Woodworking is a hobby for many people. People living in an apartment have limited space, creates difficulty for the tenant to practice their hobby.
But you don’t have to give up your cherished hobby. There are many ways in which you can practice woodworking while living in an apartment.
In this blog post, you will learn some tips on how to do woodworking in an apartment.
You will also learn about ways to keep the indoor area clear of wood chips and other debris after working on your woodworking project.
Creating a Wood Working Set Up Inside the Apartment
The perception that you need a lawn or a garden for a woodworking project is wrong.
You can create a wood workshop if you have suitable space inside the apartment.
Here are some tips for setting up a wood workshop inside the apartment.
Determine a Suitable Spot
You should designate a room inside the apartment where you can carry out a woodworking project.
You should consider selecting a place that is in the middle of your apartment, away from walls that you share with your neighbors.
You should select a space where you can safely store all your tools. There should also be sufficient space for the workbench where you can work on the woodworking project.
The ideal space of the wood shop is 125 square feet. The space will allow you to place storage cabinets, the workbench and also have room for storing the lumbar.
Work on Small Wood Projects
Due to limited space, you must work on small woodworking projects.
There are many small wood projects that can keep you engaged for hours. Examples of small woodworking projects include stools, chairs, baby cribs, bookcases, vases, and candleholders.
You can easily sell small wood products online to make a decent income. There is a great demand for decorative wood pieces.
Buy the Right Tools
You must use hand tools in a woodworking space inside the apartment.
Portable tools are quieter, and won’t disturb the neighbors when you work on your wood projects.
Electric operated tools create a lot of noise, which will definitely disturb the neighbors.
Here is a list of tools that you can buy for your apartment woodworking projects.
- Portable Table Saws – Portable saws are great if you have limited space. You should buy one with a 10-inch band saw. A large saw with over 14-inch blades is impractical for a small space. A small table saw can fit in most apartments.
- Miter Saws – A miter saw is another important tool for woodworking projects. The tool is used for making straight cuts and cross-cutting. Consider buying small miter saws with a 10 to the 12-inch blade.
- Circular Saws – Circular saws can also be used in a small woodshop in an apartment. You can use the tool to cut particleboard, plywood, and drywall. The tool can also be used to work on trims and MDF.
- Track saws – Track saws can be used for small woodworking projects. The tool is used to make accurate and straight cuts.
- Jigsaw – Jigsaw is an essential woodworking tool that you can use to cut wood. The tool can be used for cutting curves in any shape. It is also used for cutting stencils on wood. The small size of the tool makes it ideal for any DIY woodworking project in a small space.
Other important tools that you should buy for your woodshop in an apartment include cordless drills, rotary tools, a portable workbench, and oscillating tools.
Place Laminate Sheets on Floor
You should cover the floor by placing laminate sheets. This will protect the floor when you work on wood working project involving aluminum or metal.
The small metal shavings can damage the floor if you don’t cover the flooring appropriately.
Soundproof the Room
If you want to use noisy power tools, you should consider soundproofing the area. You can use soundproof blankets and foam on the door and windows to soundproof the room.
For soundproofing the window, you should buy thick curtains. There are also soundproof drapes that will block noise from traveling outside the rooms.
An inexpensive way to soundproof the room is by using book cases filled with old books and magazines.
You should align the book cases along the walls to make them sound proof.
Deal with Wood Dust
Wood dust is a collection of small wood particles that become airborne. Dust can accumulate inside the apartment, including carpets, tiles, drapes, and bedding.
Our nose and mouth trap large wood dust particles as we breathe. Minute wood dust particles can create adverse health effects.
Ultrafine wood dust particles are not easily visible. They are not trapped by the body and can penetrate the lungs and get absorbed into the bloodstream.
Inhalation of small wood dust particles can have various health effects, such as:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Eye irritation
- Asthma attacks
People who have respiratory problems can experience serious adverse health effects.
Wood dust particles can mimic the symptoms of respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), asthma, and emphysema.
Breathing large amounts of wood particles over a long period can also damage the lung function.
This may result in lung disorders such as chronic bronchitis and breathing difficulty problems. People who are at a high risk of developing lung disorder include:
- Babies
- Elderly individuals
- People with heart problems
- People with respiratory issues
- Smokers
If you experience hay fever or shortness of breath and the symptoms persist, you should discuss your condition with your doctor.
Tips to Keep the Apartment Free of Wood Dust
You can take various measures to prevent inhalation of wood dust.
Here are some of the common ways you can ensure that your apartment remains wood dust-free.
Vacuum Regularly
Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove wood dust from the apartment.
Dust everything before vacuuming in order to make sure all of the dust is resting on the floor and is not collecting in a certain area.
When vacuuming, you should work from top to bottom. Cleaning in this way will result in all the wood dust on the floor to be picked up rather than linger around.
Use Microfiber Cloths
Be careful when dusting the room. Airborne wood dust can trigger allergies. You can make the symptoms worse by kicking debris and wood dust in the air when cleaning the room.
To prevent wood dust from getting airborne, you should use a wet microfiber cloth when cleaning wood dusty surfaces.
Use a damp cloth when cleaning the blades of the fans. This will ensure that you don’t experience a bout of sneezing or other allergic reactions when cleaning.
You must use microfiber cloths instead of rags or feather wood duster to remove wood dust. Feather dusters push the dust around.
In contrast, microfiber cloths pick up the dust since they are made of tiny wedges. Moreover, using a microfiber cloth will result in less residue and marks as compared to using a duster.
Clean Drapes Regularly
Clean the drapes regularly to minimize exposure to wood dust inside the apartment. Drapes are usually neglected, but they contribute to wood dust exposure.
Consider vacuuming the drapes every week. Also, clean the drapes once every four to six months to remove lingering wood dust.
Using blinds is recommended instead of drapes. While blinds also attract wood dust at the same rate as drapes, they are comparatively easier to clean and vacuum.
Buy an Air Purifier
An air purifier will help remove most of the wood dust from the apartment.
Buy an air purifier with a HEPA grade filter. HEPA filters can catch wood dust particles that are between 2.5 and 10 microns.
The filters can block about 99.7 percent of wood dust particles that are larger than 0.3 microns.
You can find air purifiers with different features. The best air purifiers have an EPA Energy star rating.
Some devices have Wi-Fi features that you can control using your smartphone. Other things to look for in an air purifier include variable fan speed and an indicator for a filter change.
Read reviews before buying an air purifier. Make sure that the filter is genuine and not a cheap imitation. Most cheap air purifiers, mainly from China, have an imitation HEPA filter that doesn’t filter out small wood dust particles.
You can figure out whether the air purifier has a genuine air filter by reviewing comments left by customers online.
Conclusion
Woodworking is a delightful hobby for many people. You should not let limited space in the apartment restrict you from indulging in your hobby.
Just make sure that you meet the local laws regarding noise inside the apartment.
Also, remember that wood dust apartment can trigger an allergic reaction. It can also worsen the symptoms of breathing disorders such as asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis.
Keeping your apartment dust-free is not that difficult.
The tips mentioned in this blog post will help you ensure that your apartment remains free of wood dust, thereby improving indoor air quality.
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