Hey folks! I'm just getting started with woodworking, and I'm currently working on building some shop furniture, including a mobile cart with dados and rabbets. I recently set up my Dewalt table saw and realized I forgot to connect my shop vac before making a few cuts. The 2" hose clogged up pretty quickly, and I ended up covered in sawdust, despite wearing a mask. I'm curious if there are any budget-friendly alternatives for dust control that will work well with both my table saw and my Dewalt planer (which I haven't used yet). I'm trying to avoid those bags that tend to release fine dust everywhere when they're full. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
You'll definitely need something more powerful for your planer. I'd recommend looking into a dust collector with a 4" hose and a pleated filter cartridge, rather than the cloth bags. They work way better at capturing dust and are less prone to clogging.
I have a Dewalt 735 planer, and I use it with a Dust Deputy that's connected directly to a bucket. It does an amazing job at catching all the dust before it even gets to the vacuum! Just be prepared for it to look like a volcano erupting when it fills up!
Honestly, a shop vac just isn't enough for a table saw or planer. You should really look into getting a proper dust collector. You might find some used ones on sale if you check local listings. Also, upgrading the bag to a canister type can make a big difference in efficiency!