Dust Collection Systems

David Palmer

David Palmer

Active member
Hey folks! I wanted to know what dust collectors ya'll are using out there. I have a tiny shop, so space matters. I'll be using it mostly for power carving and band saw work.

Thanks!

David
 
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Thought you would have a straight answer by now

My smart a$$ answer would be - my old decoys are my best best collector



Seriously- in my limited space. I hook up a shop vac where I can
 
David Palmer said:
Hey folks! I wanted to know what dust collectors ya'll are using out there. I have a tiny shop, so space matters. I'll be using it mostly for power carving and band saw work.

Thanks!

David
Click to expand...


David,

Smaller the shop; more concentrated the dust - so be mindful of it. My shop area isn't huge (10x20) but I have always been conscious of good dust collection. Probably more so as I get older [;)]. Don't need the headaches and respiratory issues I hear lots of guys talk about. Plus I have seen a lot of friends cause themselves health issues down the line by being cavalier about exposure to dust.

My main collector is a good 2-stage machine. Have a Laguna vortex-system now, but have used other brands of 2 stage collectors in the past. Lots of decent ones out there at a reasonable price. The hose from this collector can easily be attached to ductwork I have set up for the various "dust makers" in my shop: bandsaw, latheetc. Table saw is on rollout casters and has a bottom pan collector fitting that can also easily be attached to the 2-stage.




View attachment IMGP9409 (600 x 399).jpg View attachment IMGP9414 (600 x 399).jpg


View attachment IMGP9412 (600 x 399).jpgView attachment IMGP9415 (600 x 399).jpg


In addition I have an air cleaner/exchanger that's capable of filtering the air in the shop in a matter of minutes

I have a lapboard that can be connected to the 2 stage for sanding and flex-shaft work.




View attachment IMGP9417 (600 x 399).jpg

Most of the time I'm using the bandsaw, lathe , or a flex shaft, I also wear this powered mask (Trend Airshield).





View attachment IMGP9413 (600 x 399).jpg
Shop vacs are for sweeping up the floor and cleaning off machines when you're done; not for protecting you while you work.
 
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Thanks for the advice and for the photos. I'm a visual learner, so a picture is worth a thousand words. I went with a Rikon single stage collector and am thinking an air exchanger is in my future as well. My band saw is an old Delta, so thanks for that pic. Did you have to make that fitting yourself? I wasn't sure where to start.

Thanks again for your time. Happy holidays!

Grace and peace,

David
 
I made 2 cyclone dust collectors in my shop. One large one for my table saw and a small one that is built into the base of my bandsaw. My belt sander sits next to my band saw and the hose can easily be moved to the belt sander. I found the plans here.

http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/cyclone_plan.cfm

The small one is powered by a shop vac. I know it does not get the very fine particles because I do not have a small enough filter on the shop vac. The cyclones do a very good job of keeping the filter from getting clogged. I would post pictures but they are on photobucket so I don't think that will work anymore. I do not do any power carving so these machine are really the only ones I have that cause a lot of dust. If I am doing anything else that will cause a lot of dust like using my skill saw I will wear a respirator. I had a bad scare a few years ago after working in my shop with a bunch of western red cedar. After i was done and was relaxing on the couch I started having trouble breathing and scared the crap out of me. Since then I have been much more diligent about not breathing in all the dust. The thing about using shop vacs to power a cyclone like a dust deputy is that they are loud! That and the dust are why I have been moving more to hand tools when possible.

I also have a box fan with a couple filters in from of it hanging over my table saw to help keep the air cleaner. That was all that I had before the cyclones. It works OK but nothing compared to a real air exchanger. The problem with it was keeping the filters clean. They just clogged to fast. Now with the cyclones it does not clog so fast and I just turn it on when I go in the shop.
 
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