Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Jul 15, 2020 02:59am | #1

   Shop vac are way too underpowered and small for a thickness planer. Save the vac for vacuuming and get a dust collector. Your lungs will thank you.

2. 
   concealed | Jul 15, 2020 06:54am | #2

   Not sure if you would have the space, but I built a cart/box for my planer. Used dryer vent flexible hose to connect the planer to the box. It doubles as an in feed / out feed table. It is 2 chamber with the smaller chamber having furnace filter on the outside end to keep dust in. I do have to knock the dust off the filter every so often. But it collects almost everything. The large end has a hinged door to help in emptying. And I can roll it out of the way when not needed.

3. 
   sclause | Jul 15, 2020 12:23pm | #3

   I am using a 16 gallon shop vac with my DW735 and all my other tools. I fashioned a shelf on top for my Rockler cyclone as a pre filter for dust and chips. I can see when it is full and is easy to empty. I use a filter bag and a cartridge filter in the vac as a second & third stage filter. I have a small shop so this is what works for me at the moment.

4. 
   DRBWWing | Jul 15, 2020 03:03pm | #4

   Personally I've never liked collecting machines with a shop vac mainly because of the noise. Even with a cyclone, you need to replace the stock filter with a HEPA filter as they are notorious for spewing dust into the shop.

   You might consider one of the wall mount units. They will pull adequate CFM's to collect a planer, and should handle a cyclone or baffle on a 20-25 gallon drum to make shavings more manageable.

   I recently installed one as a dedicated unit for my miter saw and gated to use on my router table. I exhaust outside (I think this is the key for performance) and it does exceptionally well.

   It was easier for me to do this than do all the ducting from my DC, and it allows me to use my router table at various locations in the shop.

5. 
   mikaol | Jul 15, 2020 08:59pm | #5

   Do you use bags? Oh, I have a Stanley vac that takes good-sixed bags.
   Mikaol

6. 
   barshfield | Jul 16, 2020 12:32pm | #6

   Thanks for all the ideas. After reviewing the "bidding," it looks like I need to go with a dedicated dust collection system, rather than continuing to use a shop vac. I agree that the difference in air flow will make a monumental difference in the ability to collect. Now to sort out cyclones, baffles, drums, bags, and both temporary and "permanent" ducts.
   Mikaol - I don't use bags. Dust/shavings just collect in the small canister. What a mess...

7. 
   [email protected] | Jul 16, 2020 07:15pm | #7

   If you're space constrained, check out this post: https://www.finewoodworking.com/forum/harbor-freight-dust-collection-upgrade

   I have the HF dust collector, but may have to look deeper into doing something like that. Very efficient.