Thread: Powertool dust extraction

Hi MikeK,

When you say that you have a DC with 100mm (c4") connections, I assume that you mean a workshop dust collector?

If so, these machines rely on volume of air being passed through rather than a (partial) vacuum per a vacuum / shop vac device.

For hand-held tools like an ROS, I use a 1200w drum shop-vac and a variety of hoses (22mm ~ 26mm: I wish that the various manufacturers could agree on a 'standard' size, dahmkit!), and have the hose held together with the power cord with a simple shop-made MDF frame, rather like a figure eight, but with a little channel for the power cable, and a larger one to suit the hose - this keeps both out of the way when using the tool.

The shop vac I have was a US made (yellow R2D2 look-alike), but that expired in a cloud of smoke a while ago, and whilst I could have bought a new motor, that was $89 trade as compared to $99 for a new one from Bungoes. In the end I bought an Orange Mongrel from Timbecon, as they had a reasonable macjine on offer also for $99 - and it's a metal unit, with suck 'n blow facilities. Also, it's MUCH quieter than the previous unit; the old yellow job could make more noise that the jointer in use!

Cheers!

Thanks Steve.

Yep, I do mean that I have a workshop DC.

I'm amazed at the price of the "Orange Mongrel from Timbecon" - $99 sounds cheap. I'm looking thru various cattledogs and I see various units from $399 up to the stratosphere. Makes me wonder what the differences really are to justify the price differences.

Regards,
Mike.

Visit Godfrey's. A Pullman AS3 for $99 when they are on special or a good second hand vac. for less.

Thanks Gumby. I had a look at the AS3 (online) and it has a 10ltr capacity. This seems small. I assume that you have one. How often do you find you need to empty it?

Regards,
Mike.

Originally Posted by MikeK

Thanks Gumby. I had a look at the AS3 (online) and it has a 10ltr capacity. This seems small. I assume that you have one. How often do you find you need to empty it?

Regards,
Mike.

Never have. I have a cyclone bucket in between the vac and the tools so no dust (or anything else) actually gets to the vac. The vac only provides the suction. You don't want to buy a standard vac and get all that fine dust in it. You'll stuff it in a few months. Put a cyclone in between and you are home free.



If you haven't seen one, check out the numerous threads in these forums by doingf a search on cyclones. reading them will keep you busy until Xmas (2007 ! )

Or visit www.tritonwoodworkers.org.au and check out the cyclone dust bucket mod in the mods and upgrades section (mod number 8). You can do this mod with a Triton bucket ($45 at Bunnies) or a cheap plastic bucket from Bunnies. I like the triton bucket 'cos you get the hoses and connectors etc.

Thanks again Gumby. I'll have a lot of reading to do.

A very quick question before i do all of the reading - can I use my DC to power a cyclone that has the connection to a ROS?

Regards,
Mike.

I'm not sure what DC you have but generally, it's better to use a shop vac on hand tools. The air doesn't flow at the same volume as a 1 oir 2 HP DC but flows much faster through smaller pipes and this is what you need to remove the small dust particles generated by a sander or a router, which is what I hook mine up to. The 2HP DC is only attached to my TS and jointer/thicknesser.

The shop vac is also the best one for using as a clean up vac around the workshop. I even vac out the car with mine.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I'm not sure what DC you have but generally, it's better to use a shop vac on hand tools. The air doesn't flow at the same volume as a 1 oir 2 HP DC but flows much faster through smaller pipes and this is what you need to remove the small dust particles generated by a sander or a router, which is what I hook mine up to. The 2HP DC is only attached to my TS and jointer/thicknesser.

The shop vac is also the best one for using as a clean up vac around the workshop. I even vac out the car with mine.

I'll second that Plasticine Man