Shop Vac Sawdust Collection setup?

[Brian G]

I can find 2.5" corrugated vac hose without ends all day long. Anyone have any suggestions on where to get the fittings?

Here's an option from Woodcraft: Item 128685. I don't know whether they are available from other vendors. The O.D. of the fitting is 2.25", which means that it has the same O.D. as a Shop-Vac hose fitting.

I have one of the Shop-Vac kits to which eccentrictinkerer linked. I have several of the 128685 fittings to which I linked above. These fittings fit tighter (because of a slight taper) into the blast gates from the Shop-Vac kit than do the end fittings of the standard Shop-Vac hose. I bought enough of the 128685 fittings to make several connections between my tools that have a 2.25" I.D. port and a blast gate.

I also found out by accident that the smaller end of the blastgate from the kit fits snugly into the end of the standard Shop-Vac hose end fitting. This yields a handy quick coupler that doesn't pull apart when I connect two Shop-Vac hoses to clean the shop.

[cwithboat]

Shop Vac noise

I have a 20 gallon Shop Vac hooked up for dust collection. My major complaint is the noise from the darn thing. Does anyone have a scheme or plans for damping the sound level?

[Schleeper]

I have a 20 gallon Shop Vac hooked up for dust collection. My major complaint is the noise from the darn thing. Does anyone have a scheme or plans for damping the sound level?

I'm not sure where I saw them, but there are mufflers you can buy. Maybe someone has experience in using one.

[DLyon]

Silence Your Shop Vac

I have a 20 gallon Shop Vac hooked up for dust collection. My major complaint is the noise from the darn thing. Does anyone have a scheme or plans for damping the sound level?

There is an article in "Fine Woodworkings - Tools and Shops 2008" that describes the building of an insulated cabinet to hold your Shop Vac. The change in sound levels is impressive. You can see video of this at www.finewoodworking.com/extras (this was posted elsewhere on this site, which is how I found it).

[rjwaldren]

I'm not sure where I saw them, but there are mufflers you can buy. Maybe someone has experience in using one.

Grainger lists an item PN 1N152, I've seen others for regular vac's - they install on the exhaust port and are way too expensive. I also managed to find a few different DIY mufflers on the web but they took a lot of searching. Unfortunately I'm using a Craftsman 6.5hp with a detachable blower - the motor is open at the top, so, a muffler barely helps... I've drawn up several enclosures similar to the FWW design but haven't decided yet. I want it to be useful as tool stand and I think I'm leaning toward a CMS stand right now.

[dbhost]

I have a 20 gallon Shop Vac hooked up for dust collection. My major complaint is the noise from the darn thing. Does anyone have a scheme or plans for damping the sound level?

A friend of mine uses a bunch of extension hoses, and runs the vac outside to get the noise away from him.

I am running the Ridgid Noise reducer muffler thingamajig, and it seems to offer some relief, but I am not sure if it works with other brand vacs...

I know the noise from my Shop Vac Hangup was WAY more than the noise from my Table Saw / Ridgid vac with the muffler are combined... No I haven't used any meter to measure it, just a seat of the pants kind of thing...

I got the 12 gallon model because that was as much junk to lift as I wanted to deal with. Ridgid does make a 16 gallon, but I didn't think it was worth it... I looked at Shop Vac as well, got a better deal on my 12 gallon than a comparable 14 gallon shop vac. (Had a 20% coupon mailed to me from Home Depot as a promo thing).

[cwithboat]

Also I found a device at HD when I bought the Ridgid vac, that is meant to be used to control landscape lighting remotely for about $10 on sale. It is a simple device about 3 inches by 6 inches with a short power cord and 2 outlets. The box, along with a 2-button remote, allows the power to be switched on and off to whatever is plugged-in to it. The remote range is adequate for my purposes and the amp rating is more than adequate as well. It works like a charm. If I only had a remote at each tool that was connected to the vac system it would be perfect. Maybe I can get one form the manufacturer. As it is, I just take the remote to whatever tool I am using and am able to turn the vac on and off with ease between cuts. It is very convenient.

Do you have the mfg and model number of your remote handy?
I have an X10 remote power switch, but it won't handle the 3hp vac. (besides X10 has the world's worst web site).

[dbhost]

Do you have the mfg and model number of your remote handy?
I have an X10 remote power switch, but it won't handle the 3hp vac. (besides X10 has the world's worst web site).

Peachtree Woodworking has a pretty nice one... Kind of spendy for what it does, but then again so is a tank of gas...

http://www.nosawdust.com/dust_accessories.htm

I am hoping to snatch one of those before the wet / dry vac ends up in a built in cabinet. (Which I am drawing up now...)

Shop Vac's online store has a good deal on the Sawdust Collection System. I ordered 2. I am going to look into that remote switch from Home Depot though. A LOT less $$ than the one from Peachtree... The shop vac will live in a cabinet (over glorified shelf with sides and a door), this will be lined with some accoustic insulation material, and then the system will be plumbed with the Sawdust Collection System through the garage. For now, and for a little while, I expect to use the one Ridgid extra hose I picked up for tool connection. BUT, I will be adding several clear built to fit clear hose assemblies.

I know with commercial dust control systems, they say you should run copper through the system and ground it. Is that the case with a small system like the one I am setting up?

[eccentrictinkerer]

I know with commercial dust control systems, they say you should run copper through the system and ground it. Is that the case with a small system like the one I am setting up?

The suggestion that a person 'ground' or try to eliminate static in a home system has been around for some time. The static that builds up is annoying but it is virtually impossible to create enough energy in a home system to be dangerous.

I sold spark detection gear and fire suppression systems for the Fenwal Corp. The conditions required for ignition just don't happen in a home system.

This topic is discussed on many forums that deal with cyclone dust collection systems.

[dbhost]

That is sort of what I would have thought as well.Thanks for the tip!

[dbhost]

Okay the orders are in. I have 2 Shop Vac Sawdust Collection Systems coming in (They were cheap, and that gives me the fittings I need). I also ordered a bulk 50 feet of PVC 2.5" clear hose and hose end fittings to build 4 hoses (3 10 footers, 1 20 footer) I went to HD today looking for that remote power switch and came up empty...

As soon as the stuff comes in, I build those hoses, and start setting the system up. My only issue is going to be the remote power setup. I REALLY don't want to pay $60.00 for that one item. But I am being cheap...

I will post pics as soon as I have everything set up...

[JR]

My only issue is going to be the remote power setup. I REALLY don't want to pay $60.00 for that one item. But I am being cheap...

This Craftsman Auto Switch might help:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...me=Tool+Safety

[dbhost]

Good thought, but not what I am looking to do. In the long run, I am planning on having the following hooked up more or less full time.

#1. Table Saw. Eventually either a good pre-owned BT3100, or a 21829.
#2. Jointer. Ryobi JP155 with 2.5" dust collection.
#3. Compound Miter Saw. I might have to fab a "Big Gulp dust hood" out of sheet metal to fit the 2.5" connection...
#4. Band Saw. I am leaning heavily toward a Grizzly 14", I will likely have to reduce the dust port to make this work. Band saw dust collection might not be super effective, but close enough...
#5. Planer. AP1301. 2.5" dust port.

I figure having to swap power connections around every time is too much of a pain in the tail, which means I would be better off just manually starting the vac, then the power tool...