Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Dec 05, 2006 06:41pm | #1

   In terms of air flow, there is no reason why a dust collector wouldn't work just as well in the attic as anywhere else, provided that the piping run to it didn't create any great restriction in the system.

   Large dust collectors don't draw well through small pipe diameters, the impellers bog down when there is a lot of restriction in the system.  This isn't to say you can't do it, especially if the restriction is right at the machine, but even short runs of small diameter hose or pipe will have mediocre air flow.  For bench top machines with small diameter dust port connections you are better off using a shop vac which is designed to pull through a small diameter port and hose.

   In the Fine Woodworking shop I have set up a number of our smaller machines, such as our router table and sanding table, with shop vacs built into their base cabinets rather than hooking them up to our large dust collection system.

   John White