Replies

1. 
   wericha | Mar 15, 2012 05:56pm | #1

   More info please

   You didn't list all the culprits in your shop, so it's hard to say if your plan is adequate.  Do you have other tools that are causing the problem, such as bandsaw, planer, jointer, router, sander, etc?  Depending on the machines, a shop vac may or may not be enough.

   I suspended my air filter because shelf space is a premium, plus I personally believe it works better that way.

   Give more details and help will definitely follw.

1. 
   richard27 | Mar 17, 2012 11:17am | #2

   Sawdust control

   wericha wrote:

   You didn't list all the culprits in your shop, so it's hard to say if your plan is adequate.  Do you have other tools that are causing the problem, such as bandsaw, planer, jointer, router, sander, etc?  Depending on the machines, a shop vac may or may not be enough.

            All I have is a table saw and a few basic power hand tools. The base of the table saw is enclosed and made of plastic, so I think if I drill a hole in it and attach the hose of the vac that will take care of most of the problem.  And I'm hoping that he suspended Air Cleaner will take care of the air-borne dust.

   I suspended my air filter because shelf space is a premium, plus I personally believe it works better that way.

   Give more details and help will definitely follw.

1. 
   RalphBarker | Mar 17, 2012 11:46am | #3

   dust sources

   Table saws are reasonably well-behaved, since the dust bits are larger, heavier, and the majority fall inside the base enclosure. A percentage, however, will follow the blade around, and spew out above the cut. Attaching a vac hose to the blade guard (if appropriately designed) can reduce that further.

   Electric hand tools, especially routers can be a real mess, though. Few have really good dust collection, and an attached vac hose can, in some cases, actually be dangerous, or at a minimum, cumbersome. A dust-collection zone can be made with a half-pyramid shaped "funnel" with a vac hose at the back, but to work efficiently, the vac source needs to move a large amount of air. The typical shop vac falls short in that regard.

   On the table saw, you may need to construct a baffle inside the base, to direct flow to the vac hose, so gravity and air flow are working as partners. Be aware, however, that the exhaust air coming out of a shop vac can be an insideous source of extra fine dust that lingers in the air unless it has some sort of HEPA secondary filter system.

   Just a few thoughts from a guy who still uses a gravity-based dust collection system (the floor) in combination with a face mask. ;-)

2. 
   wericha | Mar 19, 2012 06:14pm | #5

   Anything is better than nothing

   Your setup is a start, and at least it will control some of the dust.  Here's a couple of other things to consider.

   As has already been pointed out, table saw dust comes from above as well as below.  If your blade guard doesn't include dust control, aftermarket guards are available that will help.  I also second the comment about "funneling" the saw dust within the saw stand if it doesn't already do so.

   To me, one of the biggest drawback to your plan is the shop vac.  Mine sounds like a badly tuned jet engine and I quite frankly don't like to run it very long.  A true dust collector may seem to be an extravagance, but it is well worth the expense on so many levels. 

   Go with what you've got, and put pictures of dust collectors around the house when it comes time for your birthday, Christmas, etc.

2. 
   Tablesawyer | Mar 19, 2012 04:07pm | #4

   dust control

   I suggest you think beyond a shop vac, which will do little to control dust produced by a table saw, jointer, planer, or other larger power tools.  If you are a serious woodwork, consider a cyclone with 5 or 6 inch duct work.  If you can't afford a cyclone, then get a reasonable dust collector with a cartidge filter.  The objective is to control as much dust as possible at the source, and a shop vac combined with an air filter will just NOT do the job.  Fine Woodworking has had several recent articles dealing with dust collection, all which can be found by using that search term.  They will help you get oriented on how to clean up the air in your shop...and your lungs.

3. 
   swannyww | Apr 05, 2012 11:23am | #6

   sawdust

   Rockler sells a vortex canister that improves suction and seperates dust so only small particles go to vac and large go to sererator/vortex.  Use a zero clearance plate on table saw and I also use the exhaust off the vac to blow any blow back from the table saw away from my face across the saw table.  I let the dust collector mounted to the celing to collect fine dust as well as I use festool sanders, circular saw, etc. and vac to keep the  dust down.  MIter boxes also kick up a lot of dust and several companies have somewhat good collection.  Solid wood isn't as bad as mdf which turns to powder.  Festool has a bag system for its vacs and it keeps the exhaust cleaner as well as a hepa filter that helps (I save the sanding dust for mixing with filler).  Some companies have systems that they have developed for tools and dust collection and I found they seem to be the best at controlling your environment.  the money you spend for dust collection will save you time (clean up) and your health.