Dust Collection

[signpro]

Anyone have any feedback on dust collection? I grooved my table last night for the t-track and the MDF made a huge mess in the shop. It was basically snowing dust!

[atwooddon]

You have a several choices/approaches.

First - a vacuum source like a shopvac or modified house vacuum mounted so the tip is near the bit. This will get the majority of the 'bits'. If you router has a stream of air exiting the bottom of the router (most do), you can also make a diverter which deflects the air outward from the base of the router which helps control where the dust gets blown and allows the vacuum to pick up most of the stuff. You can also add a dustboot to the bottom of the router which helps retain the dust and bits near the bit and keep them from getting thrown or blown all over the room. The vacuum can be inserted in the top of the boot providing a path for the bits and dust to exit. There are many examples here on CNCZone, a search will probably find them.

Second - you can purchase or build a dust collection system which is like a 'super vac' with much greater airflow. Grizzly, Harbor Freight, etc have them.

You will quickly find out the vacuum systems quickly get clogged up with all the fine dust and loose vacuum power. Cleaning the filter or bag restores the vacuum power but it needs to be repeated often to maintain suction. There are dust seperators which will remove the vast majority of the bits and dust from the incoming stream and help keep the vacuum source from getting clogged so quickly. There are 2 types I am aware of (probably more available). The first is a 'cyclonic' system similar to what Dyson advertises tho he did not invent it as he would have you believe. Next there is a system designed by Thien and is much simpler. You can go on YouTube or search here and find many examples. Both are simple to build and will work amazingly well for being so simple. I use a cyclonic version and my brother uses a Thien type and both seem to work well.

Dust control is a major pain but once you have a dust collection system working, it gets much easier to manage. I have a friend that lives out in the country, and he basically uses a Harbor Freight collection system, but his version of collection is exhausting it outside his shop!!! Behind his shop is a layer of dust that gradually fades away the farther you get from his shop. :-)

Don