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Universal Adapters Make Transitions Easy
Click image to enlarge.
If you’re lucky, you can plug the
vacuum hose directly into the dust port of your tool. But that won’t
happen often, because the size of dust ports on power hand tools varies. The
best strategy is to buy a universal adapter ($9), which is available at home
centers and other stores that sell shop vacuum accessories. You simply cut the
soft rubber with a utility knife to fit the dust port on the tool and the
vacuum hose. (We recommend 1-1/4 in. hose for most hand power tools; see
below.) However, keep duct tape handy for odd-size dust
ports.
Add a 6-Ft. Long, 1-1/4 In. Hose for Maximum Maneuverability
Click image to enlarge.
Buy a 6-ft. (or
longer) length of 1-1/4 in. hose ($14 and up) to connect directly to hand power
tools. Then connect the 1-1/4 in. hose to the standard 2-1/2 in. vacuum hose
with a plastic friction fit coupling (photo above). The smaller hose is light
and flexible compared with the larger hose. No drag, no kinks. You’ll
barely notice the 1-1/4 in. hose as you move the saw, sander or other tool
across the workpiece. (Most sanders have dust ports, but relatively few
circular saws and routers have them.)
Universal adapters and 1-1/4 in. hoses are available at Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sears.com/craftsman.
Buy Bench-Top
Tools With Dust Ports Whenever Possible
Click image to enlarge.
These days, most bench-top saws and
planers have dust ports, and they make a huge difference in controlling dust,
even with a shop vacuum. You won’t get it all, but even an 80 percent
reduction will help a lot. The connections are usually easy. In most cases, the
ports are a standard 2-1/2 in., so you can simply push the 2-1/2 in. vacuum
hose right into the port as we show here. This works best with larger capacity
vacuums, because the sawdust and chips from a table saw or planer build up
fast!
Make a Permanent Adapter for Frequently Used
Tools
Click image to enlarge.
Ideally, tool
manufacturers would standardize dust ports so you could swiftly move your hose
from one tool to another. But that’s not yet the case. In the meantime,
save time and frustration by installing an adapter permanently on heavily used
tools, such as miter saws. Then you can simply plug in the hose. Note:
You’ll find that dust collection on miter saws isn’t as effective
as on other tools, but this will definitely help.
Use Remote Controls to Simplify Switch
Hassle
Higher-priced
shop vacuums often come with a special switch that turns on the vacuum
automatically when the tool starts up. (Fein is one brand.) This is a great
feature, because you don’t have to walk over to the shop vacuum to turn
it on every time you want to make a cut. However, you can also solve this
problem in three other ways. One, use a pedal switch ($22) to turn on your
vacuum (top left photo). Two,
buy a remote switch ($40) and turn the vacuum on from anywhere in the room. Or
three, plug your tool and vacuum into a special power box that activates the
vacuum when the tool is turned on ($20;
right
photo).
The pedal switch we used (No. T-91-SCEA) is available from
Linemaster, (860-974-1000, www.linemaster.com). The dust collector remote
switch is from Woodstock International. Call (800) 840-8420 to find a dealer.
The automatic power switch (No. 24031) is from
Sears.com/craftsman.
Upgrade the
Vacuum Filter for Better Dust Control
Click image to enlarge.
You may have noticed the cloud of fine
dust that blows out the exhaust when you turn on most shop vacuums. Small dust
particles flow right through standard shop vacuum dust filters. To stop this
fine dust, buy a high-quality HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate air
filter; $20 to $30) from any store that sells your vacuum brand. They’re
well worth the price because they last a long time and can be rinsed
clean.
Reduce Hose
Clutter With an Overhead Hook
Click image to enlarge.
Dust collection hoses add to the clutter
in a small shop. But if you tend to work in one area, you can eliminate some of
the tangle and keep the tool from getting hung up by loosely hanging the vacuum
hose from a hook. Or add several in the areas you work in most
often.
For More Convenience, Get a Whole-Shop Dust
System
Click image to enlarge.
For $70 to $110
and an hour of your time, you can set up a smaller version of a whole-shop dust
collection system, complete with enough blast gates and inlets to handle a
range of fixed and portable tools. You simply push the parts together
(friction-fit them), so you can easily rearrange them as needed. Add an 18-ft.
length of 1-1/4 in. hose for hand power tools and a remote control for the
vacuum, and you can work virtually dust-free from anywhere in the
shop.
The dust collection system (No. 801-75-62; $110) we used is made by Shop-Vac and is available at home centers, hardware stores and on-line. Call (570) 326-3557 or visit www.shopvac.com.
No Dust Port?
Use a Portable Dust Hood
Click image to enlarge.
Many power tools don’t have dust
ports. But if you’re doing a lot of cutting and drilling, you can easily
position a portable dust collector nearby. Depending on the system, you may
have to fiddle with adapters and metal duct (from home centers) to make the
transition to the vacuum hose. You can also rummage through the HVAC aisle at
your local home center and put together a less expensive system with stock
parts and duct tape.
This dust collection nozzle (D2267; $53) is from Woodstock International. Call (800) 840-8420 to find a dealer.
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