It takes a Village to make a great dust collection system

[MarieC]

A while back Paul @Scrappile posted some info on his dust collection system and many folks from the village responded.  So I decided to set up one for my saw as well.  I have a very large noisy dust collector which I use for my large equipment but I wanted something quieter while I scroll saw. 

I bought the Dewalt Stealth (really quiet) shopvac and set it 20' away from my little workshop room (located in our Orchard Building).  I then hooked up the locline suction tube Paul suggested and purchased the bottom attachement from @James E. Welch https://bigriverwares.etsy.com/listing/1497458276 and hooked that up as @rafairchild2 described using dust gates as a "throttle" to decrease the suction to just what I needed.  Then I took @Rolf cool collecting catch system and added it... so If I had a piece that was sucked up it would land in my catch container.  I didn't have a container like his, so I took an OXO storage container from my kitchen (it held coffee beans) and drilled 2 1/2" holes in both sides and used it as my collection container with a screen over one side.   I also added a "Y" where it came out of the wall so I could add a vacuum hose for clean up in my shop.  

Wow!  it really works great.  I used to use a small paint brush to remove some of the sawdust and now I don't need it.  I also have virtually no dust on the floor anymore.... Thank you Village People for all your help!

 

Edited January 1 by MarieC

[preprius]

Nice write up.  You included pictures and village people. 

 

[barb.j.enders]

Thanks for your write up and pictures.  I will be redoing my dust collection system over the next couple of weeks as I get some other tools set up so it is great info.

[Scrappile]

My oh my, aren't you getting fancy, except that is the wrong saw!   But looks like a great setup.  I also liked @Rolf catch the little stuff, but was too lazy to build it in.  So I added catchers at the source.  The black thing in my nozzle is out of a delta faucet water defuser and the pinkish red on is out of the cap of a toilet bawl cleaner dispenser!  Both work great and it anything is small enough to get through those, It is gone although I will be in my 5 gallon bucket my dust separator sits on.  So anxious for you to use your new saw.  I am still undecided about the Hawk here in Richland.  I keep going back and forth on it.

[MarieC]

1 hour ago, Scrappile said:

My oh my, aren't you getting fancy, except that is the wrong saw!   But looks like a great setup.  I also liked @Rolf catch the little stuff, but was too lazy to build it in.  So I added catchers at the source.  The black thing in my nozzle is out of a delta faucet water defuser and the pinkish red on is out of the cap of a toilet bawl cleaner dispenser!  Both work great and it anything is small enough to get through those, It is gone although I will be in my 5 gallon bucket my dust separator sits on.  So anxious for you to use your new saw.  I am still undecided about the Hawk here in Richland.  I keep going back and forth on it.

 

Great Idea on how you catch your pieces....but I do like Rolf's set up and I will use that on my Hawk.  Yes, I now need to buy another locline and the bottom dust collector device from James for my new saw...which I can't wait to start using.  I notice all dust collection systems are 25% off at Woodcraft for all of January, so I am going to need to order some more tubes and dust gates, etc.  I did look at that Hawk you are interested in...It looks really clean.  Maybe I will try making some sawdust with my new Hawk so I can let you know how I like it...unfortunately, it is still sitting in our very cold orchard bldg right now because my heated woodshop is too small.

[MarieC]

1 hour ago, barb.j.enders said:

Thanks for your write up and pictures.  I will be redoing my dust collection system over the next couple of weeks as I get some other tools set up so it is great info.

If you need better pictures (close ups, let me know.  When I turned it on without adjusting the dust gates, the locline really was noisy (kind of a high pitch) but when I open my gate just a little to the hose for clean up, it really quieted down and still provided plenty of suction.

[Rolf]

Marie C, great pictures!  I did not glue any of the PVC joints as periodically some bits get caught in the bends. 

@Scrappile Clever use of leftover bits. for you small parts catcher.

[rafairchild2]

Same as Rolf, I did not glue my joints/connections, but used colored duct tape to seal everything and have them stick together.  This way I got the best air seal, and if something happens or I want to make a change, I can easily do so vs glued connections.

You will find, that tweaking your system ill happen.  As you operate things, you'll find moving, adjusting, etc. will happen quite a bit in the beginning.  

