lets see dust collection on miter and radial arm saws

Being the neanderthal that I am, there won’t be any pictures because I can’t do that, maybe at a later date my wife will help me with it. But, as far as the RAS is concerned the dust collection that I use is something my father made almost 20 years ago ( yes I had a dust collector 20 yers ago :>)) and it’s a box that is app. 12”w x 14”h x 4” deep, it has louvers on the front (to catch large pieces) tilting upward and a 2 1/2” x 4’ adapter on top for my 4” hose. It is attached to the back of my RAS top. It collects almost all of the dust thrown at it, but is only good for 90 degree cuts or dadoes.

I should probably try and update it, but it works well for now.

I hope that helps.

Jimmy

-- -JimmyC...Clayton,NC- "Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave"

My little dust collection “house” sits right behind the blade and is just hooked up to a shop-vac. It collects 95% of the chips and ALL of the airborne dust. Sorry there is not a better photo of just the dust collector but you can see it here:

It is not very big but it works fine because with a Radial Arm Saw the chips mostly stay in a straight line behind the blade… as opposed to a chop shaw which sprays chips in a varying arc as the blade is raised/lowered.

I originally just made the little box without the inward-facing tabs, but I noticed a lot of the chips bounced out (and back at me). Then I added the tabs to the sides and top and it created a mini vortex inside the box from the suction.

I’ve seen people put huge hoods over/around/behind their saws. Unless you have a HUGE dust collector with a lot of CFMs, you don’t get any suction that way. Keep it small and in just the right place.

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

FastCap has a product called Chop Shop. It’s intended for a miter saw, but might work for a radial arm saw.

-- http://www.peteroxley.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

I have a Bosch 12” sliding compound miter saw. It’s especially difficult to collect the dust because the saw moves all over the place.. left, right, and back and forth in any of those angles. The best bet for me was to mount a collection scoop, about 6×112” vertically behind the slider but to the saw. if I tilt the saw to a 45 degree angle the scoop tilts with it.. It’s mounted vertically and catches a lot of the chips shooting out the small expeller hose at the rear of the saw. A lot of dust gets lost though. Especially when i forget to turn on the vacuum!

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://gagnerwebsite.com/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

the problem i am having is I have a dewalt slide miter and cant figure out how to put something behind it and still cut miters
Daniel do you have a picture of your set up

the radial arm is my neihgbors he will definatlly appreciate the pictures thanks Blake

keep um coming guys great info

-- jay Rambling on and on again

JM, I attach the collection scoop directly to the saw.

As the three pictures at my gallery show The scoop is attached with one bolt to the slide. Picture two shows the hose attachment and a small bungie cord holding the hose so that it hangs from the side. The third pictures hows the saw tilted for a 45 degree cut and the scoop moving with it. My Bosch saw has a nozzle that throws the sawdust at the scoop. Some does get thrown out from the sides of the saw. But the scoop catches the bulk of it.

http://gallery.me.com/deceiver6#100033&bgcolor=black&view=carouseljs&sel=0

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://gagnerwebsite.com/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

Thanks i’ll make a little box like that and give it a try. that will definatly solve the movement problem I think I need to move it to the bottom though I notice alot of dust collecting and being thrown at the rear of the insert were the fence is open for the kerf.

does anyone else have a cool setup for there miter and radial saw.

also what about lathes

-- jay Rambling on and on again

I made a table with dust collection that works fairly well—-There’s some pictures of the early construction in my Picasa web album about half-way through—

Feel free to look:
http://picasaweb.google.com/windfalla/ShopPhotos#

-Windfall

-- "I" before "E" except after "C" and oh yeah! "Budweiser and Leinies"

I made a go at Blakes version for the RAS this past weekend. I am going to re-make it when I have more time and after I rework my main line for dust collection. A couple of observations. Make it a bit taller then you think. I am thinking my next one will be up to the top of the blade guard, this allows you to place a 45 degree piece from running from front to the back. The other thing is to place the port to the Dust Collection in-line with the blade.

This years NYW are repackaged older episodes. Pay close attention to the safety video with a good view of the RAS and look at the dust collection he has behind it.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I took some better photos:

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us