Setting Up Dust Collection for a Small Wood Shop
A good dust collection system is more than clean floors; it’s clean air, better finishes, and a safer workspace. For anyone exploring woodworking dust collection tips and guide material, this setup shows how to get excellent performance in a one-room shop under 500 square feet.
Oneida Air Systems designed my dust collection ductwork, which is very typical for a one-room shop under 500 square feet. If you’re in the research stage of how to setup dust collection in a wood shop, my layout works efficiently and keeps the air clean while I work.
The ductwork begins with a 6-inch diameter pipe connected to the collector. At the first wye (split), the duct reduces to 5-inch diameter branches. The 5-inch diameter pipes serve the biggest tools (jointer, table saw, and planer), even though they all have 4-inch diameter dust ports, which ensure good air volume to the machines. Also, you can change the dust port to a 5-inch diameter connection for better performance. A 5-inch diameter to 4-inch diameter reducer is used to make the transition, a simple modification often recommended in woodworking dust collection tips and guide discussions.
Dust Collection Ductwork Design
The 4-inch diameter branches that split off the 5-inch diameter line serve smaller tools, such as the bandsaw and router table. Blast gates are installed at each tool. The final connections were made with flexible hose, which allows me to move my tools around and still maintain effective wood shop dust control.
I used 24-gauge (mostly) snap-lock pipe, spot-welded fittings, and aluminum blast gates, which are available from many companies. (Avoid lighter-gauge metal duct designed for heating or cooling systems; it can collapse under vacuum.)
A higher-quality system will employ 22-gauge spiral pipe and welded fittings, which are stiffer and more airtight, and yes, they cost more. Quick-Fit duct supplies from Nordfab are also premium-priced, but the components go together easily and don't require duct tape or caulk. For anyone comparing the best dust collection systems for small shops, Nordfab’s design is an example of durability and simplicity combined.
Although individual 24-gauge components aren't that expensive (a 5-foot run of 5-inch diameter snap-lock pipe costs about $8), it all adds up. A very basic three-machine setup may be had for a few hundred dollars. A system for half a dozen tools and a floor sweep may cost $500 or more.
Boosting Airflow and System Performance
It's best to use a minimum of hose because it produces about three times the friction of metal pipe. Friction will reduce the performance of the system. All pipe seams and connections must be sealed with caulk or duct tape. Clear silicone caulk is a good choice because it's virtually invisible and is easy to remove. No screws or rivets needed. Quick-Fit duct pipe from Nordfab is assembled using gasketed clamps.
Design Help Is Available
Designing the ductwork for a central dust collection system can involve a lot of calculations. For those of us who skipped math class, there's help available.
- Air Handling Systems of Woodbridge, Conn., has an online duct calculator program. The company outlines the concepts of duct design in a four-page brochure.
- Oneida Air Systems of Syracuse, N.Y., will design a duct system free of charge for its customers. All that's required is a shop drawing showing the types and locations of woodworking machines.
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Nordfab of Thomasville, N.C., manufacturers of the Quick-Fit line of duct and fittings, offers a free design service. The company has a downloadable program, but you need a CAD program to run it. The company also offers a peel-and-stick shop layout kit for analog woodworkers.
To dig deeper into woodworking dust collection tips and guide strategies, read my article Dust Collection for the One-Man Shop that discusses how small setups get big results.
Antole Burkin in the senior editor of Fine Woodworking