Abstract
An auxiliary ventilation system has been developed to reduce the wood dust emission from horizontal belt sanders. This system consists of two devices: a hood and a jet stripper. The hood is a narrow low-volume, high-velocity slot hood located between a belt surface and a worktable; the push device is a jet stripper located inside a driven pulley hood opposite the operator site. In combination with a standard sander hood, both devices significantly reduced the wood dust emission into the workroom. Laboratory data were confirmed by field tests conducted at an oscillating edge belt sander at a wood furniture manufacturing plant. These devices work independently of each other and do not interfere with the operator's sanding activity. They do not require special maintenance and are economically feasible.