Max conduit/hose run length for a CT dust extractor setup

[Jruks]

Hi all,

posted this on another woodworking forum but wanted to put it here too as I am moving to more of a Festool based setup.

That said, I mainly deal with hand-held power tools in my work like track saw, domino, router, sanders (for both space and personal preference of bringing tool to wood). Because of that my dust defense has historically been a shopvac plus dust deputy. I do have a Dewalt lunchbox planer with good chip ejection and I do have a Dewalt mitersaw that I’m trying to work out of my work flow because I hate its dust collection.

I’m tired of dragging the shopvac/dust deputy rig from tool to tool and tripping on power cords and hose, and am debating putting up some 2/2.5” pvc and some hosing around the ‘shop’ (aka garage) that I can then hook to an overhead boom to support work on my to-be-built diy MFT/box beam workbench combo.

How long can a run be from a shopvac and dust deputy combo be before suction gets too low to work well on my tools? I’m looking at getting aomething to replace my loud, bargain shopvac, like a Festool dust extractor or even a garage-specific or house central vac system that is spec’d For higher CFM and water column height that the Festools. But only if I can find one reasonably priced that also does hepa filtering. Last but most expensive option would be a Oneida dust cobra but that may be over the top vs a Festool CT26 or something if the Festool or other vac system can do 30-40ft runs with good suction.

Thanks!

 

[nvalinski]

The planer is kind of the snag in this. I've done piping runs with a shop vac before, works okay for small tools. The planer will have you taking apart the system more often than it's worth. It also has much higher cfm requirements. This one will need something more akin to the Oneida system.

The rest should be fine. Festool sells an ASA 5000 boom arm that should give you an idea of how far of a run you can do without issue. I imagine about 20'-30' should be fine for all of the other tools you have (sanders, tracksaws, probably routers). Just do youself a favor and put cleanouts on the end of all of the 90 degree bends in case it does get clogged.

 

[Jruks]

Thanks. Will take a look at that boom arm. The planer I agree is a bit of a wrench. Might try to rig something else up for that given the Dewalt planer already has a great built in chip ejection fan and I just need something to catch it all.

The planer is kind of the snag in this. I've done piping runs with a shop vac before, works okay for small tools. The planer will have you taking apart the system more often than it's worth. It also has much higher cfm requirements. This one will need something more akin to the Oneida system.

The rest should be fine. Festool sells an ASA 5000 boom arm that should give you an idea of how far of a run you can do without issue. I imagine about 20'-30' should be fine for all of the other tools you have (sanders, tracksaws, probably routers). Just do youself a favor and put cleanouts on the end of all of the 90 degree bends in case it does get clogged.

 

[RKA]

Just talking out loud here.  I feel like that's a pretty long run to ask of a portable dust extractor.  You'll certainly lose some suction and flow and there are probably better alternatives.  I do remember someone here adding a run to their whole house vac to their basement shop and putting an Oneida cyclone in the shop to trap most of the debris there.  The flow specs on that house vac were impressive (~250 CFM?).  Obviously that was also meant to be used in a high static pressure environment.  But the costs of the vac + oneida was probably north of $1K.  At that point you're in dust cobra country anyway (and you'll get the hepa filter with the dust cobra).

CT26 pros:
Hepa filtration
Tool activated outlet (will you be using this in your scenario?)
Mobile - not important in your case
Compact - you could get it off the ground and build a shelf or hanger for it

Dust Extraction needs:
Router - the more suction, the better
Track saw - the more suction, the better
Planer - the more suction, the better
Miter saw - the more suction the better, but you may need to modify the saw to get better extraction
Domino - does fine with the CT26, not sure how much suction loss would lead to an issue
Sanders - you'll need to dial down the suction either way most likely

Looking at the above, I would be inclined to consider the non-Festool options for your shop, particularly the dust cobra.  Four out of six of your operations will suffer from a reduction in flow.  Probably enough to nullify the hepa filters (if it doesn't get into the hose, the hepa filter can't help you).  But obviously you lose some floor space with the dust cobra and there is the price.

 

[Bob D.]

Thanks. Will take a look at that boom arm. The planer I agree is a bit of a wrench. Might try to rig something else up for that given the Dewalt planer already has a great built in chip ejection fan and I just need something to catch it all.

