Non-Festool Router With Good Dust Collection

[dlu]

I've got a PC 7518 that I use in a router table, but I'm getting tired of the dust… It doesn't look like PC has an accessory for picking up dust under the table (I'm thinking something like the dust pickup on the OF1400 would be pretty nice, rather than a box-and-dust-collector type of setup). Anybody know of a fixed base router out there that works well in a router table and has good dust collection?

 

[Svar]

There is a dust collecting accessory that works for most table router setups from Keen Products:https://www.woodcraft.com/products/...MIqprTurOx3gIVV-DICh1nNA4ZEAQYBSABEgKMivD_BwE

Similar thing from Milescraft:https://www.amazon.com/Milescraft-DR11601-Dust-Router/dp/B0045I4CWU

 

[lwoirhaye]

You can get dust extractor accessories for a lot of routers.  Many of them may not do very well with large bits.  If you're going to leave the router in the table and change the bits from the top without taking the motor out, then you could build an enclosure however you want.  If you're using a router lift there won't be a router base to attach the dust widget to.  Some router lifts may have dust accessories available.  Some folks have simply built a solid enclosure and sucked the dust out that way.  This approach may pull more dust through the motor than you want though.  One of the issues with having a router upside down is the dust falls into the motor and probably shortens its life, so ideally catching the dust right under the hole would be ideal.

Dino, the Greek fellow who runs Eurekazone has a video where he takes one handle off a fixed base router, drills out the casting and puts a plastic dust fitting on it.    Lee Valley, Rockler and other suppliers have all sorts of router table gadgets for dust collection.  Tricking out router tables seems to be a profit center for these businesses. 

 

[rst]

I've been using the setup from Keen for a long time with my 7518 and Incra fence using a Festool CMS split hose.

 

[dlu]

I've been using the setup from Keen for a long time with my 7518 and Incra fence using a Festool CMS split hose.

How are you mounting the router? Is it in a lift or on the standard base or something else? I assume you're pleased with it.

 

[rst]

I've had a Benchhdog lift for better than twenty years, bought it from Tool Crib long before Amazon bought them.  They were the original lift, marketed more to production shops, long before others started making them.  It's a cast iron beast of a lift with huge bronze bushings.  The inserts on mine are also iron making it easy to use magnetic stops and other jigs.

 

[JimD]

DeWalt 621 is an old Elu design with dust collection through an oversize plunge post.  It is on my "wish list".  It was Pat Warner's favorite. 

 

[big K]

Years ago Hartville tools used to sell a heavy gauge sheetmetal cabinet/box with an access door that you could bolt to the bottom of the router table. That box had a 4" dust port, and along with connecting to the fence you get really close to 100% dust capture, regardless of the size of the router bit in use. But they don't make it any more. I have 2 mounted to my double router table and I swear by them. I think that Rockler was doing something similar to that concept recently, but I don't have any experience with theirs, and to be honest I am skeptical about anything with their brand name on it.

 

[travisj]

Years ago Hartville tools used to sell a heavy gauge sheetmetal cabinet/box with an access door that you could bolt to the bottom of the router table. That box had a 4" dust port, and along with connecting to the fence you get really close to 100% dust capture, regardless of the size of the router bit in use. But they don't make it any more. I have 2 mounted to my double router table and I swear by them. I think that Rockler was doing something similar to that concept recently, but I don't have any experience with theirs, and to be honest I am skeptical about anything with their brand name on it.

Recently I have come across these from Rockler, SawStop, General, and Incra.  Would be easy to build one also either out of wood or sheet metal or a combination.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cincinnati]

Incra has a well designed system - THEIR clean-Sweep with sloted insert for the router plates:
https://incra.com/router_system_accessories-cleansweep.html