Welding Tips and Tricks

I'm helping outfit a new metal shop with an air filtration system. The wood shop next door has a Jet AFS-2000 ceiling mounted air filtration unit that we bought used, in addition to a full dust collection system throughout the shop. I see that the Jet warranty is void if these units are used anywhere besides a wood shop. Does anyone know why? If we buy another used Jet for the metal shop, we don't care about the warranty, but there must be some reason the unit isn't made to handle dust from welding and grinding. The reason for asking is that the air filter someone recommended for the metal shop, an AirFlow Systems F70R, is a lot more expensive.

I don't know the answer but i would guess
1. Metal is hot and wood is not, creating a fire hazard if it hits the cloth bag
2. Fumes from metal are more toxic and require different filtration
3. Regulations testing probably cost more. Lol

You could call the fume extraction companies for the answer.
Good question and im curious to know what others say.
Cheers

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its not just the filter. all the pipe work needs to be fire resistant.

I see no reason not to use the Jet if it has enough power to ensure a proper airflow for your needs. I would recommend putting some sort of fume extraction device in the suction side before it reaches the blower/motor. Woodworking and metal working have different issues. For welding the caustic fumes require a higher level of filtration to remove some of the nasty chemicals from the air. Woodworking just goes after the superfine particles. I would model your filtering device after many of the commercial fume extractors. I am getting ready to build one for my laser engraver and have the same issues. What you basically need is the following.

1. Prefilter
2. Hepa filter
3. carbon medial filter
4. Post filter

Just remember that those welding fumes are hard on the ole body.

Metal dust vapors from the welding process need different air velocity and also different filter media. The general wear on motors or any other mechanical parts from the harsher metal dust environment are also an issue.

Thanks for all the help. I'm talking a about a ceiling mounted system, so the temperature of the welding products is not an issue.