A dust collection tip everyone needs to know

[@jonfrisch2584]

Literally, your video couldn't of come at a better time! Recently retired, just insulated and rewired my shop, finally building jigs and learning about dust collection. To me, the box has the advantage of being attached to my walls, where most of my equipment is stored. I like building boxes too - have a good one!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Perfect!

[@a9ball1]

I was under the impression that the container had to be round in order to work. This gives me ideas. Thanks

[@SlowandExpensive]

You are welcome. An air tight container is most important. It also needs to be at least as deep as the separator is tall.

[@jasondoust4935]

Good point. To save space, I used a rectangular bin from IKEA for years behind a mill for drilling bowling balls. It fitted into the space between the stand and the wall behind, and worked a treat, capturing all that nasty urethane and epoxy dust. To seal the gap in the lid, I used... you guessed it... duct tape.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks!

[@NWGR]

Nice job. I like the idea of using boxes. I currently use a 14 gallon container but I hate how space inefficient round containers are. My shop is tiny and with a box I could fit a smaller container with the same amount of capacity. I like the hanging/handle design too. Adding that to the bag of tricks. 🙂

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks!

[@richardwadsworth4259]

I've built a box style also. I used 1/2 round bull nose router bit and cut a groove on the overhang on the lid. Use caulk and put a 3/8 gap filler/backer rod (it's a soft closed cell foam used for caulking). And it pretty much eliminated any dust getting into the shopvac. I clean my filter two to three times a year, unless I forget to check the box and it over fills. But thanks for the inspiration. I'm also running the cheap double cyclone. The baby cyclone collects a little more. Also, I empty that one every three to four boxes full.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Perfect!

[@petepenman3]

Best KZbin video I've watched for a long time, thank you. No crap music, well spoken fella who talks my language when it comes to not wasting money. Interesting and useful information. I'm definitely subscribing.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@Sebastopolmark]

Very well said. Easy and customizable. AND can be emptied in one breath! !! !!!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks!

[@TwistedWorkshop77]

Still killing it with the awesome content!! I am looking to add something to my miter saw shop vac. I noticed you had a triangle shaped container too. Awesome!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@guitarchitectural]

Yes! I am on Team Box too. It just makes everything cleaner and more streamlined and you can build it into your shop much easier and make the most of your available space. The oneida unit is so expensive, in part, because the entire thing is made out of a type of plastic that is antistatic, as all festool hoses are (the CT extractors' control boards can be very sensitive to static discharge).

[@SlowandExpensive]

That is very interesting about the plastic. I thought they were just taking advantage of the fesdroolers :)

[@darodes]

Love the versatility this opens up…. Been having trouble with my 5 gal bucket collapsing and I’m looking for a solution. Might have found it with this video! Thanks!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Perfect!

[@graveurgraveur2691]

Nice idea sir! Thanks for sharing.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@Toni-oy5gu]

I really LOVE this video and the use of boxes. That will be much easier to make and I can use my bucket for fishing as I struggle to get the lid off. Thank you.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Perfect!

[@MrBigMalT]

Great vid - love the idea of the clear window so you can see how full it is. And congrats on the quality of your vid… creative camera angles, really tight editing 👌👌

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks so much!

[@Nettle314]

Awesome! I love your videos! I've started to put the collected dust into plastic bags before throwing it into the trash, just to respect the lungs of the garbage truck workers. I don't know how it is where you are, but I see them work here, and they're not very protected against fine dust. It also has worked out better for me, as I can wrap the bag around the dust container when I turn it around, that way mitigating too much dust escape.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you! I will empty the can of dust onto the burn pile. I usually put it in my scrap bin that is stored under the table saw but it was completely full so I opted for an empty trash can. I would bag it up if it was going to the dump :)

[@craigheimericks4594]

I just toss it into the yard. It eventually gets aerated in. It definitely has helped our clay soil grow better grass over the years.

