Project Information
I have finally got around to getting my dust collection system going and as part of it I always wanted to have an overarm collector for the table saw blade. I looked at a few of the products out there and there seem to be some good ones but they cost a few sheckles, more than I was wanting to fork out. So of course I thought a bit about it.
I am lucky that my shop has a laminated beam running right down the length of it and directly over most of my power equipment. I used this to support my dust collection pipe and it works well over the full 20 ft. length.
I also used the beam to support the overarm dust collector. I made it out of baltic birch, a bit of jig hardware, a clear plastic lid, a two and a half inch blast gate, a few screws and some machine bolts which attach the blast gate, plywood, and plastic lid together. I have the slide working so that when it bottoms out the collector cover is 3/4 inch from the table saw. To raise it higher I just loosen the two black knobs, slide the unit up, tighten the black knobs and I am good to go. The only problem is I cannot move it laterally left to right which would be nice to do if I am making small cuts close to the fence. I will have to work on that. Other than that it works great. I am quite happy with my $30 investment.
I also made a couple of other things to help with the dust control, a small sanding table which is moveable and can be tucked away until I need it and the last item is on my bandsaw. I have an older Delta bandsaw which had about a 1" port on it for dust collection. This was virtually useless. I removed the lower cover from the bandsaw, drilled a pilot hole, then used a jigsaw to cut a 4" hole in the steel. Then I attached a 4" 90 degree flanged elbow with some small machine bolts. Much better than what I had before which was virtually nothing.
Cheers
I am lucky that my shop has a laminated beam running right down the length of it and directly over most of my power equipment. I used this to support my dust collection pipe and it works well over the full 20 ft. length.
I also used the beam to support the overarm dust collector. I made it out of baltic birch, a bit of jig hardware, a clear plastic lid, a two and a half inch blast gate, a few screws and some machine bolts which attach the blast gate, plywood, and plastic lid together. I have the slide working so that when it bottoms out the collector cover is 3/4 inch from the table saw. To raise it higher I just loosen the two black knobs, slide the unit up, tighten the black knobs and I am good to go. The only problem is I cannot move it laterally left to right which would be nice to do if I am making small cuts close to the fence. I will have to work on that. Other than that it works great. I am quite happy with my $30 investment.
I also made a couple of other things to help with the dust control, a small sanding table which is moveable and can be tucked away until I need it and the last item is on my bandsaw. I have an older Delta bandsaw which had about a 1" port on it for dust collection. This was virtually useless. I removed the lower cover from the bandsaw, drilled a pilot hole, then used a jigsaw to cut a 4" hole in the steel. Then I attached a 4" 90 degree flanged elbow with some small machine bolts. Much better than what I had before which was virtually nothing.
Cheers