Woodworking Dust Collection: Important things to know

[@StockroomSupply]

Excellent presentation and great dust collection setup!! One note I'd like to make regarding the rigid pipe vs flex hose. Using rigid pipe is preferred for a traditional high volume/low pressure unit(single stage bag etc.) as flex hose dramatically reduces the overall CFM due to the non-smooth interior and the collectors relatively low static pressure. Because the Camvac is a high pressure/low volume unit you can use flex hose with no real CFM loss as they have TONS of static pressure. Its a pretty sweet perk of the Camvac actually!! Keep up the great videos 👍👍

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks for your insights and kind feedback!

[@petenelson8136]

Thanks for the explanation on ridged vs flex hose, I was thinking the same thing = ridged is better. I'm going to be getting a CamVac for my shop once my house is completed (in about 4 weeks) and still working through just how I wanted to run all my duct work. Using flexible hose would sure make it a lot easier. I plan on moving the vac around until I figure out exactly where everything will finally settle in to and then running the ducts.

[@chrisdzisiak7540]

Yes, however what is the cost /life expectancy of flex vs sanitary plastic pipe

[@csimet]

I like watching European shops and how they can squeeze so much into a tight space. Always intriguing. I never complain about my 450 sq. ft. (~42 sq. m.) basement shop, even compared to some of the large ones here in the states. Nice job with the dust collection system. We tend to use PVC pipe... waste pipe, also known as schedule 40 DWV (drain, waste, vent)... as our main runs, leaving flex hose as the final hookups to the machines. It is relatively inexpensive and has many fitting options. A good fit with our high volume, low pressure dust collectors. Mine is a Grizzly 1250 CFM and canister filter system with an Oneida cyclone dust separator in front to catch 99% of the dust.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks for your feedback. I don’t know if the difference in pipes is noticeable - many of my machines are not especially good at dust collection at the "production end" of chips and dust so I just tried to make the system as good as possible but don’t have any comparison, of course.

[@peterkwasek]

Schön, wieder von Dir zu hören. Danke Andreas.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Ich danke dir!

[@ahmetdeniz4033]

Thank you, you deserve much much more.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks!

[@moritzmuller3836]

Dear Andreas, thank you very much for this very helpful and competent presentation: I am currently building up my quite small 3,5x4,5m workshop and considering various dust collection options. For me your video has the best and technically most accurate and complete advices of all videos I have watched yet on this topic, including the big german woodworking KZbin channels. The CamVac seems to be the technological sweet spot for small non-professional workshops. Thank you also for sharing the professional advices from Maschinenhandel Meier on the tubing and lifting issues! Best regards from Oldenburg! 🙂

[@gordongroves6674]

Thanks for sharing! A very informative video that helps a great deal.

[@Jestey6]

Hi. Excellent video and useful information. I have a combined ‘metal’ and ‘wood’ workshop and employ a Record Power 2 motor extractor. I have a cyclone installed which collects all of the dust etc. It’s easy to see when it requires emptying, it’s very easy to empty, in addition it eliminates having to empty the extractor, as nothing reaches it, and also means I don’t have to purchase the bags. My wood lathe produces large amounts of dust and chippings, and the extractor has insufficient power to deal with this, despite managing to ‘blow’ of the caps fitted to the exhaust ports. One other observation, the ‘current draw’, of just the extractor on switch on, was sufficient to trip the type ‘A’ MCB, in the workshop consumer unit, necessitating the use of a Motor Rated 16 Amp C type MCB.

[@chrisdek05121967]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts/experience at the end of the video 👍

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Glad you liked it.

[@selianboy8508]

Thanks Andreas for your excellent vid - the spirally effect of the spiral ducting is most interesting. I have not noted this anywhere else. The one thing I would recommend to try to improve your ducting, and to avoid blockages and 'pools' of chippings sitting in the system, is to always have 'incoming' ducting coming in from above at the point of entry. Every time you have ducting flowing over an incoming pipe, which comes in from underneath, you will find chippings and dust settling and dropping down that incoming section. To avoid this simply have all access (into your main run around the shop) come in from above. Problem solved! Also, if it is at all possible, try to have the main run of ducting at a height which is slightly above your dust extraction's intake point. This will be dictated by the type of extractor machine chosen of course. Hopefully the height will also be as close to the ideal, where the average machine allows ducting to run at the same height as the main ducting-ring. Inevitably this is simply never possible but, if it is at all possible, always aim for this sort of ideal. I have utilised a swivel-arm which is easily swung out of the way when not needed, but means that my 'centre of floor' machinery (router and table saw) almost have this ideal height except for the last points of entry to the machine itself. For what they are worth these are just my thoughts.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks for these great tips. I’ll think about them and see what I might be able to change.

