Replies

1. 
   GRW | Sep 20, 2006 05:04pm | #1

   Chief,

   Here's what I did. It's pretty effective, though I'm open to better ideas. I mounted my compound miter againts a wall, leaving enough room for full movement of the saw in each direction. This table top is lower where the saw is, and is raised on each side of the saw. ( this helps support the wood, and helps keep some of the dust near the saw.  Directly behind the saw (in the table top) I mounted a 4" DC duct. I covered the duct with a 1/4" mesh screen to keep out larger wood chips. Over the saw, out of the range of movement I installed a tool shelf. (about 24" above the tabletop) I hung 8 mil clear plastic from the shelf on each side of the saw. I cut away the plastic where it might get in the way. When done I had a dust tent that covered 70% of the area around the saw. The plastic is not attached to the table, only the shelf. This way if I do work that might be out of the normal range of movement, I can pull up the plastic, and sit in on the shelf where it's out of the way.  This sysyem is in no way perfect, but I haven't found anything more effective yet.  I results I've seen are that saw dust can fall behind the saw on the table away from the DC duct. (easy to sweep into the duct once a week) But the airborn particles have been significantly reduced.  Though I'm happy with this system, I'll upgrade to a heavier plastic tent when I can get the materials. I'm looking for the thick clear plastic that is used in the freezer cases at the grocery stores.  Hope this helps. 

1. 
   user-165082 | Sep 20, 2006 06:26pm | #2

   Thanks for the info. I was thinking of a system type that uses a vacuum.

    

   Steve

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 20, 2006 08:11pm | #3

   Steve, just sent you a note.  Can't remember, do you have a dust collector?  I'm not sure you could get enough air movement with a vacuum to control the spew from a miter saw.

   Wood Central has an article demonstrating a pretty sophisticaed shop-made hood, here (click).  There's a much easier plan in one of the summer mags, I'll have to find it though.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   nikkiwood | Sep 22, 2006 08:16am | #4

   Rousseau makes two different models -- if you want to buy one.

   They're not cheap though.

   http://www.downdrafter.com/

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 22, 2006 08:27am | #5

   Oh, I had forgotten about the Downdrafter -- I think because of the price.  Sheesh.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   nikkiwood | Sep 22, 2006 08:37am | #6

   Does your Dewalt have a dust bag?

   I have a Makita SCMS, and when dust is an issue, I hook up my vacuum to the dust bag nozzle. Not great, but not bad either. Worth a try.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-