Essential table saw accessories

[RFGuy]

Hi guys. Thanks for the additional tips. I have read through the posts a few times and there are certainly some things I don’t understand yet. For example, what is a “key way stock?”

For sawdust collection, I have been using a shop vac in conjunction with a N95 mask. I’m using the extra space in my detached three car garage for my work area.

For pending projects, I would like to make some open topped wooden boxes for my daughter and a few picture frames, including one with a slot for kid’s artwork to rotate in and out. I’m currently making some mahjong tile racks. These have proved much harder to make with a table saw, then the 4 inch models I made with a band saw.

I plan on reading your posts a few more times when I get some more time. I appreciate the tips.

Thanks,
Karl

Karl,

A good quality shop vacuum can actually do quite well for dust collection with a Mark V. The dust port on the Mark V lower saw guard, e.g. only has a 2.25" ID (for connecting to 2.5" diameter hose). IF you were running 4" dust hose or larger a shop vacuum just would not work, but I actually get slightly better airflow performance with my ShopVac™ setup than my Shopsmith DC-3300. This is because the DC-3300 is an anemic dust collector and doesn't even reach its marketed specs. I have written about this ad nauseam on this forum. Using a HEPA cartridge filter and ShopVac™'s HEPA filter bags, but also making sure the unit has good sealing all around, I get very good dust collection without blowing excess fine dust back into my shop through the vacuum exhaust. Generally speaking dust collectors like the DC-3300 with cloth filter hoods are NOT recommended and many in woodworking call these dust blowers because much of the fine sawdust just gets blown around the shop (12" tall filter hood only filters downs to 7µm and the 24" filter hood down to 5µm, but the 42" filter hood filters down to 1µm). For comparison, most good HEPA filters filter well down to 0.3µm, which is why a HEPA filter is superior at saving your lungs in woodworking. Okay, so here is the caveat, any dust collector with a HEPA filter will clog fast on something like sawdust causing a quick drop in airflow performance. You can prolong the life of the filter and better maintain airflow if you put a cyclone in front of the dust collector. I have a ClearVue Cyclone Mini cyclone, the CV-06. Unfortunately, the owners of ClearVue Cyclones are retiring and it looks like the business is not going to continue. Oneida, of course, makes the Dust Deputy and almost everyone and their cousin has one of these, except for me. I don't like the very bottom unit because it is too small and doesn't separate well enough IMHO. There is a much larger version of the budget cyclone from Oneida (https://www.oneida-air.com/dust-deputy/ ... -separator) that I would pony up for if I was buying again today. Keep in mind any cyclone put in front of a shop vacuum will decrease its airflow, i.e. that fine dust separation comes at a price. You might see as much as a 20% loss in airflow in a small cyclone design like this, but honestly it is worth it to preserve the expensive HEPA filter and maintain airflow as the filter fills up. Another reason to have a beefy shop vacuum.

Those sound like really fun projects. Feel free to post pictures and info on them either to share, or if you run into a challenge with a project. There are several talented woodworkers on this forum that are more than willing to offer suggestions. Enjoy!

[edflorence]

Hi Karl;

Per Gemini: "Keyway stock, also known as key stock or keystock, is a type of machine key used in mechanical systems to transmit torque between rotating shafts and components. It's a bar of metal, typically rectangular or square in cross-section, that fits into a matching keyway or key slot machined into both the shaft and the component. This creates a secure connection that prevents slippage and ensures the proper functioning of machinery."

A quick search with any search engine will bring up some pictures. Simply, keyway stock is a rectangular or square metal rod cut into short lengths. The pieces I have are an inch long, square in section and of various sizes from 1/8 up to an inch.

[kas20amc02]

Thanks guys for the additional information. I have lots more dumb questions I will post when I get a chance. On top of not being an exerpienced woodworker, I am only minimally handy so coming up to speed will take some effort. Trying to improve my crafting abilities.

