It depends on what you mean by toxic. The air filter is going to remove most of the particulates and the activated charcoal filter will remove many other things. If it is safe to laser the air coming out of the filter is safe. If it is not safe to laser, then maybe, maybe not.
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I just borrowed the word “toxic” from a thread that were discussing about laser cutting chromed tanned leather. they mentioned something about when you laser cut chrome tanned leather that it produced “toxic” elements. I guess my understanding of the word toxic would be anything that is unhealthy.
So, based on your reply, I will always remember,
Thank you, @caribis2!
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The chrome leather discussion was probably referring to hexavalent chromium. It’s released when you laser most chrome tanned leather. It’s also a hazardous element released in some forms of welding. According to OSHA the 8hr exposure limit for it, as I calculated it using worst case values for the variables, is a lot higher than you could reasonably release using a laser cutter. That said, I’d vent chrome tanned leather to the outside too.
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Regardless of what it might or might not be capable of, they’re not warranting the air filter to remove chromium, chlorine gas, cyanide, formaldehyde, etc. It’s intended for use with supported materials and to get rid of the smoke, particulates, and odor from cutting them. Maybe by chance it can filter out plutonium too, but I wouldn’t test it on myself.
It’s kind of like buying a tap water filter. It’ll make your water taste better, but it’s not rated for making raw sewage potable. You have to go to a whole different department for that.
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Quickly fills mouth with Purell 
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Yeah, it’s another of the laser myths. You can laser chrome tanned leather with a CO2 laser without releasing volatile compounds that will eat your machine. You don’t want to breathe tons of it but venting is fine. (I don’t like breathing veggie tanned leather getting lasered - it’s like burning people.)
But it just doesn’t laser as well as veggie (or brain) tanned leather because of its relatively harder surface and the way the skin changes characteristics with chrome tanning.
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Then turn down the heat so it smells like roasting pork.
That’s what I’ve heard.
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Ah, humans, the other white meat. (I believe that was the Donner Party’s motto 
)
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Any recommendations for the best way to dispose of the cartridges? They’re currently piled up in my office since I’m reluctant to just toss them in the trash.
They are not recyclable.
Per the manual - “Dispose of the used filter cartridge in the garbage.”
I know they aren’t recyclable, just didn’t know if there were any additional considerations to take into account with their disposal (e.g. environmental impact, hazmat, etc.)
Think of it this way: if it’s ok to vent stuff out into the air, then it’s probably ok to gather it all up in one small package and bury it in a landfill.
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Hey @dan I’ve had “February 07, 2020” as my air filter delivery date for a while now and I’ve had no comms from your team that it’s actually on it’s way. Any way I can find out what’s happening there?
Also when I paid import duty for the original Glowforge order it looks like that fee also included the Airfilter. I’m a tad concerned that I’m going to be paying duty twice.
No one from GF support will see your post here, so unless you’ve already posted in the problems and support category, sent them an email, or used the chat feature about this, one of those options would be your best chance of getting an answer. Best of luck.
They should send you an email when your filter is ready to ship. You then have to confirm you still want the air filter before they will ship. If it is not in your spam folder, email support@glowforge.com directly.
No idea what Australian customs is like, but the Canadians just had to show their paperwork that they had already paid duties. I would hope it is just a matter of collecting all the correct paperwork.
Email them or post on the problems board. Doing both will create two tickets. We had to contact them.
Purchased the gloforge in 2016 with the filter. Fast forward to 2020 and many excuses later, and still no filter. Latest update on my account stated shipping in January 2020. Nothing. Patience is running thin.
Glowforge Filters have been shipping for quite some time (and the Compact Filter substitute for even longer). You might want to email support directly.
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I don’t have a filter, but a popular YouTube channel released a video about how he has never replaced HEPA cartridges in his room filter.
Airborne dust and such is not the same as vaporized wood and acrylic, so I doubt this would be as effective, but as you have to throw the old expensive cartridge away, someone might want to try it and report their results?
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I know that there are washable air filters for cars. Maybe the same process that is used for those would work. I think they use a special detergent.