HF Jointer -- Poor dust collection even w/ DC ?

[ssmith1627]

Hey guys, I just got this HF jointer a week ago and I've gotten the ducting run now from my HF 2HP DC. A poor gauge but the suction FEELS good if you put your hand to the end of that 4" pipe.

My jointer was used so the guy had already built on the DC connection where the dust chute is:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...ter_dust_chute

Even with that connection and the DC running, I ended up with this on the floor after running the face of a 3" wide piece of poplar over the jointer 4-5 times:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...dust_and_chips

The dust port on the jointer is clean when I'm done so the DC is sucking up anything that makes it to that point. But I get all this other debris on the right side of the jointer.

I have no prior experience with jointers. Is this normal ? Do I need to close off more of the inside of the jointer to route these chips to the dust port ? Or is this the best I can expect ?

Thanks,
Steve

[Tom Miller]

I think you're on to the problem (and solution), but whether (or how easily) you can fix it is not clear.

As you surmise, if chips can make it to the floor, the air flow from the cutter head to the dust chute is getting shunted somewhere. I'd start by pulling off that whole hardboard(?) plate that the plastic dust port is connected to, and look up their for gaps.

You don't necessarily have to close everything up air tight, but try to get most of your airflow to come from the cutterhead area.

Regards,
Tom

[LCHIEN]

You have to keep the restriction low to keep the airflow volume high and
keep the path small to keep the air velocity high. The latter is important because the cutterhead is spinning, what, 5000 RPM maybe and slinging the shavings off at some escape velocity. Your airspeed needs to be higher than that cutterhead velocity or some chips will escape.

You may be doing well, you don't have that much on the ground, maybe you're getting 99%? depends on how much you planed (how long was that piec of poplar? 10" or 10'?)

[ssmith1627]

Thanks guys. I'll do some disassembly tonight and further inspection.

The test piece was 24 inches long or so.

Not sure how easy it will be to get up inside to try to block off the area around the cutter head any further but it's worth my looking into a bit. Was just curious to see what results others had had.

Thanks again.

Steve

[scoly]

Might help a bit to get rid of the 90 elbow and go with 2 45's. 90's really affect the air flow.
From what I see on the floor I would be happy. Not likely to ever get it all.
Steve

[ssmith1627]

That may very well be the answer -- this is as good as it gets. But with no other experience with a jointer or a planer and being new to my DC as well......I had no basis for comparison.

Steve

[Tom Miller]

One other thing to check: with the DC running, try disconnecting and reconnecting the elbow to the dust port. Does it resist pulling off, and does it try to suck itself back on? If so, this is a sign that you have too much restriction, as Loring was alluding to. If not, you have too much air bypassing the cutterhead area, and you need to close off these areas somewhat to direct airflow past the cutterhead, being careful not to cut down too much on air flow.

I better not comment on how well my jointer DC works until I open up the access door on the closed stand -- could be bulging with chips for all I know.

Regards,
Tom

[ironhat]

I'm with scoly - that's about what I get - maybe a lttle less but I do't find it worth the effort to fool around with it. The fence side of the cutterhead is where I get most of my escape in spite of the shroud there.

[eezlock]

Hf jointer w/DC.....

Hey guys, I just got this HF jointer a week ago and I've gotten the ducting run now from my HF 2HP DC. A poor gauge but the suction FEELS good if you put your hand to the end of that 4" pipe.

My jointer was used so the guy had already built on the DC connection where the dust chute is:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...ter_dust_chute

Even with that connection and the DC running, I ended up with this on the floor after running the face of a 3" wide piece of poplar over the jointer 4-5 times:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...dust_and_chips

The dust port on the jointer is clean when I'm done so the DC is sucking up anything that makes it to that point. But I get all this other debris on the right side of the jointer.

I have no prior experience with jointers. Is this normal ? Do I need to close off more of the inside of the jointer to route these chips to the dust port ? Or is this the best I can expect ?

Thanks,
Steve

Yep Steve, I know the problem...even with a DC or shop vac they can only
get about 85%, the rest hits the floor or anything else close by....eezlock