Workshop Dust extraction

I have a small wood workshop at home and need to get on top of dust extraction. I am considering making a fixed ducting system to the major items and some flexible hose take offs for handheld tools.

I have one of these http://www.poolewood.co.uk/product/fox-2hp-dust-extractor-f50-842/
and bascially drag it around and labouriously connect it as needed.

The problem is i mainly use it when i have a bunch of table saw cuts to do or when i use the planer thicknesser. When i only have a few cuts to do or some bandsaw etc i dont bother.

Has anyone rigged up a fixed duct system and is it work while? It would make it easier and therefore it would always get used. Not sure about blast gates etc as well if these are needed.

The main items are a planer thicknesser (free standing)
Table saw
Bandsaw
Bench drum sander
A flexible take off for handheld planer and sander

The items are orientated in an L shape along 2 walls in such a way that from extractor in corner there is 2m run to the thicknesser (which is obviously chips mainly rather than dust) Then a further 1.6m to table saw. Then the other leg is 1m to the drum sander and another 3 to the band saw. The band saw is definately the lowest priority.

Sorry for the essay but thanks if you made it this far.

I have done, but at the same time I fit ductwork for a living so I can get my hands on galvanised spiralform and fittings relatively 'cheaply' if you know what I mean, and that's where it becomes expensive. It's not cheap stuff but if you are setting aside cost, it's much neater to have a fixed set up rather than trailing flex hoses about.

All I'd suggest you consider is trying to keep your extractor as near to your thicknesser as possible. I have an extractor right next to mine as I'm sure you're aware, it helps reduce the risk of clogging, especially with smaller extract units. Or even another consideration would be a bin type separator between the extract and the thicknesser.

For the DIY job it would be much cheaper to use plastic down pipe type stuff and you can fabricate your own blast gates using the tools you have quite easily and cheaply.

Cheers, I plan on doing it with 4" sewer pipe. I have lots of fittings around anyway so one 6m length of pipe will do the lot. I might sketch it out and see if you have any advice after seeing it. I might do a dual pipe arrangement, one just for the planer one for everything else and can switch between them rather than have a takeoff for it.

If you are concerned about the impact of dust on your health you might want to give a bit more thought to the extractor itself. Although it says 'Dust Extractor' in the description it's really a chip extractor - it only filters down to 35 micron and it's the stuff smaller than this that is the real health problem. Personally, I would dedicate it for the planer and get another one that filters down to 0.5 micron for the other equipment.

I use one of these: http://www.recordpower.co.uk/produc...extractor-with-accessories--hplv#.WLCxqTg5waM
which is fine as far as it goes but I also have a free standing air filter and I can tell the difference if I don't use it.

I suppose much depends on how much time you spend in there as to how far you go. Depending on available space and power, it might be worth comparing the cost of ducting with the cost of dedicated extractors for each frequently used machine.

just remember you will need all gates to be shut except the one your using so lots off opening and shutting as you switch between machines
best to place planer thicknesser and router/router table as short a run from the the extractor as possible
you also need to remember the action off gravity as high place extractor will need far more power than a floor mounted or low mounted extractor for the same extraction rate

I've seen the record ducting system up at D&M tool show, and I did not feel it was mega expensive, but the one nice feature, is that the ducting is clear tube, so if there is a blockage, at least you can see it. I would assume if you use 4" sewer pipe, should there be a blockage, you are going to be hunting a while.