The bane of any serious woodworking shop is the dust generated while operating the machines we use as modern woodworkers . While a simple face mask is always the best defense, the large amounts of sawdust that the shop produces requires more aggressive measures to insure a safe working (breathing) environment.
Pictured below are components of the new dust collection and filtering system installed in my shop over the last couple of weeks. This was a critical step in assuring that I had a safe, enclosed space in which to work this winter and into the future as I continue to expand my woodworking business.
Major components include:
- Grizzley 2 hp cyclone dust collector
- Jet – Air Filtration System, Model AFS-1000B
- Rockler Dust Right components
- Rockler blast gates (to close unused ports)
- Oneida metal duct piping (24 ga) and fittings
- Festool shop vacuum with auto tool start feature (for small tools, sanders, etc. )
- Various vacuum hoses & attachments
After a lot of research, I decided on metal pipe due to static build up & grounding concerns related to pvc pipe. I tried to put together a system using inexpensive duct pipe found at the big box hardware stores but was not successful in finding the components I needed. Also, the thin 30 gauge pipe found a those stores was not adequate for the pressures produced by the robust cyclone dust collector. That took me to a company called Oneida which specializes in dust collection and sells heavy duct pipe and wide sweep fittings that are particularly well suited to workshop dust systems.
The Jet air filter is the big beige box hanging from the center of the shop ceiling. The purpose of this box is to pull in air from the shop, filter it, and push clean air back out into the shop. Installed on the left wall is a 240V heater/blower that is pointed at the Jet unit. It’s not part of the dust system but when both are operating, it warms up the shop quickly on cold mornings by blowing heated air directly into the Jet which further circulates the clean, warm air around the shop.
I did my own design and layout based on internet research and a couple of books that my neighbor Rex loaned me for the task. Assembling and hanging the pipe was a challenge but after a couple of fits and starts, it all came together. The primary feature of the system is a series of “drops” where the Rockler Dust Right components can be connected anywhere in the shop. Generally, only one or two of these would be active at any given time and the rest would be closed off using blast gates which act as “on/off” valves at each air drop connection.
I still have to tie up a few loose ends, but the system is now in operation. While I still use face masks, this system has already reduced the dust level in the shop substantially and hopefully, breathing less dust will add a year or two to this woodworkers career.
Grizzly High Power Cyclone Vacuum with remote start & one of the drops w/blast gate at left
Oneida Heavy Duty Pipe, Fittings and Drops and Jet Air Filter attached at ceiling
One of 9 drop connections with blast gate at lathe station