Comments on: Dust Collection for Sanders? – Question of the Week http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:59:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-55179 thewoodwhisperer Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:19:00 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-55179 Hi Julie. I might be confused on your question. Any sander with a dust port can technically work with any vac, including those with HEPA filters. So as long as you can match up the hose to the port, you should be good to go with any standard sander. Hi Julie. I might be confused on your question. Any sander with a dust port can technically work with any vac, including those with HEPA filters. So as long as you can match up the hose to the port, you should be good to go with any standard sander.

]]> By: Julia http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-55159 Julia Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:51:36 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-55159 I am looking for an orbital sander (or any power sander) that works with a HEPA vac, preferably the Love-Less Ash #16004. Can you give me any leads on where to find something like this? I am looking for an orbital sander (or any power sander) that works with a HEPA vac, preferably the Love-Less Ash #16004. Can you give me any leads on where to find something like this?

]]> By: jHop http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-45365 jHop Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:40:50 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-45365 I'm doing the opposite now: using a house vac for shop vacuuming. Fortunately it's a spare vacuum, because it's not working as well as I need. and if the primary house vacuum (which will never touch the shop) wasn't my great aunt's Kirby, I'd be trying this argument as well. I’m doing the opposite now: using a house vac for shop vacuuming. Fortunately it’s a spare vacuum, because it’s not working as well as I need. and if the primary house vacuum (which will never touch the shop) wasn’t my great aunt’s Kirby, I’d be trying this argument as well.

]]> By: Stephen Savill http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-32271 Stephen Savill Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:01:31 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-32271 I am considering a festool, but am a little put off by the price, not just of the machine itself but of the accessories - £40 or more for a bit of tubing and a head that would let you clean the carpet seems quite excessive. But i am thinking that i will be able to scavenge that king of thing from my dads collection of bits, or at least fine a cheap compatible generic one at a hardware store. Does anyone also use the festool as a regular house vac as well - this is my intention, as we need a new one as well??? Plus this is the only way i can sell the idea to my wife ;) I am considering a festool, but am a little put off by the price, not just of the machine itself but of the accessories – £40 or more for a bit of tubing and a head that would let you clean the carpet seems quite excessive. But i am thinking that i will be able to scavenge that king of thing from my dads collection of bits, or at least fine a cheap compatible generic one at a hardware store.

Does anyone also use the festool as a regular house vac as well – this is my intention, as we need a new one as well??? Plus this is the only way i can sell the idea to my wife ;)

]]> By: terry http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-29462 terry Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:13:41 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-29462 My 15 year old screamer shop vac finally broke. my ancient dust collection system needs updating. I use a grizzly table saw witha good fence, and do hobby cabinets, and replace wood sofits etc on my house. I see that rigid sells a muffler for its otherwise loud machines. seems like a good idea. anyone know how well they work on rigids, or on others? bosch wants a lot for its hepa filter. I want a quiet, hepa filter rig. rigids have inexpensive hepas, and mufflers. it sounds as tho whatever shop vac I get will largly replace my old dust collector. is that the trend of things now? I have an air filter machine, and a few years ago put an exhaust fan in the garage. but I sure still smell the dust, big time! My 15 year old screamer shop vac finally broke. my ancient dust collection system needs updating. I use a grizzly table saw witha good fence, and do hobby cabinets, and replace wood sofits etc on my house. I see that rigid sells a muffler for its otherwise loud machines. seems like a good idea. anyone know how well they work on rigids, or on others?

bosch wants a lot for its hepa filter. I want a quiet, hepa filter rig. rigids have inexpensive hepas, and mufflers.

it sounds as tho whatever shop vac I get will largly replace my old dust collector. is that the trend of things now?

I have an air filter machine, and a few years ago put an exhaust fan in the garage. but I sure still smell the dust, big time!

]]> By: Mitch Hrycan http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-24793 Mitch Hrycan Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:44:12 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-24793 Just recently in a wood working magazine I read an article about someone who had a Rigid Vac and built a sound proof box around it. He reduced the noise by something like 25 decibels. The box was vented at the bottom for air flow out as well. I can't recall the magazine and am currently searching for the issue. It's not an Festoll or Fein, but for people on a budget, I can see it making a big difference in noise reduction. Just recently in a wood working magazine I read an article about someone who had a Rigid Vac and built a sound proof box around it. He reduced the noise by something like 25 decibels. The box was vented at the bottom for air flow out as well. I can’t recall the magazine and am currently searching for the issue.

It’s not an Festoll or Fein, but for people on a budget, I can see it making a big difference in noise reduction.

