Well, I think i have finally found the easiest, and simplest method of dust collection that can be found.. When i first built my router, i had trouble with flex from the cutting unit (router), so i decided to build a piece to hold it at it's VERY lowest point, to secure it as much as possible. (Photo 1)

I had planned to add brushes to the edges of this to make my dust collection system, but everybody I talked to said that the strips of edging with the brusheds on them could no longer be obtained. Hm.. new idea needed...

This afternoon, i decided to add a second layer to the bottom of this item, but I cut out a channel between the two, I second piece of wood is identically measured to the first, but I taped a piece of plastic over the opening beneath the shop vac hose, and grooved a channel in the board.
(Photo 2)


This routes the suction directly to the opening where the cutting bit is located at, and pulls maximum vaccuum closest to the cutting area. testing it with the router turned off, it darn near sucked my hand into the opening. i was AMAZED at how efficient it was. I cut some MDF with it attached, and never even SAW the dust, it was sucked up so quickly.

Photo 3 shows it assembled, and the cutting tool shortened to shortest distance to allow the suction to be as low as possible..
It also shows how i used a piece of carpet tape & a piece of a broken CD to close off the second opening beneath the shop vac hose to redirect the vaccuum into the channel i cut between the 2 boards..

Any questions, feel free to ask ..

Eddie

Well, I used this setup for about 35 minutes to try it out, and was reasonably pleased. any airborn dust and/or shavings were picked up beautifully. It did not have sufficient airflow to allow it to suck the dust our of the channels, though, but i suspect that is due to an incorrect endmill. the bits i have, are a sort of a RASP file type cutting bit, instead of an upward spiral cutting bit that i probably shoudl be using.

Need to learn more about what kind of bits work well with what ...

Eddie

BTW.. anybody have any comments, either good or bad about his setup? Anybody tried anything like this before?

I think you'll find that it doesn't matter what type of bit you use, the chips get packed too tightly into the grooves to be sucked out.


Were you looking for something like this? http://www.reeseusa.com/item/962C

or even better. http://www.precisionbrush.com/Item/MGBS.htm

You could also try http://www.mcmaster.com/ for brushes. Thats where I got mine from. But if your happy with the way it works now, I'd say don't worry about it.

My appreciation for the responses. The dust packed into the grooves aren't a big issue for me, as long as they aren't airborne.. LOL..

I may checked on the brushes, but probably won't bother with it, since this system seems to work fairly well for now...

You all have a good day..

Eddie

Might try inducing compresed air to keep chip's lose till the vaccum can snatch them up just a thought Kevin

I appreciate that idea. i was planning on buying an Air Compressor with my bonus check, but they took a much larger chunk out in taxes than i expected. i will have sufficient money to register Mach 3, which is INCREDIBLE for the price, but not much more.

I was hoping to generate more interest with this dust collection system. it appears to be working fantastically. anything that get airborne get sucked up totally! If anybody else decides to try this, please let me know how it goes...

Eddie


Might try inducing compresed air to keep chip's lose till the vaccum can snatch them up just a thought Kevin

Might try inducing compresed air to keep chip's lose till the vaccum can snatch them up just a thought Kevin Instead of compressed air just recirculate the air in the vacumm systen. Take a hose to the outlet hole and attach it to the opposite side on the vac hood and you should have a totally closed system!