[@hstrymkr4]

Nice setup! Any chance you have a link for the start stop switches you installed?I’m looking to complete a similar setup here in the EU! Thanks!

[@mikkobr]

Well, well, well done: Setup, presentation, to the point! What I need in 20 minutes! Good densitiy of info. Absolutely useful!

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks very much!

[@lukastrojak]

I was wondering where did you disappear? But I’m happy you’re back with such a useful video! I’m planning to do my dust collection system in my workshop so your advices will be very helpful! Thank you!

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Great to hear - thanks for your feedback! Life and work are busy so not as many videos as I used to manage.

[@mikevyvyan7060]

Thanks you for making this excellent and instructive video. I have a well equipped workshop (double garage) which is a similar size to yours. To combat the dust issue I now have four vacs and a chip extractor. This arrangement has evolved over time but leads me frustrated as only two machines have a dedicated collector. I have contemplated building a simpler system and drawn many plans. Your video has provided some very useful insights that overcome some of the challenges I face and it will send me back to the drawing board. So perhaps in 2023 I will attempt to create a more effective and simpler system inspired by some of the lessons you have conveyed. I look forward to more helpful videos.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks. I’m glad it was useful to you!

[@petenelson8136]

Excellent presentation. I'm going to be getting a CamVac very soon so I'm searching the KZbin Universe to see what everyone's done with theirs. I loved your reasoning on manual blast gates vs automated ones. I just watched a video that had an automated system and thought it was pretty sweet, until I went to the web page and saw the price for an automated blast gate. I will also have a small shop 4.2m (or 14') x 9.9m (or 32.5') for 140.5 sq m (or 455 sq ft) so keeping the duct runs out of the way is a priority. Thanks for sharing.

[@sebastianschick1989]

Moin Andreas, thanks a lot for this VERY helpful video. I've recently bought a CamVac and need to think about my dust collection. So this will help me definitely to avoid some mistakes. Greetings from Hamburg

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks Sebastian. Glad it was useful for you.

[@CaptainofmyShed]

Excellent breakdown of your superb system. Ill be borrowing a few ideas for my new workshop, currently in the planning.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Great to hear. Thanks.

[@colindoesdiy]

Hi Andreas, thanks for an excellent video with lots of useful tips. I am planning to do this in my small (single garage) workshop and was intending to take the pipe work up to the ceiling as everyone seems to do. I understand now why you took it down to the floor which, if you have the space is a great idea. I will have to see how it all works out in my small space, but I suppose if the Vac is mounted high up on the wall, then the length of hose to the ceiling will not be that long anyway so there may not be that much loss of suction, but then of course each drop to each machine or tool will have to go to the ceiling as well so the floor is the best idea. Great to see you making video's again and your workshop is looking so clean and tidy 😁. I bought a Bosch GTS 10XC after watching your great review, but on the newer ones they have removed the dust collection port on the blade guard for some reason ???. Take care and look forward to your next video, I'm dabbling with Instagram at the moment, but don't think I will ever be brave enough to make a KZbin video 😁

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

The CamVac is great and on short distances can probably manage some lifting but it’s worth considering reducing the lengths of lifting

[@SibeJanKramer]

Why didn't you insert a cyclone or something alike? Great video furthermore, especially the 5 points! The lifting never crossed my mind, but makes sense! The spiral ducting (vs. PVC) is interesting, allthough I'm very curious in real life comparison (regarding loss of suction and clogging).

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks! I don’t think a cyclone would make things any better, the sacks are cheap and easy to clean so I don’t see the point of adding a cyclone. The dust extractor itself is also based on the cyclone principle.

[@tho6688]

Sehr entspanntes Video und vor allem tolle Werkstatt. Daumen Hoch

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Danke!

[@thunderstruck1078]

Looks great! Good points at the end.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thank you!

[@finnlarsen7279]

Thanks for informative video, very useful.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Glad to hear it. Thanks.

[@gordongroves6674]

I am considering the Record Power extractor but I was disappointed with my old model dust extractor from Record Power, it was far too noisy - would you recommend the type you have please?

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

I have the two noise-reduction hoses attached which do a good job. And: I don’t mind the noise that much because whenever I run the dust extractor, I also run a loud machine and wear my ear protection.

[@michaelrobey7602]

Great video. I may have missed it but did you do a video on how you hooked up all the machines to be able to start the camvac? I assume the different machines are on different breakers so I’m a little confused how you got all of them to start the camvac.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

That was done by my electrician with some device in the breaker box. I don’t know much more about it but this device detects if power flows through a wire (e.g. by the saw running) and then switches on the circuit of the camvac.

