Thread: Dust Collection Query

You're going to run into this limitation with any 'built in' power outlet on a shop vac or other brand. Most of these vacuums will be rated for a 10A outlet, which in theory can supply a maximum of 2400W of power. Since the tool and vac are connected to the same outlet and the vac is going to use 1000W+ (whatever the rating of your vac is), you'll only have whatever is left from that 2400W total for the tool. The internal wiring of the shop vac outlet will probably only be rated for 10A (at best) so it wouldn't be a good idea to try plugging the vac into a 15A outlet and using a higher powered tool. The vac outlet should be protected by at the very least a thermal trip (but who knows) so trying to use a tool that is more than the vac outlet's rating will cause a trip (instead of burning out the wiring and possibly starting a fire).

Your best bet would be to have the saw and the vac connected to different wall outlets and manually turn the vac on and off.

All of that aside, depending on what tools you're using, you're going to find that the standard dust collection on most of them is going to leave a lot to be desired.

Hi Arthur,

Welcome to the forum,

I'm going to burst your bubble and say it definitely won't cope. Shop vacs are of limited use when it comes to wood working. Ok to clean up chips that have landed on the floor but for fine dust its got no chance.

To give you some perspective I've got a track saw attached to a 1400W industrial vacuum cleaner, it doesn't cope fine dust still escapes and i end up having to ventilate the entire area afterwards. A table saw spews dust at a much higher velocity and in all directions and is much more difficult to contain.

BobL is the dust guru on this forum and if he chimes in he'll answer any questions from a more evidence based approach rather than sales persons pitch.

Hi Art,
I used a shop vac as a dust collector on my Jet contractor model saw. It sort of worked but not really well. I then got a UniSaw and sold the jet. I now use a full fledged dust collector. By the time that you try to adapt the shop vac to table saw dust collection duties you'll spend almost as much as you would with a real dust collector. With a trash can separator and .5 micron bags, the dust collector system is about as good as a home shop can get at a reasonable price.

Hello Arthur,

When you say

Apparently this will cope with all of my power tools apart from the table saw.

I assume that is from a power wise point of view?

As Tonyz says Shop vacs are of limited use in wood working situation and are really only useful with a few power tools.

Even with power tools, auto turn off/on is not the best way to go.

Dust extraction from all power tools and machines should be left on for at least a couple of minutes after the power tool is turned off to help clear the air of escaped dust.

It would be helpful to us if you were to list what tools/machines you have so we could give you more specific advice.

Many thanks to everyone for their input. It looks like I need to do a bit more research. I could be back for further advice!!

Regards Art.

I use an 1800W shop vac with a triton dust bucket converted to cyclone. I have a HEPA filter and HEPA bag in the shop vac and it does a pretty good job with smaller tools and is better than nothing for the table saw (Triton). I now use a proper face mask instead of the disposable ones. If I was doing more woodworking than the occasional project I would be looking for a better setup.