Book Dust Filtration

I had no idea where to post this, but I thought the tea room sounded about right.

Over the last few years I've been digitising my book collection. For those interested here is a post that covers roughly how I do it.

In short, I chop off the spines with a guillotine and scan the pages through a document scanner with a hopper (in chunks of about 50 pages).

To my amusement I reached 2017 books a couple of days ago and took a pause before addressing the next 2000 (I reckon I started off with around 7000, but many have been lost to water damage or rot, moving challenges and I'm discarding about one in three as likely I will never read them. If anyone near Harrogate wants a box of mixed SF and Thrillers, IM me).

One of my reasons for scanning them and my current dilemma is that the books, being generally old and somewhat mildewed have an unfortunate effect on my allergies. I wheeze, I sneeze and my eyes turn a nasty red.

I've set up a case for the scanner with a PC fan and duct to take it to the adjacent storeroom, where there is an extractor fan. This is generally good, but the ducting is somewhat fragile and I don't much like the dust going through the storeroom which is also where this PC sits.

When I guillotine, I also need to riffle through the book. At the start to count the pages (so my software can check it's not missed any) and at the end to make sure no pages are stuck together.

Finally, the question! What I'd like to do is to replace the duct from the scanner box with a filter. I'm not sure if the fan airflow will be enough. I'd also like to make a hood of some kind for the guillotine station - with an extractor fan and a filter.

After a bit of web research, I'm confused. Will a vacuum cleaner filter be enough? will the force of a PC fan be enough (I have a few pumps for inflating airbeds, which may have a higher airflow, but are terribly noisy.

I've seen mixed reviews of cyclone filters. I suspect big industrial ones do something useful and cheap domestic ones are not very good - especially for light dust as from books.

I've seen air filters for air purifiers and some bloke on the internet who recommends stockings (Well I like them too - I mean to watch, not to wear! - but for air filters?).

I have every expectation that there are quite a few of you with expertise in this area (and even more with strong opinions!). All input is welcome!

Thanks

Iain

I don't envy your task. When I moved house 10 years ago I gave around 600 books to a local hospice shop as they would never be read again. I still have a similar quantity mainly in storage wrapped in industrial cling film to prevent the mice nibbling them. With so many I may just as well give them away, I won't live long enough to read them again and keep up with other things.

why not just wear a dust mask such as: **LINK**

Thanks Judy.

I'd need a dust mask which also provided googles and the room (my office) would become rather dusty so I could never take it off!

I generally do the scanning part whilst doing other clerical work and don't fancy it with a face mask.

Might not be a bad idea for the guillotining part - at least until I find something more comfortable. The one I bought recently kind of works with my glasses though it's still a bit awkward

I love reading and am in the process of building fitted bookshelves into my study to allow my book collection to grow. I have everything from the great English classics to engineering titles and medical journals. I just don't enjoy reading on an e-reader

For what it,s worth,

I,ve been reading books for as long as I can remember and I dont want to stop now. I love the feel of books,the smell of books,even if not always the contents. Just to handle them,browse through them [even put up with the dust ]

I too lost a lot of my stock due to house moves and damp and mice ! Like others I have a wide range and when it comes to having a clearing out,the problem is,which ones should I get rid of? So the result is,they all go back on the shelves and I just make more shelves ! Problem solved ! At least for now.

I have no time for these E readers,it,s just not the same.