[@mikeconroy2651]

I've used the original dust deputy and loved it. I'm using the Super dust deputy now and it's very good but either it's not quite as good as the smaller one or I'm just sucking up a greater amount of the super fine stuff as i added a bigger sander. I wish someone would do a side-by-side comparison of the performance using various bins. Like square versus round, wide versus narrow. Something like a 5-gallon bucket versus your wide round container. I expect one beats the other.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Instead of using one large cyclone (super dust deputy) in your setup you could use multiple smaller ones. It actually may work better. This is how the dyson vacuums are set up. There are several small cyclones setup in a circle over the container rather than a single one. It would probably take at least six dust deputys to equal the air flow of the super dust deputy. Just a thought :)

[@mikeconroy2651]

@@SlowandExpensive actually, it's funny you mention that. I wanted to put a prefilter on my sander and was thinking about taking two old vac canisters from the Hoover wind tunnel vacs and put them in my dust collection line at the sander. They are easy to pop out and clean, and i was thinking two might be able to deal with the volume of air the dust collector pulls but opted for a small 4" Chinese cyclone versus the experiment. Mainly because I was afraid I'd need 3 of the Wind Tunnel chambers to move the amount of air anything close to what it does now.

[@philipjones9297]

You sir,,,, are a absolute genius

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@PrestigeChiro]

just a little recommendation, you can put acrylic to see how full it gets and also theres a sensor you can buy cheap and also a red and green light and when you wire it you can have it show you the level of dust at a specific point and itll turn flashing red to notify you to empty it and that costs about $50 to assemble yourself. Theres some videos online describing it.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks! A small window towards the top of the box is a great idea.

[@Ack5100]

You are one of my favorite channels!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@tbas7161]

Boom! Im always tripping over my cyclone bucket due to location and size. perfect idea! How about a square vacume that could save floor space as well?

[@SlowandExpensive]

Nice! Great idea, they do make some rectangular vacuums, and square toilets but not square rockets. Actually square shaped rockets would be ideal. That way when they build the space stations they could make square rooms :)

[@dandtb6860]

Nicely done!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks!

[@papillonwoodprint]

WOW! So true., Thankyou for the video! ill try too in my shop

[@SlowandExpensive]

Perfect!

[@warrenwerks]

Excellent editing wow! I like the box idea too might have to try that out

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@brianmurray667]

Great content. Your talent with video is noteworthy too. New project for me, it seems.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@wayneford2481]

Thank you i have been thinking for a while why make the dust travel all around the shop and clogg the pipes it's easy for the vacumm to run in a long tube than carry dust in a long tube.

[@SlowandExpensive]

I'm glad to have helped :)

[@brianhill1294]

After having 2 plastic cylinders implode I decided to make a rectangular box on wheels with the cyclone on top. It’s been working a treat for the last 3 years with no issues at all. Definitely give it a go if your plastic container collapses. 👍

[@SlowandExpensive]

It's thinking outside and inside the box at the same time :)

[@oliverbooker9528]

Fabulous video! Innovative ideas. I’m kind of a beginner and never considered this kind of space saving idea because that’s not what the industry presents to the newcomer. BTW your video-making skills are awesome and your “acting skills” are, too!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you!

[@kz.irudimen]

I tried making a box when I bought my first cheap cyclone, and I really did not like it. The shape and materials were probably bad, it was too heavy, it was a pain in the ass to empty, etc. I do like the clear side you added though, maybe I'll try making another box with a similar shape to yours since I still have not found a bucket I like.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Maybe experiment with some different materials. A perfect bucket can be hard to find :)

[@hillcountrylivin]

New subscriber. Thanks for prompting me to think outside the box and use a box instead of a bucket.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Yes!

[@jeevespreston]

Really nice build, simple, efficient. FWIW you can buy “pool socks” to put over your vac filter to keep it cleaner longer…

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thank you! Using pool socks is an interesting idea, I like it, thanks :)

[@frank88ster]

The best is the 'see through glass / plastics'. No need to keep checking. I got heaps of glass laying around, can make various sizes of see through boxes. Mm?? May even 'see to fit'?.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Do it!

[@angewagstaff9470]

The box you emptied - can you please show how/what it's connected to. I'm using the 4" hose.

