Thread: Air pump or blower for scrollsaw

Rather than blowing the dust, see if you can fit a vacuum cleaner line to in front of the blade. This can have the same effect and creates a cleaner environment.

On my scrollsaw, I have a length of tube attached to the arm with a 90degree elbow and short tube in front of the blade. vacuum hose just attaches to the tube at the rear.
I worked with someone who went one step further and made a box under the table which was connected to the vacuum cleaner.

I agree with the previous fix I clean the product being cut with the attached blower but collect almost all the dust in a cyclone operated with a vacuum cleaner at two points. One point is below the blade and one is above the blade I modified the saw to adapt this system. A good fish tank pump will act as a blower .

Thanks for the replies.
I wanted a quiet reliable air pump.
Thought about the vac, but mine is noisy. But may have to re-think.
Lyle

The premium vacs are pretty quiet, but you pay for the privilege. Festool vacs pop up second hand on gumtree and ebay fairly regularly and they hold their value so you should get most of it back if you sell; the MIDI is a good size for small stuff and is quiet enough to use without earplugs, variable speed helps with the noise too.

If you want a quieter sucking experience then vacs can also be located outside a shed and ducted via long distances thru to the inside a shed using 50 - 60 mm PVC pipe without much loss in pressure.

It won't be completely silent as the rushing air can still produce some noise.

Ok. The consensus is to go the vac.
I'll start looking. Are they all ok for the useage rate, ie time on versus time off?

This thread gives some detail for getting the blower working again.
My New, Old 24" Woodfast Scroll Saw

Attached is an image of how I have done my scrollsaw. Sorry for the mess it is a while since it has been used.

You may need some sort of adaptor to suit your particular dust extractor. (Even if it is packed out with duct tape.)

Thanks. I just tested mine again. There is just the barest puff coming from the air port. I felt sure my headstock is complete. So maybe it is worn, or missing a felt/leather washer.
There's no oneway valve sort of device. So as the tube inside goes up and down, does that draw air into the headstock, in a "suck-blow" method?? eg on the upstroke, it pumps air out, then on the downstroke it draws air in???
On page 2 lines 5 -20, the description says valve structures are eliminated, and says on the upstroke the air is expelled through the port.
Ahhhh... further reading... page 4 lines 55 - 75. Apparently there is a "plug" which is supposed to act as a "cylinder head of a traveling cylinder ".
So, looks like a washer to me. Anyone got one to show me, neoprene oring, leather washer, what have you got or used.
Thanks
Lyle.

Thanks handyjack. I think that you win the "heath robinson" award.
I see what you've done.
Thanks.

Are you more concerned with collecting the sawdust to dispose of it or just getting it away from the workpiece?

In a pinch a fan will make short work of clearing the dust away.

Many moons ago I had ascroll saw that needed attention in the blower dept. I fitted fish pond blower and it was exelent. I'm not to worried about dust because it is minimal and I think a vacume cleaner and seting it up is not a an option especially when noise is considered.

John