Woodworker's Journal 2006-30-2, страница 72

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Delta's 50-850A portable chip collector, with a canister.

installing a central collector and ductwork system. Big and powerful, central units, like Oneida's "Dust Gorilla" series collectors (photo on previous page), are considered "two-stage" units, since they employ a funnel-like cyclone or other pre-separation device lo remove the lion's share of chips and dust ahead of the blower (basically, an enclosed fan). The collector's large filters scrub out fine dust particles before clean air is returned to the shop. Hie high air-moving volume and power of a 2-, 3- or 5-HP or larger collector will transport large shavings and chips through an extensive system of ductwork from machines located all over a big wood shop and deposit them in one place, for easy disposal. On the downside, a central system is much more expensive, complicated to design and install, and more permanent than other means of primary collection.

Why bother installing ductwork and a central unit instead of using a portable collector? Most portables aren't strong enough to collect chips from more than a few machines at a time. In a large shop, a well-designed system of ductwork

and blast gates makes it easy to direct all the suction power of your collector to only the machine you're using — no need to move and reconnect a portable unit. Plus, you can save space by locating a central collector in a closet or adjacent outbuilding, or even outdoors.

Tip:

Make turning a central collector on and off automatic by installing a blast gate switching system, such as the JDS 15001 dust gate startup kit, to each blast gate.

Portable Collectors

Affordable and relatively compact, portable collectors divide up into two camps: canister-style collectors, like the JET DC-TS650, have a blower and filter unit mounted on a round plate that sits atop a large drum or trash can; and chip collectors, like the Delta 50-850A shown at left, feature a blower and filter (s) mounted a top a rolling platform. Models that feature large pleated filter canisters and plastic dust collection bags are easier to empty than, and less susceptible to fine-dust clogging than, units with thin fabric filter bags. Canister-style collectors are "two-stage" devices

Veritas's Cyclone lid is installed on a garbage can placed between your tool and the blower.

that pre-separate chips and sawdust into a drum before fine-dust-Iaden air passes through the fan and filters. In contrast, chip collectors pass chips directly through their blowers, which can damage the fan if you accidentally suck up large scraps, screws or small hand tools. (See the tip below.)

In moderate-sized shops, portable collectors work very well in lieu of a central collection system. They're great for collecting sawdust from full-sized shop machines and benchlop machines, as well as sanding tables. If you plan to hook up and disconnect your portable from different machines at different times, youll save time and trouble by fitting the collector's hose and the machines' dust ports with quick-connect fittings (available from Air Handling Systems online). You can also use a portable collector as the heart of a "semi-central" system, by connecting it to a few stationary machines via a small network of ductwork or flexible hoses, gates and fittings.

Tip:

You can add "pre-separation" to a chip collector by installing a cyclone or pre-separation device, such as the Veritas "Cyclone lid," (available from Lee Valley Tools) between your machine and the collector's blower, as shown at left-

Shop Vacuums

Cheap to buy and easy to use, shop vacuums range from handheld dust busters, great for benchtop cleanup, to powerful vacs with large-capacity canisters, good for collecting from portable power tools or benchtop-sized machines, as well as for floor cleanup. Shop vacuums that feature automatic activation switches, such as the Festool CT series vacuums, shown on page 74, are terrifically handy for collecting dust expelled by portable power tools, such as routers, saber saws, bell sanders and random orbit sanders, as well

Today's Shop continues on page 74...

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April 2006 Woodworker's Journal