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Conversation in the Popular Woodworking office this week centered on dust collection, or the lack thereof. It seems that I might be the odd man out due to my reluctance to attach a dust collector to my table saw. Whether I operated in a two-car garage shop or in a fully functioning woodshop that partially filled 4,000 square feet, I never hooked my table saw to a collector.
Why? There are a few reasons. First, I was (and am) leery of stumbling over the dust hose that is always stretched across what seems to be the best pathway to anything on which I am working. Second, if I position a dust collector near the table saw, there would be a time when whatever I am about to cut , or am in the middle of cutting , would have its path impeded by the collector. And third, the 4″ dust port on my saw does not allow the dust to fully evacuate the saw’s cabinet, so I am constantly opening the door to dig out the waste.
My solution is to occasionally use a flat stick or cutoff and push the dust out of the base of the cabinet, then sweep up and pitch the dust.
Now I’m asking you: Do you collect the dust from your table saw with a broom or a machine? Please take a few seconds to respond to our survey.
