Thread: Dust collection

From my experience, the dust bucket (with a suitable vacuum) picks up only the dust that is thrown out above the table. The dust bag captures most of the dust that falls below the table. The rotation of the saw blade and the resulting air-flow directs the majority of the dust below the table. The dust bag and overhead vacuum are unrelated other than they both address the removal or capture of dust from two different surfaces.

You need to understand that the dust bag only contains dust that falls into it. It does not do anything. In reality, it is necessary to brush or vacuum the wood dust that falls below the table but does not find its way to the bag. The saw and underside of the table components become covered in dust and should be cleaned frequently.

Of course, this is also true of traditional tablesaws that use dust extraction below the table. The majority of dust is withdrawn by the air flow of a DC, but much stays within the table cabinet and must be manually brushed to remove it.

Hello Richard
I have discovered and put up with similar problems with my dust collection for some two years now. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

If you haven't already done so, there is a very informative thread in the Triton Forum that you should read. It goes into some depth on how to modify and append the Triton D/C and improve it considerably.

Good Luck

Andre

Richard,

Search for 'Triton Dust Bucket' on this site and you'll find heaps of input from others on how to improve the situation. See Sturdee's post to this thread in particular:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...&threadid=6661

If you don't want to spend $80 on the Triton dust bag and you know someone who is handy with a sewing machine, it's not hard to make one. I used an old bed sheet sewn up as a bag for ages before I got around to getting this one made up:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...&threadid=5599

I still get a bit of sawdust on the floor but it's manageable.

Cheers,
Darren

Richard, I saw your query last night but bandwith problems ( daughter again) stopped me replying.

I see that Darren has pointed you in the right direction to solve your problem. The annoying thing is that they still sell the dustbucket even though it does not work well. If you have difficulties with the modification to the dust bucket send me a pm.

Andre, have you made the modifications?.


Peter.

I'd have to say that the Dust Collector isn't bad at all. It can be made better by the cyclone adjustment previously mentioned , otherwise mine works OK. I have it connected to an elcheapo vacuum too. It's main function is to prevent the dust getting into the vacuum and it does that fine. You have to clean the inside of the lid after a while but its no big deal. The advantage of the cyclone modification is that you can get rid of the filter, thereby allowing greater air flow and consequently more suction and less dust.

As for not having a bag, well I think given the choice I'd have the bag before the bucket. Lots of dust comes out the bottom on my rig and without the bag I'd be sweeping all day. I don't think the bucket collects all that much through the top but until you set up a full dust collection system there isn't much alternative.
I do the same as you and use the hose to regularly clean the table top and in the final cleanup. It's good for that.

Daddles...

I guess the best way to explain is to think back to the dark ages whe we used a power saw, hand held (gasp!!). Think of the volume of sawdust produced, and how it poured out of the blade guard. Now mount that saw upside down and bolt it into a workcentre, where is that blade guard now.... under the table, and gravity being as it is, where is the dust going to go.

I have to agree with Gumby, I would pick the bag before the Dust collector, but put the router table on, and you will never question why you brought both.

Dohboy

From old memories, I think that Triton themselves claim the dust bag will capture around 88% of the dust produced, and the dust bucket is for the remaining 10%- with a few % left over as no system (other than Sturdees ) will capture 100%.

Of course, you've got to remember that Sturdee never makes anything other than jigs and dust extraction from sewer pipe. O yes, can't forget that endless supply of orange paint! So there is really no need for a DC system in his shop.

Don,

Sorry to disappoint you mate but during my renovation phase out of that little old workshop came about 61 cupboards, 41 drawers and untold meters of shelving for a new kitchen and walk-in pantry, laundry, 2 bathrooms, walk-in wardrobe in master bedroom, wife's sewing room, store room, my study and my daughter's downstairs apartment.

It is so bad that I don't need any fancy software to estimate my timber needs or make a cutting list.

Finally, now everything else is built and done and I have a bit more time available I am updating my shop with all the things I wished I had built before as it would have made things a lot easier before making any new things.

As for the DC setup, twelve months ago I could not work longer than 2 hours in the shop because of dust irritation and now I don't have any problems with dust anymore.

Regards,


Peter.
( BTW I love my orange paint )

Of course, my comments were "tongue-in-cheek". I've seen some of the work you speak of, Peter - hats off to you, Mate!

I know Don and ofcourse no offense is taken.

Actually the effort in improving my workshop is rather enjoyable, the working out of how to place items together and maximising storage solutions etc is already improving my efficiency and the building of jigs makes various tasks easier and safer.

However I am becoming more and more concerned about dust control because usually you don't realise the effects it has on your health untill it is too late.


Peter.

Hi Peter,

This is my interpretation of your mini-cyclone.
Can you please let me know if it is as you have suggested or infact if it will work.
I would just like some clarification before I put a great big hole into my triton bucket.

to save download times...I have just updated the image as per Peters recommendations.

Thanks Peter

Hem, great drawing ( I wish I could draw like that) but I would like to make a couple corrections.

1. The inlet elbow into the bucket must face the side of the bucket ( not the centre) so that a circular motion is started.

2. The funnel I used has a 220mm diam at the top so the cutout in the top disk is 215mm diam leaving a ring of 50mm. As this cutout becomes the start of the bottom disk and is inside the paint drum and can't be seen it does not matter if it is a bit rough.

3. Before I put the funnel with the two disks attached into the bucket I attached the bolts to the bottom disk ( which will become the middle disk) with nuts countersunk into the disk.

4. I then inserted above into the bucket and again secured it with a set of washers and nuts and siliconed the gaps etc.

5. After that I put on the paint lid and final disk with a further set of nuts.


Regards,


Peter.

Here is the updated version....
If it slows the download of the thread let me know and I will remove it and post on a new thread.