Wale Tale review

Roger Bisby takes a look at the Wale Tale (sic), a device designed to minimise the spread of dust when mixing construction powders.

Dust and the related health issues are a ticking time bomb in the building industry. Everyone knows about asbestos and most intelligent people do everything they can to avoid exposure to it but dust doesn’t begin and end with asbestos. The minerals used in concrete and any number of cement based products can do a huge amount of damage down the line. This could be anything from asthma to cancer and of course silicosis. There are many things we can do to cut down on the amount of dust be breathe in, I don’t believe it can be eliminated completely because you have to work but if you cut it down to a level where your body can deal with it you might just avoid spending your retirement coughing your lungs up.

Mixing powders such as plaster, and adhesives can create a surprising amount of dust. You only become aware of it if you shine a bright light through the air and then you see the true extent of the air polution.

Mixing powders such as plaster, and adhesives can create a surprising amount of dust. You only become aware of it if you shine a bright light through the air and then you see the true extent of the air polution.

The Wale Tale is a simple device that goes onto any dust extractor to suck dust from around the rim of the mixing bucket. It fits some vessels better than others but it is possible to adapt it slightly with a couple of wire hooks if you find it isn’t staying in position.

Once the powder is damp and the mixing is under way you are better off removing the Wale Tale to stop it becoming clogged but during that initial stage when the powder goes in it is well worth using. Not only will it save your lungs it will also cut down on the amount of dust escaping into the building. If you are working in an occupied building the occupants might also thank you but then again they probably won’t. People seem very quick to complain about the amount of dust you make but are slow to mention your efforts to avoid it.