On their large Port Austin, Michigan, farm, one of the Murawskis performs maintenance almost every day in the shop. Often it’s at the 5×5-foot metalworking workspace where either the wire welder or the cutting torch is in action.
The area stays smoke-free, though, due to their ample ventilation.
“This is nice, especially when there is grease on the steel we are torching,” says Ken Murawski. “It sure works better than the 6-inch pipe and squirrel cage fan we had in our old shop. The walls stay much cleaner, too.”
Though a system like this could easily be installed in an existing shop, this design was planned before they built new. The builders left an opening for the 24-inch fan, skipped putting insulation there, and added a small exterior hood angled downward to keep the rain out.
Visitors often comment that they want to replicate the idea because of how smoky the air gets with inadequate ventilation.
20-Inch Pipe
Welding and torch fumes are funneled into a large-diameter metal pipe and pulled out by a 24-inch fan.
Low-Cost Hood
There are separate switches for the light and fan. One side shield swings open on a hinge to accommodate work on large items.
Ken Murawski
Farming in the thumb: The Murawski family grows corn, soybeans, wheat, and sugar beets in eastern Michigan. Ken works with brothers Larry, Walter, Joe, Augie, and their sons, Mark and Bradley, who are the fifth generation on this farm established in 1894.
Family: Ken and wife Donna have two children. Daughter Jessica is a college sophomore, and son Jason is a 7th grader.
Fun: Ken collects toy tractors.
Relaxation: He travels with Donna to Frankenmuth and Mackinaw City; both are towns in Michigan.
Email: [email protected]
