Router table Dust collection

jtodd71 · 01-11-2008, 12:28 AM

I am building a new router fence and would like some advice on what to do about above table DC. I have under table DC works great. I have a DC port above the Router table and I can use my Shop vac hose to hook a line up for a fence DC. I hope all this makes since.

What do you guys and gals do?

McRabbet · 01-11-2008, 12:50 AM

Jon,

Many of the commercial RT fences have effective dust collection by making the fence a long hollow box with a dust hose connection at the outfeed -- for example, see the Jointech Cabinetmaker's fence (e.g., see http://www.jointech.com/dovetailfence.htm). I have one of these and the inserts act like a zero clearance insert and the first few inches of the fence outside these inserts has a shallow gap to suck in any chips from the cutting area -- it works very well. Others have a simple box behind the center of the fence and movable infeed and outfeed "cheeks" to provide an opening for the bit clearance. The back of the box has a dust hose connection to collect chips -- here is an example from Rousseau:

Lots of people have used the fence design (heck, the whole plan is pretty good) of Norm Abram's Deluxe Router Workstation. That's just a few ideas.

jtodd71 · 01-11-2008, 12:56 AM

this is what I was going to do kinda. I mainly wonder if the hose will work ok?

McRabbet · 01-11-2008, 01:09 AM

Jon,

Here is what you need to add to the end of your hose and to clamp to your fence:

This is a picture from Monty's Album of the fence he made for his Jet cabinet saw. Here it is from the front side, showing a t-track for finger boards and adjustable infeed and outfeed faces.

Hope this helps even more!

jtodd71 · 01-11-2008, 01:11 AM

yes it does that is almost exactly what I have planned. Thanks for your help.

Alan in Little Washington · 01-11-2008, 02:38 AM

That should do fine. One alternative is to have a second hole in your RT top for the fence pickup like in Norm's the old style NYW router table, if you are familiar with that design. That is what mine has and I like it- no hose above the table the dust goes through the fence gap, into a plenum at the back of the fence, then down through the table. It would be a bit harder to due on your setup since you are using the tablesaw fence also.

One other note, I recommend you replace the "T" with a "Y" in that overhead DC line.

How is the planer working?

Sully · 01-11-2008, 08:10 AM

Here's my above table set-up. It's based on the Craftsman router table fence that was cleared out ($25, stealth gloat) about 18 months ago. I'm not sure if any of those fences are still floating around, but they are quite nice.

It should at least give you more ideas about DC hookup, guards, etc.

Edit to clarify, the basic fence is the Craftsman. The mounting blocks, t-tracks, etc. are modifications I made to put this in a wing on my table saw. Now that I have a lot more room in my shop, I'd like to build a full size table.
J

meika123 · 01-11-2008, 05:24 PM

I built Norm's Router Table some time ago, and I added a DC port at the center of the fence behind the router bit. I added the hose from a large Shop Vac to this port, and it grabs almost everything.

Dave in NC

waltv · 01-11-2008, 07:19 PM

Dust collection at the fence of Norm's router table is poor at best. I know.......I built it per the plans. Monty's design shown on this thread will significantly improve chip removal. I also think the lower case DC could be improved on the NYW design. Maybe more make up air from the front door???

jmauldin · 01-11-2008, 08:04 PM

I have a shop built cabinet similar to Norm's withthe Jointech fence. I have a 3" port on the back to the fence. In addition, I have a 4" hose below the table top coming in from the back with a "floor sweep" attachment mounted under the table and positioned just behind the router. This is the best system I have found. Almost "NO" chips or dust collects below the router, nor above. The system is hooked up to a 1 1/2 hp DC that also serves my radial arm saw. I have a 2 hp DC hooked up to my jointer, table saw and planer.
Jim in Mayberry

meika123 · 01-13-2008, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by waltv

Dust collection at the fence of Norm's router table is poor at best. I know.......I built it per the plans. Monty's design shown on this thread will significantly improve chip removal. I also think the lower case DC could be improved on the NYW design. Maybe more make up air from the front door???

Right you are Walt. Couldn't agree more. My system though, hooked up right behind the router bit does a pretty good job.

Dave in NC

gator · 01-13-2008, 06:27 PM

I have a fence setup similar to Rob's.

I used this dust port:

http://routertabledepot.com/dustport1.html

My router table is at the end of a duct run so I put a 'Y' in and hooked up one side to my plenum (under the table) and then put a reducer on the other side and ran a 2" to the fence. Works well for me. If you are in the middle of a duct run, you could put in a 'Y' and then another 'Y' with the table coming off of the second 'Y' as I have described above. I like this set up because I only have to turn on the DC for both and not the DC and a vacuum.

George

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