Dust collection for smaller tools

[misha]

This is my first post here. I came across this forum some time ago and learned so much just from reading.

I'm very much a beginner in woodworking and currently assembling a very small work area in the basement of my house. I'm trying to figure out how I can set up a dust collection. I've tried to read everything I could find, however, I still have some questions.

I'm currently planning to use mostly smaller tools - track saw, ETS sander, hand router. Those work very well with my CT26. However, I'm getting a few a bit larger tools - a 10" band saw and probably shortly a jobsite table saw - tools that have a 2 ½" dust port. With these tools, does it make sense to get a separate dust collector, or can I use CT26 with a larger hose (I have a 27mm one right now) and a dust deputy? And if I can use the vacuum, would there be a noticeable difference between 36mm and 50mm hoses?

Very much appreciate any advice.

 

[rst]

I use 50mm hoses to connect all my stationary tools and for cleanup.

 

[DeformedTree]

dust port doesn't drive what you will need for a vac.  The amount of material coming off the cut does, and a table saw is just fine on a CT.  Sure if you put some giant dado head in there or such you might have an issue.  But look at what you can remove with a big router and those get hooked into CTs.

If a machine wasn't purpose built to have real dust collection in the design, the port doesn't matter. If a company just boxed in the sides and put a big 4" pipe out the side, that saw is unlikely to do well and or needs a massive dust collection system to make up for the lack of a proper design.

From comments others have made here, 12" lunch box planers look to be around the limit to what a CT can handle, mileage may vary on how well such a setup works.

 

[Bob D.]

Your CT26 should be fine, but I think you will find the bag will fill pretty fast.

You mentioned getting a Dust Deputy and I would vote yes or the Festool CT-VA or the Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy which is what I use and yes go with the largest hose running out as far as you can to your tool, reducing for the smaller tools for the last 8 or so feet so you're not fighting an anaconda when you're trying to sand or use your router.

As far as a lunch box size planer having used my DeWalt DW735 for over 10 years I would not use it with a CT or shop vac without placing a separator with a large receptacle (a 5 gal bucket won't cut it here) in line like the Festool CT-VA or the Oneida UDD. It will fill even those fairly fast.

If you were thinking of getting a planer I would say go with the DW735. Not only is it still after over 10 years considered one of if not the best planer in it's size but it is I believe the only one with a built in chip ejector that means you can get by without a dust collector, just send your chips directly into a trash can using the supplied can bonnet and hose.

 

[JeromeM]

From comments others have made here, 12" lunch box planers look to be around the limit to what a CT can handle, mileage may vary on how well such a setup works.

I completely disagree with the idea that a planer is remotely suitable for any CT the chips you will get the bags full within an hour or if running on a cyclone you probably will not have the CFM for good chip extraction.

 

[Eorlingur]

I am running my 300 mm planer with a 50 mm hose to a cyclone, powered by a CT sys. The planer does not have its own fan. I am running a 5 m hose, and without any junctions, gates or adapters, so conditions are probably as good as they get for this setup.

I can overload this if I run a full width cut, but the clogging happens inside the (cheap) planer, not the cyclone or the hose. The CT sys is very capable and for every other use of the planer everything works fine until I inevitably fill the barrel of the cyclone without noticing.

 

[nvalinski]

For a small bandsaw and jobsite tablesaw, your CT will be fine and honestly shouldn't even need the dust deputy - a router will fill up the bag faster than either of these. However, if you ever see a planer in your future and you're still thinking of some sort of pre-separator, I'd highly recommend looking into at least a cheap dust collector. I picked up a 1 hp General dust collector with a pleated filter for $300 - it is by no means considered "big enough" by most, but does a much better job capturing the chips from my planer, router sled, and table saw than a CT or regular shop vac ever did.

 

[JeromeM]

I am running my 300 mm planer with a 50 mm hose to a cyclone, powered by a CT sys. The planer does not have its own fan. I am running a 5 m hose, and without any junctions, gates or adapters, so conditions are probably as good as they get for this setup.

I can overload this if I run a full width cut, but the clogging happens inside the (cheap) planer, not the cyclone or the hose. The CT sys is very capable and for every other use of the planer everything works fine until I inevitably fill the barrel of the cyclone without noticing.

The clogs are due to the low airflow from the CT reduced by the cyclone and small diameter 5 metre corrugated hose. My thicknesser does not have a fan, it’s a DW1150, the hose is a 4” and about 1.5 metres long and smooth inside. I have filled a 55 litre bag in a couple of hours of light work nothing over about 150mm wide. It has never clogged.

