Dust boot was my first project on the cnc like most probably. Mine is made from less fancy materials .75" Russian birch. Few questions.
1.Do you know the specs on the bristles ? I used 3" .030" diameter and they are a tad stiff.
2. Do you like the Rockler pistol grip thing? Im assuming the curved claw attachment is a rockler item too? Im will check it out. Im looking to add something like that.
I run 2 lines. 1 line to the dust boot and one loose for general clean up on the table both are wide open all the time. My 3hp DC will get real hot if I restrict it. Currently I have a single 4" from the dust boot reduced down to a 6" but I have been thinking of doing a new twin 4" from the boot to just above the spindle then wye'd to a single 6" flex but thats means I would have to buy a 6" swivel and those things arnt cheap. The 4" ones comes in plastic version for 30 bucks or so but the 6" is only available in metal version and is more like $400.
I too have headroom issues and found the swivel helps and cuts down on the amount of flex needed. That stuff is a serious CFM killer. I try to minimize it as much as possible. I only have about 4' of it when stretched in the whole setub for a 4x8 router.
Im also thinking if the dust boot was on some small linear rails and a lead/ballscrew so you could turn a small hand crank to adjust the height of the dust boot independent of the spindle. I have some small slots where mine attaches that offers about an 1.5" of height adjustment which is typically enough but on the fly adjustments by turning a handle would be cool
One tip, is I would try and tie the boot back to the main Z carriage and not clamp to the actual spindle. It looks to have a considerable amount of weight cantilevered off to the side. If that decides to pop off mid cut things could get sketchy fast. Also minimize or eliminate the flex everywhere and avoid reducers especially in areas like from the blower to the baffle Thats a big choke point right out of the gate.
1.Do you know the specs on the bristles ? I used 3" .030" diameter and they are a tad stiff.
2. Do you like the Rockler pistol grip thing? Im assuming the curved claw attachment is a rockler item too? Im will check it out. Im looking to add something like that.
I run 2 lines. 1 line to the dust boot and one loose for general clean up on the table both are wide open all the time. My 3hp DC will get real hot if I restrict it. Currently I have a single 4" from the dust boot reduced down to a 6" but I have been thinking of doing a new twin 4" from the boot to just above the spindle then wye'd to a single 6" flex but thats means I would have to buy a 6" swivel and those things arnt cheap. The 4" ones comes in plastic version for 30 bucks or so but the 6" is only available in metal version and is more like $400.
I too have headroom issues and found the swivel helps and cuts down on the amount of flex needed. That stuff is a serious CFM killer. I try to minimize it as much as possible. I only have about 4' of it when stretched in the whole setub for a 4x8 router.
Im also thinking if the dust boot was on some small linear rails and a lead/ballscrew so you could turn a small hand crank to adjust the height of the dust boot independent of the spindle. I have some small slots where mine attaches that offers about an 1.5" of height adjustment which is typically enough but on the fly adjustments by turning a handle would be cool
One tip, is I would try and tie the boot back to the main Z carriage and not clamp to the actual spindle. It looks to have a considerable amount of weight cantilevered off to the side. If that decides to pop off mid cut things could get sketchy fast. Also minimize or eliminate the flex everywhere and avoid reducers especially in areas like from the blower to the baffle Thats a big choke point right out of the gate.