STL241: Dust collectors vs. dust extractors
Vic Tesolin joins Mike and Ben to discuss dust collection, upgrading old tablesaws, whether a shop is ever done, and the finer points of Instagram etiquette.Question 1:
My next shop purchase will either be a new jointer, or a better dust collection solution.
While a new jointer is much more exciting, my dust collection is pitiful right now, and consists of a shop vac I found in my basement that I think must have been abandoned by a contractor a few years ago. I am looking at either the Grizzly g0860 which got a favorable review from Anissa, or a Festool dust extractor. I know these are kind of two different things, but they cost about the same so I will have to pick one or the other. Which do you think would be better to get first and why?
I have a table saw, jointer, planer, bandsaw, all the hits, but I also use my compact router a lot.
My inclination is the Grizzly would do more for me, but I would be interested to hear y’all’s take on dust collection, and if fancy dust extractors like the festool are really worth the cost over a more typical shop vac.
All About Dust Collection
The Dawn of the Quiet Shop Vacuum
Question 2:
From Joshua:
I’ve been a hobbyist woodworker for 20 or so years. As my projects have moved more in the direction of fine woodworking, I’m starting to see the shortcomings of my existing tablesaw, specifically the fence. Is it worth spending the time in the shop to improve the usability of the saw, ie; mounting the saw into a frame and adding an outfeed table, making a crosscut sled, and trying to find ways to get straight cuts without a fence, or should I start saving for something now? There are no aftermarket fences available for this saw, and I’ve had to grind the safety nubs off of the miter slots in order to make any kind of sled runners.
Aftermarket Tablesaw Fence Systems
Segment: All-Time Favorite
Vic – All time favorite tool: cordless chainsaw
Which Cordless Chainsaw Should You Buy?
Ben – Smooth move: Thinking he would remember to trim up one piece later
Mike – Smooth move: Bringing a piece into the house before it was really completed
Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page.
Comments
Good show
There is a slip on plastic muffler for Shop Vacs that work pretty well without any suction loss. It does not make it quiet, but cuts the high pitched whine.
I think they are $15-20, mine is years old.
So many great guest hosts in addition to the fantastic regulars.
Think it’s time we go from bi-weekly to daily.
Another great hour, guys.
This was overall a "good" show. But the final segment regarding social media etiquette was outstanding. I am oft reminded of what my father said about the guy who kissed the cow, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
A couple of dust collection thoughts:
The Oneida SuperCell might meet all of his needs.
When discussing shop vacs don't forget the importance of HEPA filtration.
Every since I learned that Ben is a proponent of INCA machines, he seems much more insightful.
I lead others to a treasure I cannot possess.
Am I the only one that wants to see some of Ben's hieroglyphic labels?
Boom!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMiqXohjQbc/
Nice, thanks! Adam Savage would approve. I like the way the hinge label is framed by its glyph.
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