Bandsaw dust collection mods

[John Whitley]

I'd been contemplating this first change for a while, then I think JKJ mentioned actually having done it. Two and a half(**) Hackzall blades later – voila! – greatly improved airflow.

Before, some ridiculous airflow blockage in the original casting. Things that make you go "whyyyyyyy":



After, much better:


Related to that, I wanted improved under table collection. I found a seller on Etsy who makes a range of custom under table dust collection solutions for various bandsaws. This design isn't an enclosed box like some approaches posted here. I asked the seller about that regarding the pictured dust chute, since they make both open and enclosed box styles, and he replied that in his experience the open style functions at least as well. I had a 2+" DIY setup there before made wtih ABS pipe partially enclosing the blade, designed for use with a shop vac. This has a big dust collector backing it, and so performs much, much better overall.



(**): I was admittedly impatient and was abusing some EMT conduit blades as I'd run out of the better metal blades...

 

[Phil Hamel]

I'll have to give that a try. The port is always stuffed when I open the cover to my Grizzly saw.

 

[Jon Rista]

Looking at that outlet, the first thing that crossed my mind was indeed "WHHHHHYYYYY!!!!!!!" Seriously, that seems like its just SCREAMING "CLOG ME" at the top of its iron lungs.

 

[Darryl Fective]

My Jet 14" only had a small port by the lower guide. I wired in a duplex outlet above the switch that's hot when the saw is running for a shop vac. That worked OK, but I ended up cutting a hole in the lower door and put a 4" dust collector flange in it. It seems to work much better. (if I remember to turn on my collector system )

 

[John Whitley]

(if I remember to turn on my collector system )

The only truly eternal challenge! (and why I’m planning to do some automation of my dust collection system as an upcoming project…)

 

[John K Jordan]

I'd been contemplating this first change for a while, then I think JKJ mentioned actually having done it.….This design isn't an enclosed box like some approaches posted here. I asked the seller about that regarding the pictured dust chute, since they make both open and enclosed box styles, and he replied that in his experience the open style functions at least as well.

I’m sure that addition will make a big difference!

Besides removing obstructions from one of the ports which helped prevent clogging, I made a little box under under the bandsaw table which directs air past the blade and guides. In case anyone missed it and is interested, this is the box. I first made a prototype from cardboard that worked so well my lazy self used it for years before making this one. The clear plastic is nice since I visually check that it’s doing it’s one assigned life task.





Another thing I have is a flexible 4” hose I can position on top the table with a magnet to help catch dust there, especially with “slimming” cuts to straighten up blanks. (For dry blanks, this can help with mounting and to show the wood color and reveal defects before turning.)

As for forgetting to turn on the DC:

The only truly eternal challenge! (and why I’m planning to do some automation of my dust collection system as an upcoming project…)

Hmmm. hat’s one thing I can’t remember forgetting at the bandsaw. (Although I forget a lot of other things!)
I use a wireless 110v switch I got from Amazon and have three button remote transmitters around the shop hanging on walls; one at the bandsaw, one at the lathe, and one at the durm and belt/disk sanders. The switch turns a relay in the DC closet on and off; the relay switches 220v to the 5hp cyclone.

Designing the big cyclone and ductwork into the shop when from my first drawing was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. (Er, maybe the smartest thing ever but with my feeble mind that’s not saying much. )

JKJ

 

[Fred Hargis]

I did something like John Jordan did on a 14" bandsaw i used to have, just to get the dust down into the bottom housing for the DC to catch. Mine was as elaborate as his but still helped a lot.

 

[John Whitley]

Hmmm. hat’s one thing I can’t remember forgetting at the bandsaw

Probably not as much here either… but in my current setup it’s trivial to remember “is the dust collector on” as it’s a big rumbling thing. It’s also on the three phase side so Turning The Things On is a process that’s nigh impossible to forget. The hard part in my experience, both in my shop and in co-ops I’ve been in (and not just me! ) is >>to remember to switch the stupid blast gates over<<. It’s mostly fine! Except… when it’s not.

 

[Paul Paukstelis]

Probably not as much here either… but in my current setup it’s trivial to remember “is the dust collector on” as it’s a big rumbling thing. It’s also on the three phase side so Turning The Things On is a process that’s nigh impossible to forget. The hard part in my experience, both in my shop and in co-ops I’ve been in (and not just me! ) is >>to remember to switch the stupid blast gates over<<. It’s mostly fine! Except… when it’s not.

Automation! I've rigged up my shop so I can just say "Alexa, start bandsaw" and it will adjust the motor positions in my blast gate manifold and start the dust collector (it doesn't actually start the bandsaw with that command!).

 

[robo hippy]

I did a video a while back about "Band saw dust ports do not s--k", I think the AAW had problems with the s word.... Anyway, the dust ports are set up for cabinet shops where every thing they cut is dry wood. With my big Laguna, first modification I made was to cut those cross hairs in the bottom port out like John did. Next step was to cut a dust port hole in the bottom of the cabinet where all the end grain shavings collected. That did clean it up some.... I do need to close up the bottom cabinet, both in the tower/up side of the blade, and around the throat so I get full volume of air flow inside the cabinet....

robo hippy

 

[Holmes Anderson]

I'd been contemplating this first change for a while, then I think JKJ mentioned actually having done it. Two and a half(**) Hackzall blades later – voila! – greatly improved airflow.

Before, some ridiculous airflow blockage in the original casting. Things that make you go "whyyyyyyy":

View attachment 74439

After, much better:
View attachment 74440

Related to that, I wanted improved under table collection. I found a seller on Etsy who makes a range of custom under table dust collection solutions for various bandsaws. This design isn't an enclosed box like some approaches posted here. I asked the seller about that regarding the pictured dust chute, since they make both open and enclosed box styles, and he replied that in his experience the open style functions at least as well. I had a 2+" DIY setup there before made wtih ABS pipe partially enclosing the blade, designed for use with a shop vac. This has a big dust collector backing it, and so performs much, much better overall.

View attachment 74441

(**): I was admittedly impatient and was abusing some EMT conduit blades as I'd run out of the better metal blades...

Long shavings can wrap around the DC fan and shaft. Handplane shavings will definitely clog up a DC fan, but the long stringy bandsaw shavings from cutting with grain oriented up/down might be a problem unless your DC fan is downstream of a cyclone seperator.

 

[John Whitley]

Long shavings can wrap around the DC fan and shaft.

In my case, I have a Euro-style collector (due to an unavoidably low ceiling, but also for less overall noise). In this style collector, the impeller is on the far side of plate filters from the incoming air and debris stream… so nothing from the inlet side can hit or obstruct the impeller. Also, I wouldn’t think this would be a practical concern with most integrated cyclone dust collectors, since the cyclone is in front of the impeller in the air stream in those designs anyhow.