Dust collection with wet/dry vac

It’s been my experence the shop vac will not handle the planner. And if dust is your issue use a dust collector with a 1 micron filter. Dust collectors are portable.

-- ??? My mistakes heat the house. It's very warm in here. ???

Also if you do go the shop vac route consider small cyclone type system between your shop vac and your tools. It is amazing how often you NOT have to clean out the vac filter with one of these installed.

-- Larry "Work like a Captain but Play like a Pirate!"

Hi Praki,

I use a shop vac for my router table without any problem. The difficulty with the planer is that it will have a 4” dust port on it. Stepping it down may produce a problem with moving the chips through the hose. I use a portable 3/4 hp collector for my planer (Delta 22-580). But the biggest issue with using a shop vac or, as in my case, a small portable system is the lack of control of the fine dust- <30 microns. A good dust control system should be controlling particles in the 1 micron range for health concerns. Breathing in these small particles can cause long term health issues.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

I like Toolz’s idea.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Toolz and Gary, are you referring to the Mini CV06 at ?
http://www.clearvuecyclones.com/Order_Page.htm

Scott, Lately, I have become aware of how much the dust bothers me and I do want to take this issue seriously. From what I have read so far, it was not very clear to me if the wet/dry vac system works or not.

Thank you all for your sharing your experience.

-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker

I’m using a Rigid 12 gal. shop vac (model WD12450) in my shop “for now”. It does fairly well on my small table saw, and when used with my Delta 22-580 and a 4×2 1/2 adapter, it works quite well, provided it’s clean when I start. I take the filter out and blow it clean with compressed air (DO THIS OUTDOORS!). Be sure to blow from the inside, out (opposite of normal flow); as well as cleaning the pleats.

If I start with a good clean filter/vac, I could clean the floor with a foxtail and dustpan. To be fair though, I’m generally running small quantities at a time (< 10 bd-ft). YAMMV

I also bought the 3-layer, 1 micron filter cartridge. That cartridge really DOES decrease the amount of fine dust in the air and on surfaces. The downside is that it clogs VERY quickly. I ended up going back to the ‘standard’ filter (5 micron, I think?), buying a decent respirator (every woodworker should own and USE one IMHO), and using the fine filter only when I’m generating a LOT of fine dust (sanding).

I’m also looking into buying or building a separate air filtration unit for the shop.

-- There is nothing in the world more dangerous, than a woodworker who knows how to read a micrometer...

I use my 16 gallon Shop Vac more often than my 1029Z. I run the extra-fine dust bags (the ones for drywall dust) and a clear stream hepa filter. There’s no dust in the air except what never made it to the vacuum.

The clear stream filters rock. I use my shop vac with my power planer (hand model) and for all sanding operations.

If you’re going to be generating serious chips, that clearvue mini cyclone looks to be the best answer. I’m planning on getting one soon (I hope. I spend way too much buying wood ;-) ).

-- Made lots of sawdust and pounded some nails. Haven't finished anything, though.

I would buy a : Delta 50-760, 1 1/2 HP, 1-Micron filter bag, portable. Cost between $300-$350 with shipping. Fine Woodworking rated this machine #1 in its class.

Seeing that the Higher Powers wants the dust to go away, maybe you can talk them into paying half.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

i agree with ND2ELK, I’m looking into a dust collector as i start to get some stationary power tools and due to the great reviews and that it has a 1 micron bag i would go with the Delta 50-760

look into this one too. it got great reviews, has a 1 micron bag, and is supposed to be quieter than the others

http://www.amazon.com/JDS-14040-Dust-Force-Horsepower-Collector/dp/B0007Y75IE/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1207417365&sr=8-4

hope this helps

praki, no not that one. This kind sits on a metal trashcan. It’s cheap and it works.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1515&filter=dust

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

GaryK, Thanks for the clarification.

teenagewoodworker – thanks for the pointer. It is on my list of candidates now.

ND2ELK – thanks, I should have no trouble getting the budget approved for this cause :)

flink – can you point me to a “clear stream filter”. I am not entirely sure what you mean.

TroutGuy – thanks for sharing your experience. I do use a respirator and it helps.

-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker

i Use a rigid 16 gallon in my shop. i use it on everything from the tablesaw, bandsaw, rigid oscilating sander, jointer, and planer. It will work with the jointer and planer but because it’s shavings and not dust, the vac will fill up alot faster.
You’ll need to buy some 4” hose and adapters to go from 4” to 2 1/2”.
Also take some old stockings or pantyhose and put over the filter, this will help keep the really fine dust from MDF or sanding from clogging the filter too fast.
Keep the filter clean and empty the container as often as possible, and you should be ok.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

i have used my shop vac for years and still plan to get my dust collector up and running htis year to do a better job.

-- making sawdust....

Hey Praki, Click on this link and choose the “Shop Vac Cyclone” video. Onieda sells a similar one which you can find here. These basically keep the chips out of your shop vac like the one Gary linked to. I don’t know if one is better than the other.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net