[Artemix]

So, it's time to take care of all that dust making my *I wont say where I put the saw" uninhabitable.

My saw (DW745) has a little tube that I supposed is used to put there a hose from a vacuum.. but, since I'm totally new to this, I'd like to know if is only that or there is something else I should consider before doing that.

I googled a bit and there are some complex thingies called cyclone, and some woodworkers have also big-flashy-expensive setups to collect dust... wont work for me.

Any help is appreciated!.

 

[gsxrdemo]

Do you just have a shop vac for dust collection?

 

[Artemix]

No, I didn't buy anything yet, I try to understand what to buy first .

 

[PAD3]

Try a Dust Deputy, inexpensive, really, and works well.

 

[richjh]

My shop is my garage so space was a primary consideration. I purchased the Dust Right components from Rockler, a 15 gallon fiber drum from Amazon and used a 1 HP dust collector from Harbor Freight to build a self contained unit that I store under the table saw wing when not in use. I have since built a roll around dolly for it using the wheels that came with the HF dust collector. It works pretty well.

Rockler recommends a larger drum size than I chose so I get more dust in the Harbor Freight collection bag than I would like but it still captures the majority of dust in the drum. I chose to mount the dust collection unit on the drum but it could be kept separate or you can use a shop vac to drive it. The setup in the picture is for my router. I have a 4" collector port on the TS so I have a 4" hose setup for that.

 

[Artemix]

Would be there any problem to just connect the hose of the vacuum to the dust pipe of the saw?.

@rich nice setup!, no idea what to buy to make one of those though.

 

[Dr Neon]

Rockler also has a number of various sized adapter, reduction, etc. goodies. Research 'blast gates', also a Rockler item. You can keep everything hooked up, and only open the blast gate for the tool you are using. Air velocity is what carries the particles, not volume. That drum you have can be configured to act as a cyclone trap. Keeps most of the draw in there, so your fine filters don't clog up so often.

 

[DaninVan]

Buenos Aires must have some fairly well stocked equipment suppliers, so what's available in the way of dust collectors there?
It doesn't really help you if we suggest specific US/Canadian made products if you can't get your hands on them(?).
When we speak about dust collectors this is the type of thing we're talking about...
Dust Collectors : KMS Tools & Equipment from Vancouver BC, Largest selection of tools in Canada
When they refer to 'Dust Deputy, or cyclones, they're really just an accessory to do a better job of controlling the finer particles (not putting them back into the air you're breathing).
This is one of the classic homebuilds...
J. Phil Thien's Cyclone Separator Lid w/ the Thien Cyclone Separator Baffle

 

[Artemix]

Now I'm beginning to understand what a dust collector is, it has nothing to do with a shop vac , they are on another level. Money wise too!.

So, there is little I can do with a shop vac right?, any other alternatives?, the MDF is killing me when I use the table saw, I have to find a way to remove the most I can at least.

 

[MT Stringer]

Now I'm beggining to understand what a dust collector is, it has nothing to do with a shop vac , they are on another level. Money wise too!.

So, there is little I can do with a shop vac right?, any other alternatives?, the MDF is killing me when I use the table saw, I have to find a way to remove the most I can at least.

I am not familiar with your saw. Does it have a contained lower part where the dust piles up, or does it simply fall to the floor?

A table saw doesn't usually produce a lot of dust unless a dado blade is being used. The big dust makers are the planers, joiners and drum sanders.

I have two different dust collection set ups in my one car garage!
1) Shop vac connected to a Dust Deputy. The majority of dust or shavings drop out into the bucket the DD is mounted on. The filter inside the shop vac rarely gets filled or plugged. The cyclonic action simply makes the heavier than air particles drop out of the stream.

2) I have a 2 horsepower Harbor Freight dust collector with a drum upstream of it with the Thien separator inside of it. Same principle, the drop out and only the fine stuff make it through the blower into the filter. The filter is made by Wynn Environmental and is a .5 something or other, which means it filters the air the best possible.

I made the Thien separator from mdf and a pair of Rockler connectors.

I have the HF dust collector connected to a manifold with a pair of blast gates. One is connected to my table saw. The other blast gate allows me to hook up a 4 inch hose to the planer, sander or the joiner.

The shop vac also has a couple of smaller blast gates. One is connected to the dust port on the miter saw. The other gate is available so I can connect a hose to the router table fence dust port or to the random orbital sander or the pocket hole jig.

Here are a few pictures for you to look at.

Mike

 

[Artemix]

Stringer, my saw has something like this in the dust exit:

The dust does not fall in the floor, but it is contained inside. When that thing gets filled with dust, the air generated by the blade rotating throws dust to my face , sounds funny but it's not .

I just saw an article about how a cyclone is and the concept behind it, interesting, and it's homemade-able, which is cool.

But, I got a doubt, how powerful my shop vac has to be in order to actually extract dust?, because after I finish cutting MDF it's a mess..

(Also maybe my blade has a little wobble and it has a broad kerf, that probably doesn't help either)

 

[MT Stringer]

Hopefully, someone with your saw will post up their thoughts. I say some dust collection is better that no dust collection.

In the mean time, rig up a fan to help filter the air you are breathing. Just a simple 20 x 20 inch fan with an air conditioner filter fitted over the inlet side. You will be surprised at the dust that will collect on the filter.

 

[Stick486]

So, it's time to take care of all that dust making my *I wont say where I put the saw" uninhabitable.

My saw (DW745) has a little tube that I supposed is used to put there a hose from a vacuum.. but, since I'm totally new to this, I'd like to know if is only that or there is something else I should consider before doing that.

