[ABear]

Hello to all, I need some input on getting my dust under control based on my circumstances. I have poked through the archives and read the Bill Pentz info. I do not want to spend a lot but have a reasonable budget (would like to stay in the $300 - $400 range).

I am an infrequent wood worker and have little room to spare in my shop (doubles as a garage most of the time). I primarily use a miter saw for various projects, router on occasion, table saw infrequently, hand sander on occasion, jig saw on occasion, might buy a bandsaw at some point. I might spend 3 or 4 days on a specific project and then not be in the shop working for several months.

Right now I have two Sop Vacs, an older 1.25 HP/7.2 Amp and a newer 3HP "peak" 7.6 Amp, the older one runs circles around the newer one.

I am thinking of either a Dust Deputy of some sort to use with the older shop vac or a 1 HP dedicated dust collector like the Shop Fox W1727, 800 CFM (supposedly) which I would move from machine to machine as needed. I could do a very short run of 4" piping close since it would be some kind of mobile setup.

I also thought about adding a hanging air cleaner at some point to supplement the dust collection. The garage has good ventilation by opening the main overhead door and side door, a solution that vents outside through the wall is not possible.

Any thoughts about my plan of action or advise would be great.

 

[Nickp]

I wouldn't do anymore than what you're planning...put a dust deputy in front of the shop and call it a day. Since you plan on making the DC mobile, make a stand with wheels for the Dust Deputy and ShopVac and that will make it easy to stay mobile.

The air cleaner in the ceiling is a good idea also...

 

[Stick486]

i wouldn't do anymore than what you're planning...put a dust deputy in front of the shop and call it a day. Since you plan on making the dc mobile, make a stand with wheels for the dust deputy and shopvac and that will make it easy to stay mobile.

The air cleaner in the ceiling is a good idea also...

agreed!!!!

 

[Stick486]

DUST COLLECTION​

There is some, okay, a lot of information, because one size does not fit all when it comes to dust collection and your health in this here link...

 

[ABear]

Thanks to all for the input.

 

[Chris Itin]

I wouldn't do anymore than what you're planning...put a dust deputy in front of the shop and call it a day. Since you plan on making the DC mobile, make a stand with wheels for the Dust Deputy and ShopVac and that will make it easy to stay mobile.

This is what I am using and it works very well.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Robert what the dust deputy does is give your filter less work to do. The filter at the end of the line is what determines what escapes back into the atmosphere. A device like the Dust Deputy will help drop more of the dust out of the air stream before it gets there. There are some choices with some models as to how fine that filtration is. If you've read Pentz' work then you know that that is .3 micron if you want to be safe. If you filter as fine as .3 micron then something like a Dust Deputy is a necessity because the finer the filter media, the faster it plugs up.

You can do a pretty good job of collecting dust from a router with a fence mounted vac hose. Jig saws produce mostly coarse dust and also don't throw it like a miter saw will. Sanders produce fine dust but all of them these days have a connection for a small vac hose and that should capture most or all of what they produce. I took my bandsaw and cut a hole in the bottom wheel cover and attached a 4" port for my DC system. It catches what appears to be nothing. I believe that for a dust pickup to be effective on a bandsaw it needs to be just under the table and catch it before it gets a chance to spread out past the point where the DC is capable of pulling it in.

That leaves the worst offender which is a miter saw. For it you need to install a shroud behind it and since you have two vacs I would be inclined to use both, particularly if it's possible to hook one directly to the saw since some do have a port for connecting to a DC. The shroud could be cloth or plastic attached to a skeleton frame or you could make one out of thin ply and tapering down to the size of the hose. That should catch the majority of what it is producing since the blade is tossing all the debris in that direction.

A table saw is a special case and they are as bad as chop saws for creating dust. Many have dust collection in the cabinets under the table but just as much dust is created by the blade above the table and you need a pickup above the table to catch it. I've been mulling that problem over for several years trying to figure out how to make something that will be effective without being in the way for things like making tenons or cutting thin strips. I haven't come up with a solution for that one yet.

 

[Barry747]

As others have said, a cyclone in front of the shop vac with everything on wheels works well. I have a garage shop and that's my setup along with a WEN 3410 3-Speed Remote-Controlled Air Filtration System hanging from the ceiling. I also run the WEN for a couple of hours after I leave the shop and the air is pretty clean the next time I go in. For the last line of defense, always wear a N95 dust mask when sawing or sanding to catch the very fine dust that gets through the other filters. The problem now is finding them.

 

[Nickp]

I wouldn't do anymore than what you're planning...put a dust deputy in front of the shop and call it a day. Since you plan on making the DC mobile, make a stand with wheels for the Dust Deputy and ShopVac and that will make it easy to stay mobile.