]]> By: Gatorbait http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-23750 Gatorbait Wed, 21 May 2008 18:24:54 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-23750 I use my CT33 with my Dewalt (DW621) - I don't have a Festool router (yet). It works ok - better than my Ridgid vac but not as well as I would like. I don't think this is a CT issue but more of a router design (or should I say lack of design) issue. I use my CT33 with my Dewalt (DW621) – I don’t have a Festool router (yet). It works ok – better than my Ridgid vac but not as well as I would like. I don’t think this is a CT issue but more of a router design (or should I say lack of design) issue.

]]> By: Larry Schwager http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-23742 Larry Schwager Wed, 21 May 2008 14:29:12 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-23742 "The key to getting the shop vac to work better for you is to find some filter bags for it". I have to agree with this totally. I was amazed at the results when I bagged my shop vacuum for my table saw. And the 4" system for me does not work at all when I attach it to my 2.5" lines. Marc your right on the money. “The key to getting the shop vac to work better for you is to find some filter bags for it”. I have to agree with this totally. I was amazed at the results when I bagged my shop vacuum for my table saw. And the 4″ system for me does not work at all when I attach it to my 2.5″ lines. Marc your right on the money.

]]> By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-23722 thewoodwhisperer Wed, 21 May 2008 02:47:25 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-23722 lol Richard. I don't hate you for using a Porter Cable sander with your Festool vac. In fact, I think if you already have a sander you are happy with, and you aren't ready to upgrade, that's a good way to go. I know lots of folks who use non-festool tools with their CT extractor. By the way, the input here is terrific. You guys have a much wider range of experiences in this area than I do so I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas. To answer your question Stuart, the speed control on the CT's are something i really only concern myself with when I am finish sanding, or doing the final sanding before a finish. When all holes are in contact with the wood, the suction is so great that it can pull the sanding grit into the wood a little more than you want. So what I do is dial it down slowly with the sander running and wait for the sander to feel like its floating (like an air hockey table). The sander is a pure pleasure to use with minimal vibration at this point. And the dust collection is still nearly 100%. Hope that helps. lol Richard. I don’t hate you for using a Porter Cable sander with your Festool vac. In fact, I think if you already have a sander you are happy with, and you aren’t ready to upgrade, that’s a good way to go. I know lots of folks who use non-festool tools with their CT extractor.

By the way, the input here is terrific. You guys have a much wider range of experiences in this area than I do so I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas.

To answer your question Stuart, the speed control on the CT’s are something i really only concern myself with when I am finish sanding, or doing the final sanding before a finish. When all holes are in contact with the wood, the suction is so great that it can pull the sanding grit into the wood a little more than you want. So what I do is dial it down slowly with the sander running and wait for the sander to feel like its floating (like an air hockey table). The sander is a pure pleasure to use with minimal vibration at this point. And the dust collection is still nearly 100%.
Hope that helps.

]]> By: Stuart http://thewoodwhisperer.com/dust-collection-for-sanders-question-of-the-week/#comment-23721 Stuart Wed, 21 May 2008 01:05:54 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=733#comment-23721 Thought I'd drop my 2c in as well - I concur with Bill particularly - irrespective of what dust collection you are using (household vac, HEPA vac, Festool etc), I still feed my suction through a (homemade) cyclone before it gets to the vacuum itself. This takes care of a good 99% (if not more) of the heavier particles, and means the vacuum collection and HEPA only has a very small amount of particles to deal with, and means their filters last a lot longer. The cyclone itself, not having any internal filtering requiring cleaning / replacing just means the collection bin needs the occasional emptying. The cyclonic collection system works very well on the high velocity vacuum systems (and you can make one yourself pretty easily). btw - as a few have commented, reducing a 4" system down to 1" doesn't result in a massive increase in suction. It results in a remarkably pathetic dust collection system! (Been there, tried that, should have known better but didn't, discovered it through experimentation! I now use a 4" for some machines, and a shop vac through a cyclone for others, depending on the specific requirements of the task) Thought I’d drop my 2c in as well – I concur with Bill particularly – irrespective of what dust collection you are using (household vac, HEPA vac, Festool etc), I still feed my suction through a (homemade) cyclone before it gets to the vacuum itself.

This takes care of a good 99% (if not more) of the heavier particles, and means the vacuum collection and HEPA only has a very small amount of particles to deal with, and means their filters last a lot longer. The cyclone itself, not having any internal filtering requiring cleaning / replacing just means the collection bin needs the occasional emptying. The cyclonic collection system works very well on the high velocity vacuum systems (and you can make one yourself pretty easily).

btw – as a few have commented, reducing a 4″ system down to 1″ doesn’t result in a massive increase in suction. It results in a remarkably pathetic dust collection system! (Been there, tried that, should have known better but didn’t, discovered it through experimentation! I now use a 4″ for some machines, and a shop vac through a cyclone for others, depending on the specific requirements of the task)

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