High pressure low flow (CT) is not the tool for the job. Low pressure high flow is
View attachment 1

It’s a case of using the most appropriate tool for the job, sure if you have nothing else a CT dust extractor can do a soso job but using a chip extractor will do a better job for less than half the cost
View attachment 2

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
High pressure low flow (CT) is not the tool for the job. Low pressure high flow is

+1.

CT bags are x times more expensive than leaf yard waste bags, too.  [laughing]

 

[misha]

Thank you so very much for everyone's answers. This forum is really amazing.

I'm not currently planning to get a surface planer, since I'm mostly going to work and learn on sheet goods for now. The next "big" tool purchase will most likely be a table-mounted router.

It seems like I have 2 options:
1. Buy a dust deputy and attach 2.5" hose from it to the band saw and jobsite saw. This probably will work with a router table as well.

2. Invest now into a smaller dust collection unit and super dust deputy. I found Laguna B|flux that seems relatively affordable and compact. This would handle not only my current needs but most likely quite a few ones that will come later if I decide to break into hardwoods - a surface planer, jointer, and a contractor or a cabinet table saw. Though to have space for all of those I might need to move or rebuild my garage [smile]

I think for now as I'm only getting started I will go with option 1 and will buy an extra 35/36mm or a 50mm hose for a track saw. I can use the money I would spend on a DC for a table-mounted router or OF 1400 that has been calling my name. Or maybe both [big grin] I seem to pick hobbies that require lots of tools. My previous endeavour was fine leatherworking. Fun, but so many tools. Though now I can make my friends and family wallets, belts, and bags.

Thank you again

 

[JeromeM]

Thank you so very much for everyone's answers. This forum is really amazing.

I'm not currently planning to get a surface planer, since I'm mostly going to work and learn on sheet goods for now. The next "big" tool purchase will most likely be a table-mounted router.

It seems like I have 2 options:
1. Buy a dust deputy and attach 2.5" hose from it to the band saw and jobsite saw. This probably will work with a router table as well.

2. Invest now into a smaller dust collection unit and super dust deputy. I found Laguna B|flux that seems relatively affordable and compact. This would handle not only my current needs but most likely quite a few ones that will come later if I decide to break into hardwoods - a surface planer, jointer, and a contractor or a cabinet table saw. Though to have space for all of those I might need to move or rebuild my garage [smile]

I think for now as I'm only getting started I will go with option 1 and will buy an extra 35/36mm or a 50mm hose for a track saw. I can use the money I would spend on a DC for a table-mounted router or OF 1400 that has been calling my name. Or maybe both [big grin] I seem to pick hobbies that require lots of tools. My previous endeavour was fine leatherworking. Fun, but so many tools. Though now I can make my friends and family wallets, belts, and bags.

Thank you again

A cyclone is a good option (but not the one you link to), use the shortest smoothest connecting pipes you can (not Festool ones). For a track saw and OF 1400 the 27mm hose is perfect the 36mm isn’t ideal as it’s just too heavy. Don’t get a bigger hose until you have a need for it. I use a 36mm on my SCMS and belt/disk sander as that is the correct size port for them.

The cyclone you link to is for a low pressure high flow unit
You need one for a high pressure low flow unit.

They have very similar design details but are not really interchangeable the style you need is this onehttps://www.clearvuecyclones.com/home/116-cv06-mini-system.html or similar

 

[misha]

Thank you Sometimewoodworker! The one I linked was for option 2 if I went the dust collector route. I will be getting this one:https://www.oneida-air.com/dust-deputy/wet-dry-vacuum-kits/dust-deputy-deluxe-cyclone-separator-kit

And thank you for your advice on the hose. Sounds like I can skip a larger one for now.

 

[JeromeM]

Thank you Sometimewoodworker! The one I linked was for option 2 if I went the dust collector route. I will be getting this one:https://www.oneida-air.com/dust-deputy/wet-dry-vacuum-kits/dust-deputy-deluxe-cyclone-separator-kit

And thank you for your advice on the hose. Sounds like I can skip a larger one for now.

As you can see from my signature I have one similar to that. I use it with my CT. I also recently got a bigger chip collector that’s good as a floor sweep and for my planer/thicknesser that I’ve recently started using quite a bit. SWMBO likes the amounts of chips I collect for the garden.

Definitely skip the hose until you have a need, it looks as if the technology on those is getting better as well.