QUOTE (Mike H. @ 7 Dec 2008, 03:24)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I presume this is a perennial question - how do others out there control the huge quantities of dust that any layout attracts? Is there a magic solution? Will I spend the rest of my life hoovering scenery?
*** Some practical solutions:
**Don't do carpentry and similar work in the layout room. Its inconveneint to cut elsewhere, but easier to live with dust wise. Clean up immeiadtely and mess is created, and vacuum track after cleaning. I have a lightweight shoulder-carry 700 watt hoover that was very cheap and is easy to use - Plus a set of nozzles usually sold fr cleaning computer keyboards etc... I use it for vacuuming around the layout and with a new filter installed, for removing excess ballast etc for recovery. A cheap and invaluable tool.
**Get some of those totally useless cheap plastic sheets sold in discount hardware stores as protection for the floor when painting - they are hopeless as floor protection as they wrap round the feet and tear easily, but very light so can cover the layout without scenery damage between sessions.
MOST helpful long term....
**Have positive air pressure in the layout room. A 12" fan on and blowing INTO the room constantly with a dust filter on the intake will keep the room pressure very slightly higher than the rest of the house so dust will not enter... If there is also a vent that is smaller than the fan opening it will not create an airflow pattern that encourages floating dust to exit rather than settle. Low in the doorway or low in a wall away from the layout would be a useful position....
**If positive pressure isn't an option, seal around doors and anywhere that dust can enter. Vacuum the room very regularly.
Richard