[MarieC]

2 hours ago, Rolf said:

Marie C, great pictures!  I did not glue any of the PVC joints as periodically some bits get caught in the bends. 

@Scrappile Clever use of leftover bits. for you small parts catcher.

 

2 hours ago, rafairchild2 said:

Same as Rolf, I did not glue my joints/connections, but used colored duct tape to seal everything and have them stick together.  This way I got the best air seal, and if something happens or I want to make a change, I can easily do so vs glued connections.

You will find, that tweaking your system ill happen.  As you operate things, you'll find moving, adjusting, etc. will happen quite a bit in the beginning.  

Thank you both!  I do remember you both stating not to glue your parts in previous dust collection threads, so I followed your advice and did not glue anything.  Mostly used those rubber connecters that just are tightened up with a screw.  I do think I may have used gorilla tape in one place that was a bit loose.  In a couple of places I used Woodcraft dust collection couplings to hold things together (especially on my collection box).  https://www.woodcraft.com/products/4-pieces-2-1-2-clear-dust-collection-network-coupling-woodriver-dust-connection?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhc-sBhCEARIsAOVwHuTpPgMf72hkPLK4ucHil0D86zH_8iezWunp8ZH1FTPtOgK5u1W1jNIaAga2EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks again for all your great suggestions!

Edited January 2 by MarieC

[Sycamore67]

That is a very interesting way of collecting dust from the bottom of the table.  I will be interested in how well it works and how much dust gets by it.   I did go to the Etsy site to see the workings of it.  Please let us know.

 

The dust port looks to be about 2" or so but the channel over to the blade is quite small.At most it is 3/4" wide and maybe 1/4" deep.  That is a cross section of 0.375 sq inches.  The 2 inch port is over 3 sq inches or 8 times larger than the channel.  

I am going to look at my Hegner and see if I can make something similar.

[MarieC]

1 hour ago, Sycamore67 said:

That is a very interesting way of collecting dust from the bottom of the table.  I will be interested in how well it works and how much dust gets by it.   I did go to the Etsy site to see the workings of it.  Please let us know.

 

The dust port looks to be about 2" or so but the channel over to the blade is quite small.At most it is 3/4" wide and maybe 1/4" deep.  That is a cross section of 0.375 sq inches.  The 2 inch port is over 3 sq inches or 8 times larger than the channel.  

I am going to look at my Hegner and see if I can make something similar.

I have almost no dust under my scroll saw after sawing for 4 hours today.  There are a few little pieces but the dust seems to be picked up by the top and/or bottom dust ports.  Usually I have a pile of dust under my saw and everywhere else.  The other thing I noticed is I can now saw without a mask on.  I usually have sinus problems when sawing.  Saying that, I will still wear a mask when I saw walnut or any of the exotic woods since I just want to be careful.  I believe @rafairchild2 has been using this dust port for a while and he might have more information about how it has worked for him.

[OCtoolguy]

30 minutes ago, MarieC said:

I have almost no dust under my scroll saw after sawing for 4 hours today.  There are a few little pieces but the dust seems to be picked up by the top and/or bottom dust ports.  Usually I have a pile of dust under my saw and everywhere else.  The other thing I noticed is I can now saw without a mask on.  I usually have sinus problems when sawing.  Saying that, I will still wear a mask when I saw walnut or any of the exotic woods since I just want to be careful.  I believe @rafairchild2 has been using this dust port for a while and he might have more information about how it has worked for him.

I'd advise you to still wear your mask. The stuff you can't see would anaze you. I have dust control and an overhead air cleaner and I still wear my mask.

[rafairchild2]

Yes, I have the prototype as I was the first one James sent it to.  When I am running with my bottom "throttle" at least 50% I get nearly zero dust.  I have a small throw/catch box under the opening, resting between the table legs, below my knees that catches some of the larger 'chunks' that drop (and I pitch castoffs) or are not sucked up by the top vac. I also find with the top vac, I really do not need the 'puffer' either.

[Charlie E]

Wow! That’s an impressive set up. Very nice!

[Scrappile]

@Rolf @rafairchild2 I did glue most of my joints, wish I had not....  good advice.   Even the joint, that when I glued it,,, the fire went out.... Think about it.