Nordfab Ducting and SawStop 3HP PCS

[mattbyington]

It's been a fun few weeks ... I installed Nordfab ducting and got a SawStop 3HP PCS.

haven't fired the latter up yet - just got it finally dialed in this past weekend (it came last week). The tables are perfectly flat to .0015" (so excited about that part) after 5 hours of adjusting.

Waiting on an electrical plug coming soon to fire it up for the first time.

I know I messed up on the Nordfab and have too many 90 degree corners ... oh well ...

Matt

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[ChuckM]

All I can say is that after 7 years of ownership of the PCS (1.75HP only  :'()) and some 14 years of occasional uses of an ICS, every time I turn on the SawStop, I know every cut is dead-on. That's the kind of confidence that makes sawing a pleasure. Every past fellow who asked me for advice, I told them not to get anything other than the PCS or ICS. (I've used the Contractor model briefly, and the Jobsite very briefly).

Consider getting a JessEM stock guides system for your saw...that will virtually eliminate all kickbacks and will also greatly help you if you handle large sheet goods.

 

[mattbyington]

[member=57948]ChuckM[/member] thank you sir!! so excited! JessEm already on order they said it should ship this week!

Also got the Incra 5000 sled as well.

By the way I have LOTS more pictures and videos on Instagram @matthewbyington

It's hard to post high-res pics and videos here so feel free to check it out there.

I am so excited to fire it up for the first time this week!!!

Matt

 

[nclemmons]

Nice job on the ducting.  That Nofab is nice pipe!

You could improve the performance by replacing at least two of the 90’s with a couple of 45 degree joints.  Are you considering that?  I just installed new sewer pipe overhead in my new shop and was pretty careful to not have any 90’s.  I’m pretty pleased with the CFM even at the most distant tools in the shop. 

Looks like the collector is behind that wall with a 90 degree right at the inlet.  A little tougher to change that one out, however.

Do you have a Anemometer - CFM measurement tool?  Might be a consideration.  Not much money and very useful in realizing the drop-off at various points in a system.

thanks for sharing.  Great looking shop and tools!

Neil

 

[Cheese]

I used Nordfab stainless for ducting the kitchen range ventilation hood...pretty nice stuff. Actually it's really flipping nice stuff... [big grin]

Like Neil opined, every 90º elbow (regardless of the manufacturer, it's simply physics) is the equivalent of an additional 10' of ducting, so if you can insert two 45º angles instead you will decrease the cfm loss in the piping significantly. Place the 45º elbows as far away from each other as possible. What you're looking for is as close to a straight line flow of air as possible.

 

[rmhinden]

Matt,

Enjoy your PCS.    I really like mine, and I am sure you will too.

Looks like Woodcraft has the Jessem saw guides on sale, see

JessEm - Clear-Cut Precision Stock Guides For Table Saws

I have them on mine, I made a fixture with Magswitchs to hold them in place.

Bob

 

[mattbyington]

[member=167]neilc[/member] thanks! I will try to improve the ducting. I know the hard turns are bad. I don't have a meter at the moment.

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] thanks that's a super helpful metric!

[member=66813]rmhinden[/member] i'm going to do the same!!!

 

[Max Fracas]

Off topic: I also put the Jessem guides on a board fitted with Magswitches.  The board is thick enough to accommodate the Magswitches, which raises the guides higher than normal off the table.  The result is that the guides don’t grip well on thin stock.  Not a huge problem, but one I’m thinking to address by either mortising the guides into the board or gluing up new board to make a U-shaped channel for the guides to sit in with thicker ends to fit the Magswitches.  Hope that makes sense!

 

[rmhinden]

Off topic: I also put the Jessem guides on a board fitted with Magswitches.  The board is thick enough to accommodate the Magswitches, which raises the guides higher than normal off the table.  The result is that the guides don’t grip well on thin stock.  Not a huge problem, but one I’m thinking to address by either mortising the guides into the board or gluing up new board to make a U-shaped channel for the guides to sit in with thicker ends to fit the Magswitches.  Hope that makes sense!

That is odd, on mine the guides come down to rest on the saw table.    I think they would rotate down further if the table wasn't in the way.

How thick is the board you are using.  I think I used 3/4".    I can send you pictures later if you are interested.

Bob

 

[ChuckM]

Off topic: I also put the Jessem guides on a board fitted with Magswitches.  The board is thick enough to accommodate the Magswitches, which raises the guides higher than normal off the table.  The result is that the guides don’t grip well on thin stock.  Not a huge problem, but one I’m thinking to address by either mortising the guides into the board or gluing up new board to make a U-shaped channel for the guides to sit in with thicker ends to fit the Magswitches.  Hope that makes sense!

Did you extend the arms which are adjustable?

 

[Max Fracas]

[member=66813]rmhinden[/member], the board measures 0.76 inches.  The Magswitch is flush or nearly so with the bottom of the board. 

[member=57948]ChuckM[/member], the gap between the guides and the saw table is the same whether the guides are fully extended or not.[attachimg=1]

 

[ChuckM]

I'm referring to the arm extension, not arm rotation. See the image and the dimples. You can unscrew and adjust the arm. Be sure to keep a proper angle for the arms (see user manual).

 

[Max Fracas]

[member=57948]ChuckM[/member], thanks!  Can’t believe I missed that.  And sorry for the upside-down picture. 

 

[ChuckM]

You're welcome. Full JessEm protection from now on even when you handle thinner stock! [big grin]