[SML] Shop dust collection

[Dave Tosti-Lane]

Adding on to the "don't use shop-vac" wagon - shop vacs aren't really
designed for constant use - their design assumes frequent on-off, with
time between uses to allow motor parts to cool down. Running them
constantly is likely to overheat the bearings and result in early
failure. In addition, what you want for sucking dust from a running
tool is moving a large volume of air in a large pipe at a relatively
low velocity, while a shop vac moves air at higher velocity in a
smaller hose to increase the suction power at the nozzle. Works OK
connected to a small hand power tool that provides a dust outlet, but
not so good for larger tools.
If you have to go with several smaller units, the small single-tool
dust collectors will be quieter than a shop vac and work better, and
they aren't necessarily more expensive. I've had a smaller 1.5hp
Grizzly unit at home for my table saw for about 22 years now, it's
held up well (including a period of heavy daily use for several months
during a pretty big remodel) and cost around $300 new. We also used
some of their collectors in the shop at school when I was the TD - as
far as I know they are still in use three shops later, and I probably
bought them around 1988 or so.
Dave Tosti-Lane

On Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 9:00 AM, gbierly via Stagecraft
<stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>> As for air filtration, we have two large ceiling mounted "Airflow Systems" units.  They are switch activated, so they only help when one remembers to turn them on.  I am having the college electricians wire these so that they automatically activate when the table saw or radial arm saw are used.  A timer will shut them off after a specified period, with a manual override.
>
> I have our filter come on when the shop power disconnect is turned on.  We typically keep it turned off when the tools are not actively being used.  Works well for us.  It is also and auditory indicator that the shop power is on.
>
> Greg Bierly
>
>
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