[@Tilburger72]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Are you using a planet/jointer combo now still with the same Camvac? I get a combo in February and like the Camvac’s too. I hope a 2 motor version is sufficient for a small workshop. Thanks

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Unfortunately, my planer/jointer broke some time ago and I haven’t got a new one yet. But since the two-motor machine is the same on both my old and new camvacs I don’t see a problem. In fact, I got the new one with the sack because the old one filled up so quickly when jointing/planing so I expect it to be better with the new one.

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

Btw excellent presentation Andreas.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks.

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

Hi Andreas, I have a Jet DC 1100A extractor and I am about to set up my dust. Collection system. Do you think the flexible hose would be suitable, my work shop is 6m x 4m something similar to yours with similar equipment. Would love any recommendations Regards Paul

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Hi Paul. So far, the flexible hoses seem to do a good job for me. However, in your case I think your Jet extractor uses a different principle which is based on a large volume of moved air whereas the CamVac creates negative pressure. So I don’t know if the flexible hoses work the same way with your machine. What I do know is that you should keep the diameter of the hoses/pipes big for as long as possible only reducing it down to the machine diameter directly before it’s connected to the woodworking machines (if they don’t have a 100 mm outlet)

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

@@holzhandwerk_ak many thanks for your advice, much appreciated. Keep up the presentations. Regards, Paul

[@stephen6220]

Great video Andreas. How do you deal with dust from your belt sander? I find the suction ports don't work as most of the dust comes off the belt into the air. An enclosure perhaps? So much oppotunity for quality videos on this important topic of dust collection.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks. With the belt sander, I just use the shop vac regularly to clean up 😉

[@dachr2]

Thanks for the great walk through of your new system! I've started building a hobby woodshop and trying to figure out what to do about dust has been a major headache so far. It seems like choosing a cheap solution is just gambling with my health. Do you use wear mask when running your machines as well? And how often do you need to run the air filter?

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

I wear a mask when I work with hard woods since their dust is hazardous. I don’t have any experience with the air filter yet. It’s pretty quiet so I run it regularly - more as a measure of prevention than out of necessity.

[@bjrnulstrup5420]

Thanks for a great video what is the blastgate with the 4 small gates called ?

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

I don’t know what it's called but there’s a guy in Germany who builds and sells them: bp-tools.de/shop/zubehoer-fuer-absaugung/absaugschieber/absaugschieber-easyflex-ht50-quadro-a/

[@jellevanburen1834]

Hi Andreas, great video. I do have 2 additional questions: 1. Why did you chose for the wall mounted system over the barrel system? (For instance the 90L version on a table/cart in the corners?) And are you still happy with it/which version do you prefer in hindsight? 2. Could you explain (in a video?) how you've automated the electrical system? Since my Bosch vac has an switchable outlet. But the CamVac doesn't. So I also need to figure out how to make a CamVac start when machines turn on. Thank you for the content so far!

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Hi, 1. I wanted the one with the sack underneath because it’s much easier to clean and you can see when it’s full (harder with the other). 2. There’s a contraption built into the fuse box of the woodshop and - as far as I understand it - this is connected to the CamVac and detects if a machine is switched on. When one machine is switched on, it switches on the CamVac

[@jellevanburen1834]

@@holzhandwerk_ak Thanks for your response! Haven't you've had a situation where the weight of the bag would pull it towards the floor? The cord seems flimsy / not able to hold a full bag of sawdust? And is the cleaning much easier/cleaner in your opion? I also saw a video where someone did this, but the sawdust was also stuck on the metal frame and quite some dust ended up in the shop eventually when replacing the bag in the shop. Where with the barrel version you could empty it outside your shop and there would be less residual dust. (But also messy). I am going back and forth on this matter. And therefore find it hard to decide which version would suit me better and it is hard to find any content on the cleaning/maintaining part of these machines.

[@fransvankogelenberg]

Fantastic video

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thank you!

[@TikTok-il9hx]

How are you finding the blast gates? I had ones like the smaller ones you show and I found that fine dust got into the closed back right in the corners and would stop the gate fully closing. Really frustrating. I upgraded to a record power vac similar to your original one and replaced the gates with home made ones using mdf. They have an open back so nowhere for dust to collect and seal reall well.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks for your feedback. So far, they work fine but my makeover is only as couple of months back and I haven’t used the shop all that much since then. I’ll keep an eye out for the issue you mention.

[@Jestey6]

@@holzhandwerk_akI too find that the slides jam, however it is possible to remove the dust, not easy, but possible.😊

[@adriancook2179]

Where did you buy the wall mount hose clamps?

