Shopsmith Forums

I started this in another thread (Custom Main Tabletop) but realised I was hijacking an existing discussion. My problem is with the dust collection system on the MkV SS Tablesaw. I have the undersaw guard hooked up to my dust collector but still get an awful amount of airborne and deposited dust which is not picked up by the system. I even exchanged my SS Dust Collector for a more powerful one without success. I realise that the problem is caused by the fact that because the saw uses a rise & fall table and not a R&F arbor it is impossible to effectively enclose the under-table area to give an efficient extraction, but I am sure that someone somewhere must have come up with a solution. I have even modified my upper sawguard to incorporate a vacuum takeoff but his does not help much. In the other thread Ed in Tampa replied that he does not have this problem, and I would be grateful to hear if anyone has solved this.

I also have this problem. I adjust the lower saw guard to miss the tie bar. But I haven't figured out the correct distance from the blade. Is it 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, etc. or some magical number inbetween?

I use the SS vacuum with two hoses. One mounts to the lower guard, the other attaches to a magnetic nozzle which holds to the table tubes. This helps pick up the dust being thrown forward. I still have to sweep up after awhile, but it is an improvement.

rayjack,

could you tell us which version of the MKV you are using?
if it is a 500 are you using the 1-hole or 2-hole lower guard?

what type of table insert are you using? (zero-clearance versus regular)

where is the sawdust going that is not being collected?

Ivan

I adjust the table height first, then open up the lower saw guard as wide as possible, when using either the saw blade or the sanding disk. I do get a little pile of sawdust underneath, but nothing that can't be vacuumed up in 30 seconds. I think opening up a second port on the DC 3300 helps, also. Anyhow, works for me!

Gary

I have heard of the dust collection problems before with the SS.

First let me say no saw is completely dust free. Even a fully enclosed Delta Unisaw puts a certain amount of dust on the floor and into the air.
That said my Shopsmith 520 with DC3000 works as well or better than my son in laws Unisaw.

The 520 lower blade guard completely surrounds the blade and has a built in dust port. I also bought the OEM sharkguard riving knife/upper blade guard that has an additional dust port. So I'm collecting the dust both from above and below my blade.

Without the Sharkguard I still have very minimal dust that escapes from the top.

I changed over 510/520 system many years ago and I frankly don't remember how well the SS 500 worked but I believe it wasn't as efficient as the present 510/520 setup.

Here is the link for Sharkguard if anyone is interested.
http://www.leestyron.com/shopsmith510.php