Zero clearance inserts & dust control

2517 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by DesertRatTom, Sep 8, 2017

smitty10101

Discussion Starter · Aug 24, 2017

Been using a zci(zero clearance insert) with a shop vac and have been getting a belly full of saw dust

Have used a peg board zci to allow the shop vac extra air to swallow the dust with no joy

Have used a solid zci with a large hole up front to allow air in & again no joy

also used a solid zci with just the slit for the blade---no joy

so-- 3 strikes--I'm out

it's obvious that the saw dust is being thrown from the back of the blade, over the wood & directly forward.

dust control with "standard" insert is ok

a large central vac is not an option

Am I expecting to much for a zci or is there a better solution?

thks

smitty

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

vindaloo

· #2 · Aug 24, 2017

Use over the top dust extraction to catch the dust that comes up from the back of the blade. Most blade guards have them or mock one up yourself. Wood frame, plexi for the sides.

vindaloo

· #3 · Aug 24, 2017

Ok, so just looked up your ryobi table and your blade guard doesn't appear to have a dust extraction connection. Use your current guard as a template to make a wider on that will accept a nozzle and split your dust extraction using a Y joint then connect both the main saw and the guard to it.

smitty10101

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 24, 2017

Wasn't using the guard Are you supposed to??? just joking!!! But I really wasn't using it.

I have a spare blade guard & I'll look into altering it to accept an overhead suction.
2nd thought I cannibalized that one to make a separate riving knife set up.
But i still have the plastic shield to play around with.

Thanks for the suggestion
smitty

DesertRatTom

· #5 · Aug 24, 2017

A lot of dust comes from above the table. I recently purchased a hood that fits over the blade and ZCI. Here's the link. It is adaptable to many saws. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...SGUARd&rh=i:aps,k:The+PSI+Woodworking+TSGUARd

The other image is very much a simple, home made rig that attaches directly to the rafters. This is about the only way to catch and redirect the sawdust thrown off by the blade above the table.

See less See more

2

Reactions: 4

BrianS

· #6 · Aug 25, 2017

IMHO, your biggest problem is your shopvac. Tablesaws throw a ton of dust, and the shopvac is really not adequate IMHO. I use a ZC insert, solid piece of plywood with no extra holes, as well as a dedicated dust collector and I don't experience a lot of dust escaping. I'm using a hybrid saw, which is almost a full cabinet saw. If you are using a portable saw, or a contractor style saw, that might explain it too especially if it is open underneath.

vindaloo

· #7 · Aug 25, 2017

smitty10101 said:
..............2nd thought I cannibalized that one to make a separate riving knife set up..........

I have the DW745 TS and the riving knife is way higher than the top of the blade so when making non-through cuts it got in the way. I went to a spares place and it cost me about £7.00 for the complete riving knife/guard assembly. I cut the riving knife down to 1mm below top of blade for those non-through cuts. It's a real pain swapping them all the time though especially as I use my sled a lot.

vindaloo

· #8 · Aug 25, 2017

BrianS said:
IMHO, your biggest problem is your shopvac..........

It is for me too but I have zero space in my workshop for another large tool. I'd love one but it's not on the cards unless I demolish my workshop and build one that's bigger, then I run into planning permission problems, not to mention money.

artman60

· #9 · Aug 25, 2017

I'm a complete newbie, so this isn't probably worth$.02, but.......Sharkguard? Maybe?

Reactions: 2

hawkeye10

· #10 · Aug 25, 2017

I,agree with Brian when he says your shop vac is one of your problems. I have a big dust collector but I still get dust on top of my TS. I have come to the conclusion that I will have to live with the dust.

DesertRatTom

· #11 · Aug 25, 2017

Get yourself a good ventillated mask, at least you won't have to breathe all that dust in. Keep your eyes out for a Harbor Freight sale of their 2hp dust colector, less than $200 when on sale. It will handle nearly anything you throw at it, at least in a hobby shop.

Reactions: 1

Gaffboat

· #12 · Aug 25, 2017

artman60 said:
I'm a complete newbie, so this isn't probably worth$.02, but.......Sharkguard? Maybe?

Artie's suggestion for a Sharkguard is a good one. It is made with a port for attaching a shop vac and they make one for the Ryobi. I had one on my Ryobi table saw and it was a great addition to the saw.

DaninVan

· #13 · Aug 25, 2017

Artie; I love my Sharkguard...I have the folks here to thank for pointing me to it!

Mine's on a Delta Contractor saw, and my only minor quibble is that I have to pull the whole thing off the single mounting knob/bolt to do a non-through cut. As I said, a really minor issue; takes maybe 30 seconds to pull off and maybe 45 to put back on.

Reactions: 1

artman60

· #14 · Aug 27, 2017

I live in a townhouse, and have a very small amount of space available to me for a work shop, so I have a ShopSmith. I saw an article on the Shark Guard on one of the ShopSmith forums, it seemed to make a lot of sense to me, the top of the saw is where most of my sawdust winds up. I have one on order and will post on any difference, if any, I find. When I was heavy into fishing, there were a lot of products I saw at the shows that also made sense to me, but in practice did nothing LOL, so we'll see.

Reactions: 2

antgarcia

· #15 · Sep 7, 2017

Great post.

DesertRatTom

· #16 · Sep 8, 2017

No picture of the Shark guard. Here's one, makes the string make more sense.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.