Thread: under-(router)table dust collection for non triton router

If the base of the bucket isn't flat, and instead is conical as you suggest, then I don't see a real problem. I would stay well away from the cyclone idea for this application, that deliberately spins the waste. Save the cyclone idea for the dust collection end of the deal. It is also not like a dust bag that has to somehow exhaust the air that carried the particles.

You are actually sucking out of the bucket and particles that end up there, and at the same time, creating a (small) airflow to encourage said particles in the right direction. (I say small, because the bucket is really in effect a short hose with a massive internal diameter, ending in a nozzle that will accelerate the particles into the hose.)

well the bottom of the bucket is flat. but im thinking of cutting the bottom out and replacing it with a big funnel. i tend to agree not to induce a cyclone, and just let the shavings fall under gravity. im hoping to make leakage around the rim of the bucket minimal, by cutting it to shape and fitting some rubber in place for a tight seal. if 95% of the airflow into the bucket is through the cutter hole in the table this should get almost all of what the above-table dust system misses, or so the theory goes.....the aim is to allow reasonably easy access to the router and catch as much dust as possible without restricting airflow to the tool or compromising the equipment in any other way.

DOug

On ya Doug, I've missed that avatar. Expect a few PM's but you must resist......

Originally Posted by boban

On ya Doug, I've missed that avatar. Expect a few PM's but you must resist......

has this avatar been used on here before? did the original poster using it cop flak?

Well i suppose its only fair to warn the wowsers that if i get any pressure to change it, they really really really wont like what i replace it with

Doug

Doug,
I am curious to hear how you go but I persoanlly wouldn't go down the path you are contemplating. The reason being, air flow. I realise that you are creating an air flow that is designed to suck the dust through the table but is there going to be enough air flow to the router itself to keep it cool. The Workcentres Dustbag has a sleeve that slides over the saws motor(like on the old Compact and now on the Powered Saw Table), this allows sufficent air flow to the motor for these tables.
Good luck and let the forum know what happens,
Woody

Originally Posted by Woodworker101

Doug,
I am curious to hear how you go but I persoanlly wouldn't go down the path you are contemplating. The reason being, air flow. I realise that you are creating an air flow that is designed to suck the dust through the table but is there going to be enough air flow to the router itself to keep it cool. The Workcentres Dustbag has a sleeve that slides over the saws motor(like on the old Compact and now on the Powered Saw Table), this allows sufficent air flow to the motor for these tables.
Good luck and let the forum know what happens,
Woody

I was thinking the same thing. I doin't like the idea of enclosing a power tool that isn't designed for it.

tahnks woodie and gumby for your input. i expressed earlier that this was a concern i held as well, but im thinking that the airflow caused by the vacuum will be greater than what the tool would hav eaccess to outside of the wind tunnel. i mean the air in the bucket will be replaced every few seconds with cool air from outside, that doesnt happen when the tool is in the open, does it? and there is a fair amount of space in the boucket surrounding the router as well. opinions please???


Doug

Hi Doug,

I've been looking at that atavar for some time now, and I'm still mesmerised

Cheers!
steve B

Yes, you are right about there being lots of air flow through the table but I am thinking that it is going to be air and dust which may in combination overheat your motor. The Workcentre Dustbag sleeve allows air without dust anywhere near it to circulate the motor, the router motor may need the same clean air.

I would be finding a way of sucking dust from under the table through a wide hose mounted directly under the collet. Then I might try to place a false table over the existing table using 3mm or 4mm MDF(so not to loose too much router bit cutting height) and have the hole in the MDF a fraction larger in diameter than the router bit so the majority of the dust remains on top of the table and collected via a hose in the fence.

Woody

Originally Posted by Woodworker101

Yes, you are right about there being lots of air flow through the table but I am thinking that it is going to be air and dust which may in combination overheat your motor. The Workcentre Dustbag sleeve allows air without dust anywhere near it to circulate the motor, the router motor may need the same clean air.

I would be finding a way of sucking dust from under the table through a wide hose mounted directly under the collet. Then I might try to place a false table over the existing table using 3mm or 4mm MDF(so not to loose too much router bit cutting height) and have the hole in the MDF a fraction larger in diameter than the router bit so the majority of the dust remains on top of the table and collected via a hose in the fence.

Woody

yup,
what he said.

Originally Posted by Woodworker101

Yes, you are right about there being lots of air flow through the table but I am thinking that it is going to be air and dust which may in combination overheat your motor. Woody

Yes, but as it stands now, all that dust is falling on the floor past teh router anyway, im thinking it will be out of the way even faster with some vacuum assistance.

having said that, you now have me thinking about enclosing the business end of the router up against the plate, and only applying the vacuum to that area. the challenge is to enclose it and still allow height adjustment, and access to perform cutter changes.

im working on a couple of ideas... anyone else got any thoughts??

I'll have to think about it for a while to come up with an idea. Keep the GREY MATTER working. Try putting this thread in the routing area as well, you may get some hits there.

Woody

Originally Posted by Woodworker101

I'll have to think about it for a while to come up with an idea. Keep the GREY MATTER working. Try putting this thread in the routing area as well, you may get some hits there.

Woody

right now im thinking about a 2 or 3 piece piece of mdf to go around the collet and out to the extent of the sides of the motor housing or just beyond and make the walls out of high density foam the thickness of the maximum plunge of the router to the base of the table (underside) . with the router wound right down, i should be able to press teh foam down enough to get teh collet spanners in.

im not sure that the foam would stay in place whan the vacuum is switched on, depending on how its installed/attached. maybe mdf plates at teh top of the foam too, and some glue?

if this works then the only thing restricting the plunge depth of th erouter would be the width of the vacuum tube, but then again if i make it insert from the bottom through the mdf sheet, it wont affect the height at all. hmmm

Doug
I was looking for replies on the mods to the router for 100mm extraction -
see 4" ducting vs another cyclone. I have made 2 protypes one in perspex using scrape 75mm tube and one using 100mm PVC. I am awaiting the top part of the front guard from Triton so that i can keep my router table running as usual. All existing designs require the guard to be in place.
I have a bigger problem when trenching longer pieces.
BARRY