Shop vac or expensive dust collector
Hi all I'm looking for a better dust collector for my new cabinet table saw. I've been using a midsized shop vac for my sanding and general cleaning. But the new table saw has a 4" port so I'm trying to figure out if I should get a bigger shop vac and 4" adapter or step up to a expensive dust collector.
I apologize ahead of time if I'm beating a dead horse here, but any advice is appreciated
I apologize ahead of time if I'm beating a dead horse here, but any advice is appreciated
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I am thinking the same. And I am in the country here in the lower peninsula of Michigan.I didn't read all the replies so I apologize if I stepped on anyone else's comments,
My suggestion Hunter, is buy both - and maybe a high powered leaf blower. Your big tools - cabinet saw, planer, bandsaw and joiner - are going to need a dust collector. Your smaller tools - sanders, routers and your shop floor will need a shop vac. A couple of times a year I'll raise the shop (garage) door, back the cars out of the driveway, grab the leaf blower (which I don't need for blowing leaves here in Arizona), put on a mask and dust the whole shop. Unless you live way out in the country, I'd wait for a windy day, vacuum up all the big stuff first, then blow away!
I'm trying to keep the dust down to a minimum. I have a 28' x 28' garage that I can use half for my work shop and other half for my truck and motorcycle.
I up till now have been more of a metal working guy. But while I'm restoring a old farmhouse it's gave me the woodworking bug
I'd try it and see. I use a old 16 gal Craftsman shop vac on my Rockwell Invicta 13" planer, and people say it won't work.Hi all I'm looking for a better dust collector for my new cabinet table saw. I've been using a midsized shop vac for my sanding and general cleaning. But the new table saw has a 4" port so I'm trying to figure out if I should get a bigger shop vac and 4" adapter or step up to a expensive dust collector.
I apologize ahead of time if I'm beating a dead horse here, but any advice is appreciated
Today I installed the power tech wall mount DC. It does ok with the cabinet, but not much from the overhead/ blade area.
The plastic cover over the blade is something I'll have to get used to. It totally blocks view of the blade
The plastic cover over the blade is something I'll have to get used to. It totally blocks view of the blade
I’m not surprised if mine isn’t pulling more like 300CFM even vented outside. Does the job very well for what I’m using it for. I wouldn’t use it in a table saw tho. What are you doing for a bag? The one that came with it is horrible.Today I installed the power tech wall mount DC. It does ok with the cabinet, but not much from the overhead/ blade area.
The plastic cover over the blade is something I'll have to get used to. It totally blocks view of the blade
Overhead collection is more about suction than air volume so a shop vac works well. I believe collecting a cabinet is of minimal benefit. I settled on passive collection & did the occasional clean out. I think active collection requires huge CFM’S, and if you use a ZCI, forget even that. Besides, the dangerous stuff comes off the top. The only time a cabinet collector might help is with captured cuts like grooves ans dados.
Table saws are tough to collect. Even with an A-one overhead collection, you’re going to find for a lot of functions the hood gets in the way and has to be removed. The only time I use a hood is cutting MDF and ply. Just my opinion, me, my shop & my machines. I don’t use a mask near as much as I should 🙁
Sound a bit like me Robert. I don't use a mask nearly as much as I should, but I'm getting better..LOL Like a lot of you out there I came of age working when safety was basically DON'T catch yourself on fire and DON'T cost the boss any money.. Things were different back then.. Safety was basically some sign in the break room nobody paid much attention to until someone lost a limb and then it was, "Oh! maybe that's there for a reason.." for a few days anyway.. It was kind of left up to the individual and those who did get hurt a lot didn't last long anyway.. Truth be told there really wasn't much good about the good old days other than tools were usually better quality, but ehhh.. Still a lot of death traps out there in the working world..
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