Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Apr 02, 2004 09:05pm | #1

   I have the 12-1/2" Delta benchtop planer and use the dust collector that came with it.  The only problems I've ever had were when I used a really long hose and once when the dust collector bag filled up on me. 

   If you can, use as short a hose as possible and keep it as straight as you can.  That corregated hose causes a lot of turbulent flow and that reduces flow rate (i.e. collection efficiency).

1. 
   dmt | Apr 03, 2004 12:08am | #2

   Thanks, Dave.

   The hose is about 4' long. The problem is the way the hood is made. The air circulates inside until it is completely blocked. Very frustrating.Dan T.

   The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing is to be taken too seriously.

   Nicholas Butler (1862 - 1947)

1. 
   Dave45 | Apr 03, 2004 01:15am | #4

   Well, a four foot hose should be OK. 

   Ok, this may be a silly question, but it's based on a couple of embarassing experiences.  Is your blast gate wide open and are any other blast gates on the system completely closed?

   I had a problem getting my blast gates to close completely because dust was accumulating in the gate grooves and the gates wouldn't close all the way.  About once a week I had to clear them out with a piece of bent wire.  A couple of months ago, I remounted them so the gate opens downward and I haven't had that problem since.

2. 
   JohnWW | Apr 03, 2004 12:17am | #3

   The culprit probably isn't the hood.  What are you using as a dust collector and how is the system hooked up to the planer? 

   More than any other power tool, planers need a lot of airflow to clear the chips as fast as they're generated.  Small dust collectors or shop vacs generally aren't adequate, especially if the piping has a lot of turns.

   I was talking to an Oneida Air systems designer a few years ago, she was of the opinion that 4 inch ducting really wasn't adequate for a bench top machine since they needed a very large airflow to move the chips. 

   John w.

   
   

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   Edited 4/2/2004 6:01 pm ET by JohnW

3. 
   sawdust50 | Apr 03, 2004 05:45am | #5

   Ditto on the Delta 12-1/2 hood not being the problem.   I use a 650cfm collector, with .3 micron poly bags.  They are much better than the original cotton bags  The hose is a 10' blue Air Handlers 4".    Unless I am hogging 1/8" off, the  material, I have  not seen a chip problem.  I did notice once that chips piled up in the corners, but I drilled 3/16" holes in the corners - instant cleanout when the collector is going. Good luck.

   duster

4. 
   Lesterz | Apr 03, 2004 05:49am | #6

   I have the same planer and the same problem. I recently built a maple workbench - styled after the Frank Klausz model in the Workbench Book. I must have had to manually unclog that dust cover a hundred times....

   I think the problem is the 4" pipe and the 550cfm dust collector. I'm thinking bigger motor, more power - no clogs.

   Les

5. 
   jquinn | Apr 03, 2004 11:44pm | #7

   I have the old Delta 12" portable planer (12-540).  I also had the same problem of being clogged with chips.  Remove the original dust/chip deflector (blade guard) and using a metal saw, cut the top part from the sides up to about an 1" in, and flatten the bend out as much as you can.  It will still fit inside the dust collector hood.  Re-attach the dust collector hood.  I have had no problems with clogging since then.  The constriction caused by the chip deflector inside of the dust hood is the cause for the clogging - it only left a small, narrow opening for chips to exit, and during heavy planing, is easily clogged.

   I also only use the small Delta 1 hp dust collecter with a 4" flex hose. 

1. 
   dmt | Apr 04, 2004 12:43am | #8

   Thanks to all. I think jquinn has the solution. I don't have blast gates -- I connect to one machine at a time. I have tried to modify the hood before without success, but I haven't tried anything else. Thanks again.Dan T.

   The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing is to be taken too seriously.

   Nicholas Butler (1862 - 1947)

2. 
   Dave45 | Apr 04, 2004 12:46am | #9

   I think you nailed the problem, jquinn.  When I took my planer out of the box, I removed the "blade guard" before I put the dust collector on. 

6. 
   alias | Apr 04, 2004 10:50pm | #10

   i have the 13" two speed and that is the weaklink with that tool as well...... my2¢..... b

   "expectations are premeditated resentments"
7. 
   billl6 | Apr 05, 2004 04:04am | #11

   Dan,

   I have a Shopsmith 12" planer and an Oneida DC system which Oneida designed for me. The planer is within 3 or 4 feet of the collector and Oneida still specified a 6" pick up hose. That works very well for my planer. I had to mount a 6" adapter over the 4" hole on the built in collector. I agree that the planer needs a lot of air flow. Probably the only machine needing more is a miter saw.

   Bill