I am using one of those low budget tablesaws on a stand. Is there a reasonable way to relatively contain the dust that comes out the bottom? I know i’m in no position to completely keep the dust under control, and for now my only form of DC is the trusty shop-vac, but i’d like to try and cut down on the amount that blows around the shop while running the saw. Is there any reason I couldn’t enclose just the stand somehow, to contain it somewhat? This wouldn’t interfere with the saw in anyway would it? I was picturing maybe wrapping a piece of vinyl material around the stand that I could easily remove to get in there with the shop-vac. But I don’t know if there is any way that might interfere, with the saw itself? Anyone have any ideas or tips or past experience with this?
Thanks!
~Malice
Replies
Malice, I don't see why that wouldn't work. I saw a kit some time back...don't remember where now...that used a canvass bag hooked around the sides under a contractor's type saw to catch the saw dust that fell through.
I just have a cardboard box sitting under mine with a piece of plastic funnel shaped to herd the dust into the box. Works for me.
Harry
Following the path of least resistance makes rivers and men crooked.
Edited 5/8/2008 5:31 pm by harrycu
You might look at this item
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2387
Just a canvas bag under the saw
Pat
I thought there was something you could buy for that but couldn't seem to find it. Looking at it now, and hearing what Harry uses, I think I can make it work with some stuff I have laying around so it won't cost me anything (yay!). I just had to be sure it wouldn't mess with some airflow logistics or some crap :)
Thanks a lot guys!
~Malice
LOOK HERE FOR A DUST BAG.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=table+saw+dust&category0=
Don't forget the big hole at the back of the saw. I built a plywood cover for the back with cut-outs for the trunnion , power cord, and the belt drive. It works when the blade is at 90 degrees and I remove it when cutting bevels. It is attached with magnets
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
My TS doesn't have a hole in the back, so I don't have to worry about that thankfully :)
~Malice
My current saw is a Sears floor model cheapo. (But after a few tweaks, it works pretty well, so I haven't been motivated to upgrade.) It came with plastic baffles to cover the hole in the back of the stand and a funnel-shaped plastic part that sits on the frame under the saw with a DC hookup. Works just fine. (When I remember to hook it up to the DC, that is.)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
What brand and model number is the saw? You apparently don't have a contractor's saw, you said there is no hole in the back.
John White
It's a Ryobi 10in. #BTS10S from HD - I think it's considered a "portable" TS but the manual says not to move it LOL. Cheapest thing I could find, I don't love it, but it does the job just fine now that I have sleds built for it :)
~Malice
Malice,
It sounds like you have a benchtop table saw, where the motor is mounted directly to the arbor. A contractor saw uses a belt drive and the motor hangs out the back.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Yep, that sounds right. So with that said, is there any reason now why I shouldn't enclose the bottom? :) Does the motor placement make any difference for DC?
~Malice
Malice,
No, there's no reason not to and every reason to do so.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I was thinking of trying to use a kitty litter bag which is a trash bag that is wider around the top, and shallower, then clip it on to the saw base. I haven't tryed it yet, but will soon
there's no need to reinvent the wrench
After years of the same problem, I finally enclosed mine and hooked up a dust port to it and a little door for cleanout. I saw no change in performance, heat buildup or anything else that I would be concerned about. Although there is a big opening in the back where the motor is, very little dust actually came out of the back, so I figure I was collecting better than 95% (the dust collection suction really helps).
I originally tried to figure out how to build around the legs, but the angles were too much of a pain, so I eliminated the legs and replaced them with a plywood box. It has hardwood at the top with an interior rim-shelf to hold the actual saw. On the inside is a sloped floor to steer the dust toward the dust collector port. It is plenty sturdy. Here's a pic.
Wow, that box you built is nicer than ANYthing I have built so far LOL, nice job.
Thanks for all the help everyone, I will be rigging something up tonight to do the trick for now, til I feel the need to get more technical with it or decide to upgrade to a nicer machine.
~Malice
I was just at a Home Depot and looked at the saw you have. Put a piece of plywood under it with a hole in the ply that matches you shop vac's hose fitting. Drill the hole more or less under the saw's arbor.
To get the best air flow around the blade, seal up the gaps created by the four feet at the corners, strips of foam often work well. You could also tape over the slotted air vents on the left and right sides as long as you ran the vac to keep an air flow through the case to carry away the heat form the motor.
John White
John,
Another option is the material used for fridge magnets to close up odd shaped holes in a TS. They work especially well around the arc shaped hole in the front as they slide.
Course if ya have a wooden stand they don't cling to wood all that well.............
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
The cabinet on this saw is all plastic, but the sheet magnet trick is useful on many machines.John W,
If I used the plywood method would I still need to run the vac while running the saw if I DON'T tape up the vents?
I have some foam weather stripping out in the shop I guess I could use to seal up the bottom.
Thanks John! I like this idea :)
~Malice
If you leave the vents open you shouldn't need to run the vac, but with the plywood sealing off the bottom you will need to run the vac to prevent sawdust from piling up inside of the base which can clog the air vents on the motor.John White
Makes sense... thanks again!
~Malice
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