Dust extraction / chip collector

[LancsRick]

There are many threads on this, so I wanted to be quite specific.

I'm going to put some proper extraction in my workshop, and would like it to be wall mounted for space. Main functions will be hookup to a radial arm saw and a router table, also doubling as a shop vac. I always wear a mask when I'm working so it doesn't need to be hepa.

There is a lot of love for the DX5000, and whilst I don't mind investing once for something that is important and will last a long time, it's a lot of money. Is there anything comparable for less, or should I bite the bullet?

 

[MikeJhn]

The DX5000 is only 105lts/sec which is 378cm/hr popular belief is that most woodworking machines need 750cm/hr, I would suggest going for something with a much greater capacity, I use one of these: http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... eal-717658 which more than adequate for my router table, table saw and planer thicknesser, but not all at the same time, spec says its 2000m3, but does not give a time period that its over.

Mike

Forgot to mention that with the gulper attachment it picks up everything you could wish from the floor

 

[MBcarpentry]

I have the trade rated Axminster wall mounted extractor (pictured below with spec) which has a fine dust filter incorporated in it, I use it with planer/thicknesser, table saw, bandsaw, edge sander and router table (only run one of these machines at a time) all with good results, I have it hooked up to rigid 110mm soil vent pipe with 4 outlets with blast gates which I then run 3m flex pipe yo each machine from. I don't use it as a shop vac as I have a separate Festool vac for that purpose so not sure how it would perform in that aspect.
The only mod I had to make was to remove the metal cross section from the intake on the motor unit as this causes the machine to continually clog up once this is removed no problems ( this is easily cut out with tin snips and doesn't affect the extractor in any way)

 

[LancsRick]

Thanks. I'm going to go for the FM300BC and cartridge, and various other bits. Not sure how much luck I'll have, but I'm also going to try and haggle with Axminster in the shop - by the time I've added on all the other bits and pieces I want to make a full system, that £348 becomes £561 at their prices! If I get the accessories from Rutlands I could do it for about £110 less, so I'll offer them £470 for my shopping list and see if they want the business or not, otherwise I'll split my order.

Flexible hose and fittings/gates/corners are expensive!

 

[MikeJhn]

I don't think haggling with the shop will do any good, however I have found the on line personnel very accommodating, you will not be disappointed with the 300 its one of their better units, I have plans to put it on more substantial wheels with a frame and handles to push it around my man cave.

When looking for ducting don't discount using soil pipe, convertors are available from 110 : 100 to enable accessories to be used, one thing to keep in mind is that some waste gates tend to block themselves with the slide passage being too fine a tolerance, a bit of slop is needed to keep the passage clear, if the chip extractor is powerful enough (300 is) it will suck itself into position, personally I don't bother as I work by myself I only have one machine on at a time so move a 100mm flexible from machine to machine, spent a fortune on ducting only to take it all out later.

Mike

 

[Wizard9999]

...When looking for ducting don't discount using soil pipe, convertors are available from 110 : 100 to enable accessories to be used...

I was given this tip, but as I mentioned in another thread, the actual 3m lengths of 110mm soil pipe are cheap, but the bends, 'Y's etc. are more than the equivalent in 125mm spiral pipe. So depending on how winding the pipe route soil pipe may actually be more expensive.

Terry.

 

[MikeJhn]

The problem with spiral pipe is the corrugations act as a turbulator to the air flow, this has the effect of introducing a vortex type airflow inside the pipe, unless you have a very good to excessive air flow, particles will settle in the corrugations, the agitation they are subject to causes static which attracts additional particles and then the pipe gets restricted...........well you know where this is heading.

Mike

 

[Wizard9999]

Mike

I was referring to spiral metal pipe specifically manufactured as ducting, not the stretchy flexible pipe which is even more expensive as far as I can see. But yes I agree, keeping any lengths of the stretch stuff to a minimum is a good idea.

Terry.

 

[MikeJhn]

Ah Ha, understood, but even the metal spiral piping has swage bumps at the joins, I wish I knew the definitive type of ducting to use, but it would have to be smooth with no joints, or at the very least smoothed out joints and slow radius bends, then we get to blocking up extraneous holes in our machines to concentrate the flow where the dust is produced, if we don't do that it all makes a nonsense of what type of ducting we use, I think I will just stick to having a system that is over powered and only use one machine at a time.

Mike

 

[LancsRick]

Ordered! Arrives next week

 

[MikeJhn]

Did you look at the feedback about the FM300BC on Axminsters site?

Mike

 

[LancsRick]

Yup, familiar looking name from one of the reviewers! They had the extractor at a store only and the cartridge at Central only, so they're shipping the extractor to central to send them out together at the end of the week. Ordered my accessories from Rutland as they were half the cost which should arrive this week . Thanks for all the inputs.