plandemic. Seems a few PAPR's have dropped in price and thanks to Joshua De lisle making a design better suited to welding. Still... seems way high margin for the nicer design PAPR's and especially the ones useful for using when welding IMO. Excellent spirit, inspiration and demo!