Dust collection..

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:26 pm

I'm looking for a dust collection setup in the not-too-distant future and currently have none as I've indicated elsewhere here.. To that end, I'd prefer to have a setup that is good enough for today but can expand for future tools as well.. At some point, I'd like to acquire a surface planer (probably 12") at a minimum.. I guess what I'm curious about since many of you have the DC3300 is whether you feel it has enough power to work on your SS (I'm guessing so) and all of the SPTs and whether it has enough suck to do the job for perhaps a Jet 6" jointer or non-SS surface planer or similar other tools.. I see a lot of DC systems out there that have between 650-1200CFM and am a bit concerned about the DC3300 only having 330CFM.. Also -- how about the noise level -- is it louder or quieter than the typical SS headstock running at full-bore?

And yes, I'd prefer to throw money over at SS for a well designed (and USA built) product instead of getting some piece of chinese "stuff" that I'll probably have difficulty getting replacement parts for..

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:08 pm

Nick had a good post a while back on dust collection. I'm not going to try to summarize his post since I don't remember any real details. Do a search for dust collection and I'm sure you'll find it.

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:40 pm

Bruce --

Thanks for the suggestion.. I had searched the list but apparently used the wrong magic terms.. Anyway, I found the post you were referring to here for future reference:

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=859&highlight=dust+collection

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:02 pm

Nick's "hands-on" presentation on designing a 3" dust collection system is excellent. It is especially applicable to the smaller shop in the garage or basement, where there simply isn't enough room or electrical capacity for the 2 and 3 HP, 4" ducted systems being recommended today. Units of this size are appropriate for larger shops with perhaps more than one person working at a time. Even in this type of application the smart shop owner will put the dust collector outside in it's own enclosure due to the noise level.

Twice, I've put the link to Nick's dust collection video up on the Lumberjocks Forum, without getting any comments. Sadly, it appears that the magazines and their advertisers have convinced the public that you must gotta have a high HP dust collector and bulky 4" ductwork in your garage.

The March issue of Wood Magazine featured a review of dust collectors titled "for the home based workshop". Naturally, they only considered 4" ducts. They gave low ratings to the lone 1 1/2 HP unit in their line-up. The winner was..............big surprise........the Grizzly 2HP - their number 1 advertiser!

In his video, Nick has shown us the math, describing how the DC 3300 can maintain the necessary 3500 cu ft per minute in a 3" ductwork system. When you go to a 4" duct, you need to have much greater HP in order to maintain this air velocity. Yes. You can put this kind of large system in your home workshop, but it is overkill, not to mention the expense and your family's reaction to the noise.

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:15 pm

I agree with 8iowa that Nick's Sawdust Session #9 does a great job of explaining the math and how to do the ducting. My DC-3300 is quieter than my SS at table saw speeds. I can't really address the question of capacity since I've never needed to run hundreds of board feet of lumber through the jointer or planer. But for my small jobs, it's been great- almost nothing on the floor at all.

Gary

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:27 pm

Thanks as usual! In standing back and thinking about this a bit more and in a different light, I'm not sure I need anything killer for what I'm going to be doing -- on top of that I'll almost always have the garage door open (we're in So-Cal of course) so air circulation isn't a problem in almost all cases.. Anyway, thanks to all that chimed in. As usual, I learned something new today..

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:02 pm

My first dust collection system will be to use my existing Shopvac (with 2.5" hose) along with a Mini CV06 to collect most of the stuff. I don't have room for anything else right now - or the budget, with what I've been spending with Shopsmith lately.

- Chris

qtndas01 · Post by **qtndas01** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:03 pm

In my shop I use the SS Dust collector that is hooked into a permanent 4" dust collection that then reduces to 2 1/2" for each individual tool hookup. It is based on a permanent dust collection system that Shopsmith used to have designed plans for years ago. If you go to the dust collection accessories there is a part that is no longer available that is part of the system. It is based on 4" thin wall tubing that is light weight. It works fine and is expandable. For my planing on the SS pro planer that I use in my garage I purchased the Delta 1 HP (AP400) dust collector that works great and is rated at 650 cfm. I have it reducing from 4" to 2 1/2"; The cost a couple years ago was only a little over $100.00 and now they sell for a little over $200 so it is cheaper that the SS. I only use it for the planer, but have no doubt it would handle any tool. I only use for the planer since it only has one inlet.