Thread: Router Table Dust Collection

Steve

Based on my experience, you will collect up more of the dust from the router fence end than from underneath (from an enclosed unit). Mind you, my dust collection uses a Shopvac (about 2 hp) and this may lack sufficient power. I abandoned an enclosed unit and just retained dust collection at the fence. This is satisfactory in my setup.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I agree with Derek; dust collection through the fence alone is all you need. Very little dust goes downwards naturally, since the router bit causes a centrifugal airflow which sends the dust out sideways.

Steve,
The advice you have already been given is sound.
I would also collect from below the table if you can. I have a 2hp DC and use a 4 inch with a "Y" piece and reduce both outlets to 2 inch and collect from the fence and the inbuilt dust port on the Triton from underneath.
An alternative is if you are going to enclose around the router itself then it would be easy to just run a 2 inch hose from your enclosed chamber to the fence. Locate the 2 inch outlet in the chamber so that it does not suck the dust through your router. i.e. Do not place the 2 inch inlet on the oposite side to the 4 inch outlet with the router between both ports.
The more dust you collect the better.

cheers,
Rod

The direction in which dust & chips travel can differ with the shape of cutter and the way the nature of the cut.

For example I recon straight cutters will generaly pitch their waste straight out (above the table) where a round over or a chamfer or such will eject a fair portion of the waste toward the body of the router.

also a high volume low preasure dust extractor may not be appropriate in cases where the suction appiture is small.
a shop vac would be more appropriate.

for my hand held routers with built in extraction I use a shop vac. for my spindle moulder I use a dust extractor.

If the chamber or the hole in the fence where the bit works is small say less than 50mm I reccon a shop vac would be better.
If the chamber is big like 75mm or bigger i recon a 4" hose would be great.

Its imposible to get all the dust & chips anyway.

cheers

thanks guys, definitely a lot to consider. Will let you all know how I go.

steve

It probably requires a bit more work to achieve success, but I've often wondered if there is any merit in fully enclosing the under table area and connecting that to the dust collector.

So what you say, but the extra bit I've thought of is to place say a 2" hole through the table top behind the normal router opening and have a box that is integrated into the fence go over this hole. You could move the fence back and forward and maintain suction and only need one actual hose to the router table.

This would have to contain 99% of the dust.

Another place I've found dust escapes from is parallel to the fence off the end of the table when cutting rebates on an edge.
Often thought of a pickup at the end of table for such instances.

I'm in the process of ripping off this rather fine idea from Dizzy (see http://home.pacbell.net/jdismuk/routertable.html ) except fitting under an extension wing on the new tablesaw.

The extraction is a great idea.