Do what I did years ago. Build a chip collection box into the base of the DeWalt 735 stand. My shop DC connects to this with a 4" hose and provides the suction. The DW735 connects to the box. The DW735 pushes the chips into the box and the DC takes them from there. That how it works simply defined, there is more to it but that should give you some ideas for your own system. I made mine so I can use it in the shop connected to the DC or "on the road"/portable using only the DW735 chip ejector.

 

[Jruks]

Thanks. Yup, that’s very similar to what I was thinking. Thank you!

Thanks. Will take a look at that boom arm. The planer I agree is a bit of a wrench. Might try to rig something else up for that given the Dewalt planer already has a great built in chip ejection fan and I just need something to catch it all.

Do what I did years ago. Build a chip collection box into the base of the DeWalt 735 stand. My shop DC connects to this with a 4" hose and provides the suction. The DW735 connects to the box. The DW735 pushes the ships into the box and the DC takes them from there. That how it works simply defined, there is more to it but that should give you some ideas for your own system. I made mine so I can use it in the shop connected to the DC or "on the road"/portable using only the DW735 chip ejector.

 

[Jruks]

Thank you. I think I’m going to set up some 2.5” tubing runs and try my shop vac/dust deputy just to see what suction feels like. Then I’ll see if I can find a central vac motor with higher cfm and water column height/suction than the Festool dust extractors for cheaper. If there really isn’t anything that exists that’s sufficient I’ll likely go with something like the cobra.

Just talking out loud here.  I feel like that's a pretty long run to ask of a portable dust extractor.  You'll certainly lose some suction and flow and there are probably better alternatives.  I do remember someone here adding a run to their whole house vac to their basement shop and putting an Oneida cyclone in the shop to trap most of the debris there.  The flow specs on that house vac were impressive (~250 CFM?).  Obviously that was also meant to be used in a high static pressure environment.  But the costs of the vac + oneida was probably north of $1K.  At that point you're in dust cobra country anyway (and you'll get the hepa filter with the dust cobra).

CT26 pros:
Hepa filtration
Tool activated outlet (will you be using this in your scenario?)
Mobile - not important in your case
Compact - you could get it off the ground and build a shelf or hanger for it

Dust Extraction needs:
Router - the more suction, the better
Track saw - the more suction, the better
Planer - the more suction, the better
Miter saw - the more suction the better, but you may need to modify the saw to get better extraction
Domino - does fine with the CT26, not sure how much suction loss would lead to an issue
Sanders - you'll need to dial down the suction either way most likely

Looking at the above, I would be inclined to consider the non-Festool options for your shop, particularly the dust cobra.  Four out of six of your operations will suffer from a reduction in flow.  Probably enough to nullify the hepa filters (if it doesn't get into the hose, the hepa filter can't help you).  But obviously you lose some floor space with the dust cobra and there is the price.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thank you. I think I’m going to set up some 2.5” tubing runs and try my shop vac/dust deputy just to see what suction feels like. Then I’ll see if I can find a central vac motor with higher cfm and water column height/suction than the Festool dust extractors for cheaper. If there really isn’t anything that exists that’s sufficient I’ll likely go with something like the cobra.

That’s a good plan. I use an old Fein Turbo vac suspended from the ceiling (and a small cyclone hanging under it) at one end of the shop an have several 10 foot hoses suspended to make use of the vac at the far end of the shop. It works okay. A more centrally located vac and larger smoother pipe will be better.

 

[semenza]

Yeah the pipe is cheap enough, just do some testing. I have about a ten foot run of 2" PVC conduit for my CT33. No appreciable suction loss.

          [attachimg=1]    [attachimg=2]

Seth

 

[Jruks]

Thanks. That’s a very helpful data point!

Yeah the pipe is cheap enough, just do some testing. I have about a ten foot run of 2" PVC conduit for my CT33. No appreciable suction loss.

          [attachimg=1]    [attachimg=2]

Seth

 

[semenza]

Thanks. That’s a very helpful data point!

Yeah the pipe is cheap enough, just do some testing. I have about a ten foot run of 2" PVC conduit for my CT33. No appreciable suction loss.

         

Seth

I never measured it or  made a side by comparison but I don't have any trouble with suction either sooooooooo...........

    I would still test a longer run.

Seth