Replies

1. 
   davidwood | Jan 14, 2007 09:33pm | #1

   Porter Cable - Hilti - Bosch - Worx -  Makita and  Hitachi.

   For best results you need a dust shield to cover the front of the saw.

   If you have a circular saw, you can use the Bosch dust port $15.00

   For clean cuts on plywood, you can use the smart base from eurekazone $25.00

   david.

   
   

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   Edited 1/14/2007 1:35 pm ET by davidwood

1. 
   xmike | Jan 14, 2007 10:42pm | #2

   Thanks David,

   What does a dust shield in the front of the saw look like?  Is it a feature of the saw or an add-on?

   Annnnd, is there one of the saws that you mentioned that does a better job of dust control, in your opinion, than others?

   Mike D

1. 
   davidwood | Jan 14, 2007 11:13pm | #3

   http://eurekazone.org/photoinstructions/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=113

   Try this link.

   You need a clear piece of plastic or a phone call to eurekazone.

   I know that the ez dust shield is free to anyone and with free shipping.

   Best CS for dust collection is the one with... the better dust shield.

   If you go  Festool, make sure you get the  optional dust cover,

    or make one with  clear plastic or cardboard.

   david.

    

   david.

    

2. 
   Rich14 | Jan 15, 2007 05:31am | #6

   David, Do you have a link for the Bosch dust port? I have always been surprised that Bosch ciricular saws simply have an open dust cute and no attachment for a vacuum hose. I have never been able to find a dust port as a Bosch accessary. Rich

1. 
   davidwood | Jan 15, 2007 05:38am | #7

   http://www.boschtools.com/tools/tools-detail.htm?H=175983&G=69895&I=69570

   I use the same for my Makita and Dewalt CS.

   david.

1. 
   Rich14 | Jan 15, 2007 07:00am | #8

   Great! Thanks!

2. 
   Lataxe | Jan 14, 2007 11:24pm | #4

   Mike,

   I have two circular saws - not much used now but once a mainstay of my tools.

   Two design aspects of dust collection with circular saws seem to be important:

   1) a fan, ductway and outlet integral to the saw, designed for gathering and excreting its dust.

   2) provision for suck at the saw's dust outlet, to which a good vacuum extractor may be easily attached.

   One of my circular saws is a Makita, which has the above features but suffers from too many internal obstructions between the dust-creating points and the dust collection outlet.  It is therefore a bit of a dusty beast, even with a Festool vac stuck on it.

   The other saw is a old Black and Decker, which is not well engineered but paradoxically has very good dust collection/ejection.  It is quite clean when the vacuum is attached.

   So, I can't tell you which current saws actually work best, dust collection wise; but if possible you might look for saws that have the fan-assisted ejection and a clear internal path for the dust to go down.  A standard vac attachment point also helps (for otherwise it is bits of old hose and duct tape).

   Lataxe

    

   
   

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   Edited 1/14/2007 3:45 pm ET by Lataxe

3. 
   [email protected] | Jan 14, 2007 11:59pm | #5

   The Porter Cable #345 "saw boss", is pretty good, (the best I've used or seen).  It would do a better job, if as others have suggested I put a side shield on it.  But that would require modifying the  guard handle, so I haven't.  There is marked difference between how much dust there is between when it's hooked to the vacuum, and when it's not.

   Downsides:

   1.) The dust port uses their 1-inch vacuum hose.  But their sanders, biscuit joiner, and routers all use the same hose, and I already had one. 

   2.) The 6-inch blade has a different arbor hole size than any other so it is hard to find blades from other manufacturers.  Freud does make a good forty tooth one. 

   3.)  As with all Porter Cable tools, they are costly, not as bad a festool, but more than many others. 

   Upside: 

   1.) The blades are not out of line on the price, and are high quality.  The 40-tooth does a nice job on plywood.

   2.) The base is solid and square to the blade. 

   3.)  Despite the cost:  If it were stolen, or broke, I would buy another.

4. 
   bones | Jan 15, 2007 07:04am | #9

   I have a portercable that works great. I run it with the shop vac and the port is closed when I'm outside and it does not matter. 

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.