This is what I am using and it works very well.

There ya go, Chris...if it ain't broke, don't fix it til it is...

 

[DesertRatTom]

For your use, your big shop vac, a dust deputy on a bucket and 2.5 inch tubing is a workable solution, and not very expensive. Here is a pix of that setup, but I'd mount it on a cart. I also attached a picture of the WEN hanging filter, which is identical to the power and filters used in the far more expensive JET. Cost should be less than $140 or so for all the parts. Make sure you use Y shaped connecters, right angle connectors reduce the air flow.

I have settled in on the Harbor Freight DC unit, which you often find on sale for less than $180. But you will need to add a chip collector, 4 inch hose, connectors . It comes with a mediocre cloth collection bag, but it is OK if you roll it outside .

But again, I doubt you need more that what's in the pictures.

 

[DesertRatTom]

For the table saw, you can buy an overhead dc boot that hovers over the blade, but you'll have to work out how to mount it. Maybe use Ubolts to attach the up tube to ply anchored to the saw somehow? I have one still sitting in the box, just can't seem to get motivated to attach the up tube.

Pix attached. I bought a Shark Guard that fits on the splitter slot, with 2.5 inch hose going to the DC intake, but I find it awkward to use on some rip cuts.

 

[ABear]

Thanks to all for the added information and comments. The miter saw I currently use (Hitachi) does have a 2.25" dust port/bag so I could easily hook it up to some form of a vac. I thought about using some kind of a dust hood with it too. Yes, it generates a ton of dust and I used it several times today.

I missed a couple tools on my original "list"; I have a track saw and a drill press, easy to miss things when you are thinking, "what's in the shop". The track saw has a dust port.

The plan for now is to follow the recommendations and do some kind of a dust deputy setup on a mobile cart with the hanging air filter soon to be added. While I was doing my research; the attached picture caught my eye for a dust collection option without using floor space so I am adding the photo to my response.

 

[Nickp]

Thanks to all for the added information and comments. The miter saw I currently use (Hitachi) does have a 2.25" dust port/bag so I could easily hook it up to some form of a vac. I thought about using some kind of a dust hood with it too. Yes, it generates a ton of dust and I used it several times today.

I missed a couple tools on my original "list"; I have a track saw and a drill press, easy to miss things when you are thinking, "what's in the shop". The track saw has a dust port.

The plan for now is to follow the recommendations and do some kind of a dust deputy setup on a mobile cart with the hanging air filter soon to be added. While I was doing my research; the attached picture caught my eye for a dust collection option without using floor space so I am adding the photo to my response.

Robert...be careful considering bag units. They really don't filter well and will blow fine dust all over the place. And when you need to empty the bag it will cover you in dust...

 

[DesertRatTom]

Robert...be careful considering bag units. They really don't filter well and will blow fine dust all over the place. And when you need to empty the bag it will cover you in dust...

Which is why I suggested it be pushed outside.

 

[RiovistaAndy]

I built a small DC system for my small shop that did not break the bank. I sized it based on my relatively small equipment sizes.
I started with a large used Ridged shop vac and a Dustopper from HD. This provides plenty of air flow and a modicome of vacuum. I used 2" pvc pipe for the duct runs and rubber sewer adapters like elbows and drop-in, they are well swept so as not to restrict airflow as PVC fitting would. Definitely not on par with the much larger units that are used in commercial shops. But it sure works for me.

 

[Herb Stoops]

That is a good start.
Herb

 

[ABear]

Thanks again for all the input.

 

[DesertRatTom]

Forgot to post the over blade DC device. Mine cost about $130 or so, but is still not mounted. It is important that it has an easy way to push it out of the way.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Robert the most efficient dust collection will happen as close as possible to the source so using the dust ports on those tools is your best plan of attack especially for the portable ones. The bag units are basically dust redistributors and not dust collectors unless you spend a bunch of money on replacing the top bag with a cartridge filter. All they do is catch the large particles. The fine dust goes right through them. I know this because that's what mine does and Tom's suggestion to wheel it outside doesn't work for all of us. It's too cold in the winter to do that here. I would definitely have no faith in the small single bag ones to work.

A drill press doesn't make much fine dust but if you want DC at it then maybe this Lee Valley magnetic dust chute is your answer. It might be for a band saw too if you can find or make a mounting spot for it. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...accessories/30041-veritas-magnetic-dust-chute

 

[Nickp]

Which is why I suggested it be pushed outside.

Doesn't really work, Tom...snow, heat, cold, rain, wind, ice on the driveway, longer hoses, extension cord, etc...

Besides, the fine dust gets all over the place (driveway, lawn, cars, neighbors, etc) and then gets tracked into the house.

Bought one a long time ago and now I use it to blow off the driveway...the bag made good compost...