You also want blast gates so you can close off the hoses going to tools
you're not using to provide extra suction to the ones you are using. I have
a Jet central dust collector, which I haven't plumbed yet since I'm still
deciding where I want all my woodworking tools to go, now that I have a lift
occupying a big chunk of my garage.
SAFETY TIP -- If you're using nonmetallic hose/pipe, run a ground wire
through it. All that fluffy sawdust running along a plastic pipe can build
up quite a bit of static. If it discharges when it hits the vacuum/dust
collector and makes a nice spark right where you have a bunch of flammable
sawdust with a big fan providing plenty of oxygen, there's a fire hazard.
I've never seen this happen myself, but it sounds plausible enough.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Landaiche [SMTP:ken_landaiche@dlcc.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 1998 10:15 AM
> To: shop-talk@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: Vacuum systems
>
>
> I was just in the local Home Depot and noticed a dust collection system
> being sold by Ridgid. I thought it was pretty slick, with the clear
> tubes and gated connections for dust hoses. A portable Ridgid shop vac
> provided the suction.
>
> But then I got to thinking that commercial shops must use something both
> more robust and more flexible, at least in the fittings offered. What
> experience do you listers have in permanent vacuum and dust collection
> systems?
>
> Ken Landaiche
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