I googled a bit and there are some complex thingies called cyclone, and some woodworkers have also big-flashy-expensive setups to collect dust... wont work for me.

Any help is appreciated!.

these are examples.. these method of hook up seems to work the best...
BTDT w/ the vac.. just too much BS to put up w/...

so hook the 2.5 port to the the Wye.... don't use a T, use a Wye..

stick one these under the saw and hook that to the Wye..

hook the Wye to the at least a 600CFM, 1.5HP DC w/ 2 micron or finer filtration...

Done!!!

 

[jw2170]

dw 745...

I believe this is that saw that N/a is talking about:

Dewalt 10" Compact Jobsite Table SAW DW745 NEW | eBay

For many years I used an old Hitachi small home vacuum cleaner as my main source of dust collection passing through a Triton Dust collection bucket. I still use this system for general dust collection in the 'shed'.

Triton Tools | Saw Table | DCA300 | Dust Collection Bucket 20Ltr

IMHO, a home vac running through a Thien dust cyclone should handle the dust from a saw such as this. The thein can be home made. The only proviso is that the vac should not be run continuously for any length of time. [make sure you unwind the internal cord when in use].

Thien Cyclone Separator - small cheap easy version - DIY - baffle top hat dust-separation work-shop - YouTube

I only had to upgrade when I purchased a jointer and thickness planer.

If you run vac without a separator system, the vac will clog up very quickly.

 

[MAFoElffen]

Would be there any problem to just connect the hose of the vacuum to the dust pipe of the saw?.

No and yes.

Hooking your saw to Just a shop vac is better than to nothing at all in that it will collect sawdust. But being a shop vac, they end up in blowing fines all over your shop. (unless you add a pleated or drywall filter. The end effect may be better or worse. So then something better may be needed.

A separator is most useful to separate pieces before an impeller, likr how it is in a DC. Used with a shop vac, it separates more of the fines and can expand the capacity of the collection before you have to empty it.

You could certainly build one, but somethings, it's easier or cheaper just to buy something already finished and working. (Especially if you don't know how they work or how to build one.) A percentage of people want to spent project time on actual projects.

 

[Artemix]

Ok, so now I'm beginning to understand things a little bit better, I need a separator (cyclone or thien) to avoid my shop vac to get instantly filled with saw dust, makes sense.

Now, about the fine dust (MDF produces a very fine dust that clouds the air) and the potency of the shop vac, what are my options?, how can I make my vac to suck almost everything?.

 

[jdonhowe]

As you've already mentioned, there's a big difference (including price) between a shop vac and a dust collector. As your shop grows, you should budget for a DC in the future.

Meanwhile, as previously posted, any dust collection is usually better than none. A shop vac is relatively inexpensive, and you'll always have use for one in your shop, for general clean up, and for use with handheld tools, such as routers and sanders.

Make sure the shop vac has a good filter (preferably HEPA-type), or it will end up blowing a lot of small particle dust back out into your shop (and lungs). BTW, IMO the box fan/furnace filter setup is a mixed blessing. While it does indeed trap a lot of air borne dust, a furnace filter is not fine enough to filter the smallest (and most dangerous) particles, which the fan blows back into the shop air.

From what I can tell, the DW745 dust port is sized for a shop vac hose, so the simplest solution is to connect the shop vac hose directly to the saw. A better solution is to get a Dust Deputy, connected between the vac and the saw. You'd be amazed at how much dust it traps, which will make keeping your shop vac filter clean a lot easier. An alternative to buying a Dust Deputy would be making a Thien separator.

Finally- or first- get a good respirator mask. Wood Whisperer has some good recommendations. Good luck, and keep cutting!

 

[Artemix]

Alright, to summarize (correct if Im wrong)

1- get a powerful shop vac (something like 2hp)
2- buy/make a Dust Deputy (cyclone) or a Thien separator (simpler cylone?)
3- connect shop vac to the DD/Thien, connect DD/thien to the exit of the saw.
4- profit.

About the respirator mask, I thought about it but it will only be useful as long as I have my air clean, and the only way to achieve that is if my dust collection system works. Otherwise I would have to live with the respirator mask forever!, like in one of those post-apocalypse movies .

 

[MT Stringer]

Alright, to summarize (correct if Im wrong)

1- get a powerful shop vac (something like 2hp)
2- buy/make a Dust Deputy (cyclone) or a Thien separator (simpler cylone?)
3- connect shop vac to the DD/Thien, connect DD/thien to the exit of the saw.
4- profit.

About the respirator mask, I thought about it but it will only be useful as long as I have my air clean, and the only way to achieve that is if my dust collection system works. Otherwise I would have to live with the respirator mask forever!, like in one of those post-apocalypse movies .

I think you got it. About that cheap box fan...I set it on the table saw wing. It is amazing how much dust it captures out of the air. I don't use cheap filters, even though I have to change them more often. I also have a Grizzly air filtration machine hanging over the work bench.

Good luck.
Mike

 

[Charlie2U]

I would imagine that the Owners Manual would say what to hook the saw up too. And since it has got brought up about the port being shop vac size, my guess is it was made to be hooked up to a shop vac. Lets not over think this. I'd also use a separator, I'm a Thien fan and have made several different sizes. I'd also like to mention that dust collection from a shop vac or even a dust collector isn't a guarantee that you will capture every spec of dust, thinking so is just plain unrealistic. But they do generally keep the dust down quite a bit, and cleanup time at the end of the day is reduced.