[@SlowandExpensive]

I will eventually make a video about the drill press station, that is the cart that box hangs on. There is a platform that sits above the cart. This is where the vacuum sits and the cyclone separator is bolted to this platform. On the bottom side of the platform directly below the separator is a 4" toilet flange screwed to the bottom of the platform under the separator. Then there is another 4" toilet flange screwed to the top of the box with a section of 4" flex gutter drain pipe (about a 4 ft section) connecting the two flanges. It works great. I hope that helps.

[@angewagstaff9470]

Thank you! Love your videos.

[@outbak2]

Game changing! thanks

[@Thomllama]

The “oh wow” at the end is why I always want a transparent face to see the level in the container. Those look nice, but for me, WAY too small, and to make large enough for the volume I produce off the jointer and planer, wood boxes would be way to heavy! I ended up spending A LOT on a rubber maid Feed and Grain 25 gallon can as it was the only one I found that large, strong enough to not collapse under the dust collector, and transparent! But it works perfectly, so worth it!

[@SlowandExpensive]

Sometimes a perfect bucket is the best option :)

[@randyweathington5754]

Another great explanation of how your setup works. My question is, what hp do you think works the best? Great Vibe! Thank You Randy

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks Randy! The more powerful the better when it comes to a shop vac for dust collection.

[@gregchulski6241]

I never used one of these dust collectors so I bought a Bauer from harbor freight, same design but a different color. Anyhow my question is does that box have to be air tight? I noticed you didn’t use anything on the lid.

[@SlowandExpensive]

It does need to be air tight. If there are any leaks some of the dust can get through to the vacuum. The box from the video had somewhat of a leak at the back because I used 1/4" plywood. It really needs to be made from at least 1/2" so it can't flex.

[@tcbridges]

Great Idea. Ty

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks!

[@randyweathington5754]

Thanks for the answer! I have another question the more I thank about if I built a box like the one you built instead of standing it up. I would lay it on its side and put the cyclone on the side that would fit under my table saw better. Do you think that would work? Thanks for all your help! Randy

[@SlowandExpensive]

The box needs to be as deep or deeper than the height of the separator. Someone else had a similar question and I think a square box that is 16" x 16" x 16" would probably work well under the table saw if you have enough space for it. If the box isn't deep enough dust will bypass the separator. Dust will also bypass the separator if it's not sealed up air tight, so caulking all the inside corners is important.

[@qmoonwalker3847]

Never thought about using a box!

[@SlowandExpensive]

yep :)

[@NVOutsider]

How do you know when the boxes are full

[@SlowandExpensive]

I just check them from time to time but I'd like to put a small plexiglass window (maybe a 2" circle) on the front of them about an inch down from the lid.

[@henryrossouw930]

Greetings from sunny South Africa.Subscribed and very impressed with your problem solving.Just one question.What is the diameter of your smallest hose used and will swimming pool pipes - 50mm diameter- work.Thanks in advance.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks and welcome! The hoses I use are 2 1/2" that go from the top of the separator to the vacuum. I like using the larger 2 1/2" hoses on that part of the setup but I do use some smaller hoses from the separator to the tool. The smallest hoses I use are 1 7/8" . Yes, 50mm pipes and hoses will work .

[@henryrossouw930]

Thank you sir.Now I can start building my dust collection system thanks to your inspiration. @@SlowandExpensive

[@SlowandExpensive]

Perfect!

[@PaliVCiernom]

Hi there! Great content. I have the same problem with "low" space below the outfeed table. Would a low box with a wide/long base work well ? Would it fill to the edges? (the idea is to build a low box but wide/long to maximize capacity in low space, have the cyclone dust separator on the top)

[@SlowandExpensive]

The box needs to be at least as deep as the separator is tall. Twice as tall is even better. So if your separator is 12" the box needs to be at least that deep. The separator needs a few inches of clearance to work properly so the container is actually ready to be emptied at about 3 or 4 inches before it's completely full. The dust will start to get by when the dust is in this area. So a 12 inch deep container will only hold about 8 inches of dust or a 24 inch deep container will hold about 20 inches. A square box about 16 inches tall and wide should work under a table saw. Make sure it's air tight. Air leaks will let dust get by the separator.

[@PaliVCiernom]

@@SlowandExpensive I can probably just fit 16 inches. Thanks for the hints!

