Bandsaw Dust Control

[bobgroh]

I was recently trimming (to round) some 'green' wood on my SS bandsaw. My bandsaw has the new side cover with the window for the tension adjustment and the builtin dust port on the side and that is connected (via a 2-1/2" hose) to Dust Deputy cyclone with a ShopVac on the other side.

I had seen the recent postings concerning the tendency of the dust port (which has a cast in grid work) to catch the dust and was very interested in how my new setup would work. The answer is - not so good.
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The sawdust (apparently because this was green wood) was really quite long strands and gummy and, boy, did they block the dust port. Big time. This is a picture of the sawdust all by itself:
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This obviously was unacceptable so I cut out the grid work:
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And the results were much better. Of course the moving parts of the bandsaw are much more accessible and I'm sure SS would not approve of this change from a safety standpoint but it does seem to work. No plugging and less sawdust left inside the cover.

[nuhobby]

Some time back on this forum someone had actually called Shopsmith and got an "OK" to cut out those grid-pieces. I have cut out every other one of my grid-pieces and I'm doing all right with that now.

Reminds me of some of my own observations with the Dust Collector. I've been using handplanes more often, so I can work quietly at the quieter hours in the house. But afterwards, the "choicest shavings" are the same long shavings that wrap around the impeller on the DC3300 and cause it to be noisy. So I'm better off picking those up by hand.

[kd6vpe]

That would have been me that called SS. They talked to engineering for me to make sure that was no structural problems with cutting out the grid. I left in a cross just to be sure and have had no problems since doing that. It would happen even with dry wood not just green.

[JPG]

It is meant to be used for dust collection, not string collection!:D;)

I am curious if the sappy stringy mess made it through the dust deputy.

[bobgroh]

My 'dust collection' system (ShopVac + Oneida Dust Deputy) had no problems sucking up the 'dust'. I have almost filled up the bucket after just a short time with the shop tools. I'm very happy with it.

[JPG]

My 'dust collection' system (ShopVac + Oneida Dust Deputy) had no problems sucking up the 'dust'. I have almost filled up the bucket after just a short time with the shop tools. I'm very happy with it.

Let me rephrase the question: Did the DD capture the sappy stringy stuff or did it pass on to the SV?

[derekdarling]

That would have been me that called SS. They talked to engineering for me to make sure that was no structural problems with cutting out the grid. I left in a cross just to be sure and have had no problems since doing that. It would happen even with dry wood not just green.

I would think that if safety was a concern, a simple round trap-door with a spring to close over the hole when not in use would suffice.

Derek

[JPG]

I would think that if safety was a concern, a simple round trap-door with a spring to close over the hole when not in use would suffice.

Derek

I think an elbow is adequate!

[john]

I think the grids are there as much to prevent chunks from entering the dust collector and causing damage to the impellers, as for safety or stuctural reasons.

I cut mine out on my router table and no longer have a problem with clogging. The band saw will probably be next as it does clog up occasionaly.

John

[bobgroh]

Answering a couple of the questions asked:
1. The Dust Deputy catches everything but the dust I can't see. By that I mean that I see very little of the dust ever make it into the ShopVac. The DD really, really seems to work well.

2. As an extra comment - I actually sucked up a pencil today while cleaning up the floor and, by golly, it got pulled into the DD and dropped down inside. Very cool!

3. On chunks getting into the impellers, etc - since my system is a 'suck' system (i.e. the ShopVac fan pulls through it's internal filter then through it's internal dust bag and then through the Dust Deputy), there is NO chance of anything impacting the the fan blades. A big advantage in my opinion (for what that is worth).

4. I agree with the idea of using a angled dust takeoff for the bandsaw cover. An angled takeoff with also help route the pickup hose away from the woodworker. In fact, if I had to do it again, I think I would just modify my existing cover for both the window and the dust takeoff.

5. And while on the subject of the window, I am not 100% pleased with it. It tends to get a fine layer of dust on it which makes it hard to see through. It is also hard to see through without a light shining in - I might add a little LED light there so I can see while I crank in the tension.