BT3100 dust collection improvements

[gjbivin]

I got tired of always having to vacuum underneath the saw, so I finally got around to putting in a dust pan bottom and hoses, similar to others that have been posted here. Even with all of the holes and slots in the cabinet, the airflow holds a piece of paper against the ventilation slots on the right side by the motor, so I think it will work OK. The airflow produced by the blade out the back port along with the DC suction should ensure that the dust will be cleared out that way. I'm planning to cover the rear dust port slot with the articulated cover designed by Jim Frye: http://www.bt3central.com/articles/files/dustport.pdf

[final_t]

Heh, exactly what I did some time back and never got around to posting pictures. You're right, it does a fine job - all the dust is now on the top of the tool instead of under it.
Looks like you used the same HF dust collection accessory kit bits (hose + big square plate + Y-tee).

[MBG]

This is what I did to my BT after may attempts to have a dust free saw:





It's a saw curtain made of a rubber sheet (curtain), threaded rod (curtain rod), and a couple of brackets.


Mike

[padboy]

Ingenious. Does that rubber curtain cut down on noise also?

[gjbivin]

Looks like you used the same HF dust collection accessory kit bits (hose + big square plate + Y-tee).

Yeah, I mail-ordered the kit over a year ago, before I found out that there is a HF store about 7 miles away.

Someday, I'll get ambitious and install 6" pipe across the ceiling with drops to my tools, just like the big boys do. Until then, I'll keep stumbling over the hoses on the floor.

One frustrating thing I've noticed is that the push-on "female" hose fittings that are available (I got some at Woodcraft) don't really fit the "Y" and other "male" fitting ends for switching hoses around. They will jam on OK, but also fall apart pretty easily. I think the push fittings are for blast gates and others that have the slightly-tapered male fittings, while you're supposed to clamp the hose to the untapered male hose fitting ends. I should just break down and order some Fazlok fittings: http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPR...ARTNUM=121-595

[L. D. Jeffries]

DC Hose Con-x-tions

Perfect solution for those pesky hose connections that don't stay together. Go to "woodworker.com" which takes u to "Woodworkers Supply"; then type in the "find" box "FAZLOK". For less than $50 I have "non-slip-won't-come-apart" connections to all my tools. Love 'em; better than sliced bread, as they say.

[JimD]

I have a drawer underneith my BT3100 so my dust port exits out the back rather than underneith (in addition to the suction at the BT3100 dust port). The two points get most of the dust - enough so I do not have to vacumn underneith - as long as I leave the openings around the tilt mechanism open on the front of the saw. If I block them (with a flat magnet), then dust collects, apparently due to insufficient airflow. I have an articulated cover - Jim Frye's design - on the back. My only issue with dust is on the top. I do not think that can be completely solved without overhead suction.

Jim