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

At amazon: amzn.to/3TE0oGB

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

I can't believe you just glossed over the electrics. I want to know how you rigged up auto activation of the camvac!

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Sorry about that. But I don’t know much about that myself and relied on my electrician to do that. And: I suppose the solutions available here in Germany are probably not the same as the ones in your country.

[@KAISERDJG]

but if you lift it to the ceiling the pipework isnt a trip hazard... and you are still lifting it from the floor to the machine so its the same either way. also the ceiling is closer to the machine than the floor is so its probably a net negative in your situation. the best solution would be to run the pipes at a 30 degree angle to the nearest wall from the machine or a 45 degree angle to the ceiling then across to the extractor

[@philipscott5389]

I’m deciding between the 2-motor and 3-motor variants; I’m guessing since you went with the 2, 3 might be overkill for two garage hobby-grade workshop with say an 8 m long run? Glad to see you’re back. :)

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

I also thought about the 3 motor variant. But my dealer told me it’s so powerful that you might damage your system if you switch it on and forget to have at least one blast gate open because the negative pressure is so great. I’m pretty happy with the two-motor variant.

[@selianboy8508]

The three variant machine has the bonus that it can auto-switch on and off the motors rotating their use when extended use is required. This helps in cooling the individual motors in such cases.

[@moony1769]

Can you tell me where you got the table saw blade guard with the dust port? I have a similar Bosch table saw and have been looking for overhead dust collection for it. I like the saw in general but it had bad dust collection

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Back when I bought the saw, this was the standard blade guard in Germany. Bosch has changed it since, however. If you go to the spare parts online shop, it seems to be available, though: www.boschtoolservice.com/gb/en/boschprof/spareparts/table-saw-gts-10-xc-3601L30400 (for Britain, you might have to choose your own region)

[@moony1769]

@@holzhandwerk_ak thank you! I’ve watched many of your videos. Appreciate you taking the time to make the content. It’s very beneficial

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks. I’m happy to hear it.

[@birdy3485]

I was wondering, how the table saw (50mm) and jointer (120mm) can be connected to one dust collection. My understanding was, that for jointer you need a high air volume, but low presure (dust collection) but for table saw you need low volume, but high presure (a hoover). So how is it working for you? Thanks for sharing :)

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

I don't know much about this, the CamVac creates a very low pressure and therefore a lot of suction. It seems to work fine.

[@ColinPClark]

Hello, where did you buy the equipment please? I live near Frankfurt, in Germany.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Check out the links in the video description.

[@gustaveliasson5395]

13:27 You can't. PVC is an insulator; wrapping the pipe with wire is useless because the wire will only recieve charge from the area of the pipe that's in direct contact with the wire. If you put your finger on the pipe even 1mm away from the wire, that section will still be charged because it's not touching the wire. If you want to absorb static charge from the *inside* of the pipe, you'll have to cover the inside surfaces with conductive paint.

[@philipb867]

You only need one exhaust hose just cut one in half and use as it makes no difference in terms of volume as if you use 2.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks for the tip.

[@biginufm4264]

Nice video, results look nice, but I think you were given terrible advice on the hose. Static electricity in a shop like yours is absolutely NOT an issue, and the smooth wall pipe will carry sawdust much better then spiral pipe.

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Thanks for your feedback - as I don’t know much about this myself, I trust on experts’ opinion. The one I talked to has been building and selling these kinds of things for years and his reasoning sounded decent. So far it works well - can’t say it something else would have been better.

[@zihotki]

You forgot to add grounding to the dust pipes. Dust and static electricity already burned many home-shops

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Actually, I did some research into that and found an article in a German woodworking magazine by a fire expert who has been investigating fires for insurance companies all his career and who is a woodworker himself. The conclusion: the static charges accumulated by wood dust are very low and if they do indeed create a spark there is normally not enough dust in the pipes of a home shop to cause a fire. The article lists many other actual risks for fires. If you understand German, I could send you a link to the article.

[@philipppolster1311]

I would also be interested in the article. Danke dir!

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

here it is. holzhandwerk-ak.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HolzWerken-68-brandschutz-erdung-absaugung.pdf

[@nicolausheutger2960]

Super Englisch

[@holzhandwerk_ak]

Danke!

[@gustaveliasson5395]

13:39 No, that's even worse. Static buildup makes fine dust stick to the walls of PVC pipe and increase the skin priction drag, but *corrugated* walls, like on the inside of spiral hoses, create continuous rolling swirls of air that effectively block off a portion of the hose's internal cross-section. And no, they don't keep dust away from the walls. If given the choice between PVC pipe and spiral hose, choose the pipe.