I worked some more on the racks tonight. I think they are actually pretty functional although I can see several areas where I made mistakes. The router is an unforgiving tool; if you lose tension on the guide for a second you can make a serious burr. It looks like posting a picture is difficult unless it is on a public server but I am going for something like the link below. I could definitely have worked an extra hour of my regular job and paid for them instead of the multiple hours I have put into the project so far!

All the best to everyone. Thanks again for the responses. Questions to follow.
KaS



https://www.etsy.com/listing/1738645002 ... 4YEALw_wcB

[kas20amc02]

A few pictures of my first ever project

[kas20amc02]

All that is left now is to cut the pusher blocks, add magnets to keep the pieces together and stain.

[RFGuy]

Karl,

We all have to start somewhere. I was fortunate to start woodworking in my Dad's shop as a kid many years ago. Even over three decades later, I am highly critical of my own work due to my perfectionistic tendencies. Today there are some things that I do well in the shop and things I feel like I would need a lifetime to master. For example, even though I had been doing woodworking for a few decades, off and on due to work schedule, I only got into woodturning seriously the past few years. I still consider myself a complete newb at woodturning, even though I have some mastery over other aspects of woodworking. My point is just keep practicing and learning and be kind to yourself.

To keep the threads a little neater, feel free to post/start new threads for sharing your work - in such a way this thread can stay focused on your initial questions from your first post. Many forum members share what they build here, e.g. in the "Beginning Woodworking" section or under the "Community" section. Often what one shares can be an inspiration for others. Or, sometimes we get halfway into a project and hit a snag and ask for help. Sometimes we get so focused on a project that we can't see an easier way to accomplish something, but in posting here others can chime in and offer advice.

Yeah, in woodworking there is the DIY/home improvement type category. Often one can save money by doing it themselves in this area. When it comes to some craft projects and particularly with furniture, you can quickly spend as much on lumber to build a project as it would cost to buy it from a store instead unfortunately. The difference is you can customize, i.e. build exactly what you want and what will fit best in your home. The exception of course, is some have access to free lumber, either on their property or a family/friend that has their own portable sawmill. Life would be so much easier if lumber was free... Of course, there is also the experience of building it yourself and what you learn along the way what is more valuable to many of us than what it might cost us in lumber or tools to do this hobby.

[JPG]

Keystock is (usually) a square rod that is intended to be used to connect a square groove in mating parts. Typically a shaft and wheel/gear ... It provides greater rotational torque capability.(anti slip so to speak)

[kas20amc02]

Got it on the new thread for a new idea.

I have a Rigid 6 HP shop vac. Do I need to order the Dust Deputy 2.5 DIY Cyclone Separator plus an additional hose and then just connect it between the vacuum and the tool? This seems a lot like a what I use in the hospital; a bucket connected to suction to hold the yucky stuff so it will not go into the vacuum system in the wall.

I am going to scarf up some of the other things yall suggested as well.

Many thanks.

[RFGuy]

Got it on the new thread for a new idea.

I have a Rigid 6 HP shop vac. Do I need to order the Dust Deputy 2.5 DIY Cyclone Separator plus an additional hose and then just connect it between the vacuum and the tool? This seems a lot like a what I use in the hospital; a bucket connected to suction to hold the yucky stuff so it will not go into the vacuum system in the wall.

I am going to scarf up some of the other things yall suggested as well.

Many thanks.

Correct. You can use your own bucket w/lid from Home Depot or another big box store, or you can buy a complete setup like below from Oneida. A Rigid 6HP (peak*) shop vac is a good beefy shop vacuum. Just connect the top of the cyclone with a hose to your shop vacuum inlet. Then you will need to connect a hose from the side/front of the cyclone to the tool where you want to capture sawdust. You will need to empty sawdust from both this bucket and from your shop vacuum periodically, but this cyclone will capture more of the fine particulate saving your HEPA filter on the shop vacuum and prolonging performance, i.e. keeping airflow from dropping with time due to a clogged filter. Hope this makes sense.

https://www.oneida-air.com/dust-deputy/ ... arator-kit

OneidaDustDeputy.jpg (57.32 KiB) Viewed 126 times

[kas20amc02]

Thanks. I ordered one.