Beter contractors saw dust collection - Page 2

Beter contractors saw dust collection · 02-28-2009, 07:57 PM

Got tired of all the dust flying out the back of my table saw, so I cut this little thingy out on my laser cutter. Only works when the blade is at 90 degrees, but that's what I do 95% of my cutting at anyway. Sticks on with magnets, so whenever I cut an angle it just pops off in 10 seconds.

I think I could have cut it a lot closer around the trunnion motor mounts; may try version 2 pretty soon if I'm still losing a lot of dust with this one.

Seems like this is something I could make and sell on the side. Wouldn't be a huge moneymaker, but I'd get a lot of satisfaction thinking about the man hours of sweeping I'd saved people. Anybody seen anything like this on the market before? I did a quick google search and found nothing.

cubicdissection · 03-01-2009, 04:35 PM

Well, I went back to the shop and played with this a little more. The problem with a design which stays in place during tilted cuts is that the hole is so large it negates a lot of the benefits. I thought about ways to make a sliding window that would cover the hole as the saw tilted, but that greatly complicates the design and would make it far more expensive to make (and hence sell).

I think that a simple hanging tag you put on the angle change knob would do a fine job reminding you to remove the rear guard. Even if you turn the knob without looking, after one rotation it will bang against your hand.

The fixed, simple design works *really* well. I cut some scraps up and even MDF which normally results in a spray of fine dust shooting out the back. Nothing....very very clean. Also, I can now feel air moving past my hand at all open points of the cabinet, including the zero clearance kerf and all other openings.

Can people make their own? Sure thing! However, I think that for a low enough price it's still a good deal not to have to hassle with it. Look at all the junk products out there that people buy anyway...those sooper duper table top rust treatment packs come to mind. They work WORSE than WD40 and paste wax, but people buy 'em. This product actually works well...so. not exactly snake oil, more of a do I want to bother with this or just buy the darn thing.

Anyway, I'll be working on version 2 for my couple saws (powermatic/jet) and after that will start developing covers for other models. Drop me a PM if you're interested in a free cover in exchange for taking some measurements. First come first served according to model of saw.

Matt Schnurbusch · 03-01-2009, 06:38 PM

Wanted to look at the pics again, but they are gone?

cubicdissection · 03-01-2009, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Matt Schnurbusch

Wanted to look at the pics again, but they are gone?

Huh....I can still see them on the first page of this thread...

Matt Schnurbusch · 03-01-2009, 07:24 PM

They're back. Honest they weren't there a few minutes ago.

While I think it would be much easier to enclose the whole back of my saw, I can't seem to get over being nervous. I can't afford to overheat the motor. Certainly I don't run the saw for extended periods of time, but the more I think about it, the less willing I am to take the chance.

I once had a tempered hardboard enclosure similar to yours that did a really good job, but I couldn't get over being nervous about shredding the belt. Can you tell I'm a bit of a nervous guy?

I guess I am going to have to invest the time to build a cover that takes the motor & belt swing into account. I seem to get tons of dust on top of my saw even with a zci. I know I need a stronger DC but for now I need to improve what I have.

FredP · 03-01-2009, 07:34 PM

you could route out curved slots for the belt but then it would be saw specific. how bout a bracket attached to the motor mount with a piece of plexi-glass that moves as the saw is tilted?