Thread: Dust Extraction setup question

Andy

The 2hp is the way to go and the way you are setting is up should be ok.

Ross

In general, the 2hp dusty would be best for machines like a tablesaw (of whatever size), jointer/thicknesser, etc. I'm assuming that your saw has 4" dust ports??

I've found the shop vac to be better for routers, disc sanders, and so on.

My 2hp dusty (with 2 outlets) is connected via splitters and blast gates to the tablesaw, JPT310 jointer/thicknesser, and the bandsaw. Everything else gets the shopvac connected to it as required (via a Triton dustbucket). Longest hose run (to the bandsaw) is 3m, but everything works just fine.

Thanks for the replies. Even though the dust port on the side of my table sad is 2inch, would the dusty still be suitable? The underneath port is shop made so I'll make it the same as the hose. Would I just fit a larger port on top of the 2"? Would this lose suction then? Thanks. Andy

There is a 2" to 4" converter (I got mine at Carbatec), but you will lose a lot of suction using this. Since you've already mounted a 4" port elsewhere on the saw, is there no way of changing out the 2" port for a 4" ?? The larger dusty works by moving a large volume of air at (relatively) low speed, so any restriction to the flow doesn't help. Your smaller shopvac moves a (relatively) small volume of air at higher speed, making it more suited to routers, sanders, etc. Remember that in terms of cross-sectional area, the 4" port is four times larger than the 2" - big difference.

I used to have a Ryobi AP13K thicknesser, and the dust hood for that was a 2" port. It worked OK when connected to a 4" dusty hose using the 2" to 4" adapter, but 4" ports are much better.

The 2 inch port on the side probably has a hose going to the blade shroud. Take the hose off all together or remove it from the side connector and let it hang down near the 4 inch hole for you big dust sucker. A sinker taped to the end of the hose will encourage it to hang down when you have the blade set for a bevel cut. This also means you only need one connection. I have done this to a Ryobi and it was a giant leap forward in dust control. The 2 inch corrugated pipe clogs easily especially when it has a tight radius, which will occur when you tilt or lower the blade.

The dust port at the base of my saw is shop made, so I chose what size I put in. The port on the side is fixed. I opened up the saw before and there is no way of taking it out and installing a 4". I think i'll have to get a 2' to 4' to connect to my dusty.

Would it be also worth installing a overhead setup to sit above the blade, or do you think the side/underneath dust extraction will suffice?

Andy

With this type of of decision I would be keeping at the front of my mind the critical rule of woodwork dust extraction, which is that it is the volume of air moved that is critical.

This is because it is only by drawing in a large volume of air, or if you like, by exchanging the largest possible amount of air surrounding the machine, that you are able to remove the small, invisible to the naked eye dust particles that do the most damage to your lungs.

I'm not familiar with the saw that you are speaking about so it's a bit difficult. However, if it has a very tight shroud within the case itself, surrounding the blade then you may be best to put a shop vac on the 2" outlet and then put a hood over the saw with the largest diameter outlet that you can leading back to your dusty.

The 2' port is incapable of allowing sufficient airflow to remove the fine particles that do the most damage. Most woodworking dust extractors perform very poorly when "necked down". In running a DE system the standard recommendation is to run 150mm (6") pipe directly from your dusty to as close to the machine as you are able. Use the minimum number of bends keeping any necessary bends to the largest possible radius and then only reduce when you have no choice. There is a variety of engineering calculations which support this.

It can't hurt to plug something into your 2" outlet, however, the lion's share of work to protect your health will need to be done by a dust hood above the machine.

Thanks for everyones replies. I was thinking if attaching a PVC pipe to the hose about 400mm below the underneath dust port. On that pipe I'll have two 2" outlets, one going to the dust port on the side, the other going above the blade. I have a 2hp dusty and I'm getting blast gates in the next week. Now with the pipe with the outlets coming out of it, I'll then continue the 4"/5" hose (can't remember which one) to the underneath dust port. Is there a better way of doing this? Ive been seeing this on ts in magazInes, but only with one outlet going above the blade. Hope this makes sense, Andy.

Another question is would I lose much suction? Rememberingll all 2hp will be In use. Would I be better of having the outlets more down towards the DE or is 500mm from the 5"/6" port ok? Is this making sense? Cheers. Andy