[@gilbertramirez4294]

Question - How much peak HP is required for a small dust collection system? For one of those a Rigid shop vac connected to a Cyclonic Dust Separator that sits on top of a bucket. I've seen most woodworking shops bring out the huge NXT 6.0 HP BUT do you really need all that HP. Plus I have read that hp maxes out around 1.5 HP when connected to standard 120 outlets (Is that true? I’m not sure). So, can i use a smaller shop vac with less HP?

[@SlowandExpensive]

It really depends on the type of tool you are hooking up to the vacuum. A cyclone dust separator will work on most vacuums for dust collection purposes. The issue is more of whether the vacuum will have enough suction to capture all of the dust the tool is making. It's usually going to work best with the more powerful vacuums. The horsepower ratings on the vacuums are very deceptive. The use the term "peak" horsepower which is not equal to the regular horsepower rating you are referring to. A better way to estimate the draw on the electrical circuit is to use the amperage of the vacuum plus the amperage of the tool. Even the most powerful shop vacuums are only drawing 11 amps so if you add that to a 15 amp tool, (it's technically a higher amp draw) but, a normal 20 amp circuit will usually be able to handle it without tripping the breaker.

[@gilbertramirez4294]

@@SlowandExpensive Thank you - for the information. I'm a hobbyist, DIY home owner, beginner woodworker, working out of my basement. I'm using a job site SKIL 2023 table saw with a RIGID shop vac from 2000 (6 gallon 2.5 HP).

[@melflesser3549]

Thank you so much - This has solved one of my biggets problems in my workshop and so simple. Why didnt I think of it.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Glad it helped :)

[@markfrye9178]

I like that you utilize what you have on hand. that's so counter youtubeish. 💲💲😃

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks! I strive to make content that I'd enjoy watching myself, which is usually not very youtubeish. Although, I will put an affiliate link for that $315 dust deputy box in the description! 🤣

[@Ekrindul]

Could you tell us how much does the box you built in the video weigh empty and full? You said you used glass? Or is it plexiglass?

[@SlowandExpensive]

The box I built in the video was only for demonstration. I used a piece of 1/4 inch glass on the front so we could see it work but that box weighs around 14 1/2 pounds empty so I don't think it's practical to use glass or even plexiglass for that matter. A small plexiglass window towards the top of the box might be a cool just so you could see when the box was getting full but the added expense to to use plexiglass on the entire front or the extra weight of glass, I don't think is practical. These boxes hold about 5 gallons of dust so I'd say that's probably around 10 pounds or so just in dust. The Box I emptied at the end of the video weighs 4 1/2 pounds empty. Most of my boxes weigh less than 5 pounds.

[@Ekrindul]

@@SlowandExpensive ok, thanks.

[@Mhj96813]

Thein baffles take up less height and work well and you can also make them yourself

[@SlowandExpensive]

That is a baffling proposition

[@GhostofTatooine]

I think some of boxes need glass fronts, That one was a little full. Great idea though.

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks!

[@randyweathington5754]

Thank You.

[@Tclasa]

Good stuff slow poke

[@SlowandExpensive]

Thanks

[@2sumu]

8:37

[@deaddadd]

They figure if you're willing to spend that much on Festool, then you're willing to buy a box to sit on it.

[@SlowandExpensive]

That's exactly what I was thinking. They are just taking advantage of the Fesdroolers 🤣

[@chetleonard169]

Your box be dusty bruh

[@SlowandExpensive]

way dusty :)

[@jeffp5991]

This would have been a good video without the laser tag game. As it is, it was informative but really annoying.

[@SlowandExpensive]

I think you must have commented on the wrong video. This video is about using boxes instead of buckets. No lasers in this one.

[@jeffp5991]

@@SlowandExpensive Sorry about that. I watched a few videos and clearly commented between two and caught the wrong one. I appreciate informative, interesting content. I even appreciate a little humor (good or bad) in video. I was irritated after watching a videos with equal parts goofiness and good content. I am grateful to have Jr. High in my distant past! Thanks for your videos - and apparent passion for shop vacs!

[@SlowandExpensive]

@@jeffp5991 No worries, I definitely got carried away with the cyclone video. I felt like I was making a movie or something. My latest videos have been much more direct :)