[flojor10]

My garage has a layer of dust from my Cnc router and after cleaning it out I want a way to keep it clean. I have a 3hp shop vac, so what would be better a dust shoe or a container around my cnc machine with an inlet for the vacume.

[vtx1029]

A dust shoe is the best because it keeps the linear ways, bearings, and lead screws cleaner. I made a box similar to what you have drawn and the vac did little very little. I would have to brush everything off or blow with air... One thing nice about a box is it does knock down the sound some.

[kinghong1970]

i think a "3hp" shopvac (assuming from HomeCheapo/Lowes) is going to be lacking to pull dust out of your case and you will see a lot of dust gathering on your machine.

as said above, a nice 2 hp HF DC with 4" tube + dust shoe will be better... but again, this too will not help collect all the small dust.

i too suffer from this, recently worked with some mdf and even after a clean sweep, the floor has a nice dusting of powder

and i have a air cleaner as well as a dust collector set up in my shop.

how about keep the shopvac dedicated to the dust shoe, then add a box fan behind your air filter to pull air from case through filter, outside?

[harryn]

Keeping down fine dust requires two stage dust removal, your shop vac or equivalent, followed by a water based air cleaning system of the shop vac exhaust. If you don't have this, for sure stay away from MDF.

[ger21]

as said above, a nice 2 hp HF DC with 4" tube + dust shoe will be better... but again, this too will not help collect all the small dust.

Actually, it will (or at least it can). My CNC is the cleanest tool in my shop, and I cut a ton of MDF with it.
With a good shoe with a brush that completely surrounds the tool and seals to the table, the fine dust is kept in the shoe until the collector sucks it out. You may get some dust and chips packed in the cut, but that's about it.
The exception is at the edge of parts where the shoe is hanging out beyond the part. But if the brushes on the shoe are below the tool, heavier chips will escape, but the light fine dust will still be captured, if you have decent airflow.

Keeping down fine dust requires two stage dust removal, your shop vac or equivalent, followed by a water based air cleaning system of the shop vac exhaust. If you don't have this, for sure stay away from MDF.

Absolutely zero woodworkers are using a water based cleaning system, although I've seen them for drywall sanding.

As long as you're dust collector or sander has a good filter, you shouldn't have any issues with fine dust.


If I cut a single piece of MDF on my table saw, I'll find a light dusting everywhere.
I've filled my dust collector on my CNC about 5 times with MDF, and have never had any dust in the air from the CNC.

[RossMosh]

Dust collection is pretty important if you look at it from a health stand point. There are a bunch of websites that address it. Bill's Cyclone Dust Collection Research - Home Page Would be one of the major ones. Another would be: The Thien Cyclone Separator Lid w/ the Thien Cyclone Separator Baffle

I know it can be a big chunk of a lot of people's budgets but a Harbor Freight dust collector + good shoe + separator + good filter bag is probably worth the money. You really don't want to inhale all of that bad stuff regularly.

[Vestus]

Ditto to Ross. If you're on a budget, get a HF dc, then a 1micron bag, then cut and add a Thien baffle.

If you want to skip to the end, I did the full out mod like this guy did: Harbor Freight Dust Collector Mod - by Cory @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community

It works like a champ, no fine dust, and when I start seeing anything in the bag I know my primary bucket is full. (The bag is a pain to put back on.)

It works great for normal woodworking tools (like drum sanders) that churn out a ton more fine dust than cnc cutting MDF. As for health concerns, exotic hardwoods are far more toxic and dangerous than MDF. It's the fine particle size that makes MDF hazardous. http://www.gvwg.ca/docs/Articles/Woo...%20Article.pdf

[n24re]

I use a dust deputy along with a shop vac...works great with wood, plastic aluminum etc. I have my dust shoe float around the work and never have a large mess.

[flojor10]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I apprieciate the responses. I decided on the encloser method for now, but I want to make a dust shoe to help more. I just don't know what materials to use door the bristles.

I made the encloser from 2x2's and plywood, the router can be accessed from the front by pulling the velcro apart. I also installed led lights in the box that help to see.

For the encloser I used clear vinyl and have some left over that I want to cut into strips for a seal on the bottom of the dust shoe, would this work? Here is the encloser I made for about $20, its not pretty but it does its job.



-George

[ger21]

Strip brushes will work much better than clear vinyl, which will get sucked up into the hose, unless it's pretty rigid. Brushes form a much better seal to keep dust from escaping.
You can get brushes from McMaster Carr. Just search their site for strip brushes.

[vtx1029]

Darn you guys keep costing me $ I ran out and bought a HF dust collector yesterday $159 with my 20% coupon

[ger21]

Darn you guys keep costing me $ I ran out and bought a HF dust collector yesterday $159 with my 20% coupon

Wait until you start upgrading it.

[vtx1029]

Wait until you start upgrading it.

Yea that's in the plans too... Man it's been an expensive week. I also bought a motor to make a v drum sander.