Filtering slurry from wet and dry sanding

Gentlemen,

Given that my workspace is quite small, I frequently use wet & dry sandpaper for surface preparation instead of dry or machine sanding.

Obviously wet & dry generates slurry.

I am seeking recommendations for filtering the slurry to remove the waste material. No paper I have used has been satisfactory, kitchen towels etc. just left most of the product flow through with the water. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you

 

What is the point of filtering the wet sanding run off? Are you reusing it?

 

Reply to PAR

PAR,

Thank you for your interest.

I want to avoid attracting attention from the environmental/water authorities. Although cured paint is effectively inert but the colour alone would be enough to attract there attention in this part of the world.

They could; technically, say that my hobby was an "industrial process" and could only be carried out in an industrial area, with industrial quality filtering. I would have to contest the argument through the courts, if I thought I could afford it.

Unlikely, if I don't disturb the neighbours (noise or smells) or fill the drain with something colourful.

 

You mean the storm water drainage, or the sewerage ? Obviously you don't want to be hosing red paint residue out into the gutter, someone might call the Homicide Squad !

 

WD,
better get a scheme going for your shower & laundry after work too

A couple of guys doing gelcoat repairs/wetsanding inwater down at the marina in plain sight might have copped some attention....
but if your just doing your own thing in the privacy of your home..
Maybe you "could" get one of those blue tubs to use as a settling tank, the particulates seem to settle in a bucket over a couple of days.

Jeff.

 

Mr. Efficiency - The answer is discharge into sewerage - stormwater goes to Parramatta River - if it got there, I would certainly hear about it.

Jeff - That sounds like an interesting possibility

Thanks to both of you for your input.

WD

 

Particulates will settle, though spinning them, so that centrifugal force can move them to a more convenient spot could work (think of a vortex style dust collection system, just using water.

This seems like a lot of trouble, for something as easily hidden as a weeping hose, lead under your front lawn a few yards.

 

Dump it into a container an let it settle. The clear water will be on top, which makes it easy to drain.

 

what he said.

We wet sand loads. We wash down as we go with sponge. The crap that goes back in to bucket will be pretty settled overnight. If left over a weekend it is a hamburger on the bottom pretty much.

Most of the particles will be small. We are talking about 50-100micron range. Smaller possibly depending on what you are sanding and what paper. So you need pretty fine filter material. Your girlfriends finest stocking may do the trick. This is no joke. You can look up denier/micron comparison but it all depends on quality of stockings.

 

Gentlemen, Thank you.

I had tried allowing the slurry to stand for 24 hours. I will try longer and syphon the clear water from the top. At least we have good conditions to dry the residue before disposing of it.

Thank you, all for your advice.

WD

 

Consult your local screen printer. They use fabrics with varying mesh counts, some as fine as 520 meshes per inch. I suspect that the most frequently used fabric, 230, will filter the slurry very well. Screen fabric is pricey but printers often have scraps that you can get for nothing. You almost surely have Aussie firms whose business is to make pre-stretched frames. That means that the fabric is stretched and adhered onto a substantial square or rectangular frame. A perfect accessory for the top of a vessel of some kind. Cost will be nominal.

I have used this kind of fabric for filtering paints for many years.

 

1st suggestion I have is flush it down the dunny.

2nd wet and dry shouldn't have too much water and the slurry should be fairly thick. Put it in a container with some rice, the rice will soak up the water leaving you with pile of damp coloured rice. Put it in a plastic shopping bag and dispose of it in your council bin.

Poida