Help

Take Aim at Power-Tool Sawdust

Share
Print
Comments (4)

Rather than invest in shrouds and pipe connections for both my drill press and scrollsaw, I use a stand-mounted boom that adjusts to put suction just where I need it. To build the "dust cannon," I cut the post and mounting arm, as shown below. To cut the slots in the post and arm, I made several progressively deeper passes using a plunge router equipped with a 3/8" straight bit.

Next, I cut a circular lid from 3/4" plywood to fit snugly into the top of a five-gallon bucket, and cut the slot for the post as shown. I slid the lid partway up the post, and attached the post to the bottom of the bucket. Then, I filled the bucket half-way with sand, slid the lid into place, and attached it with screws.

The "barrel" is made from 3" thin-walled PVC pipe. I shaped the mounting blocks to fit the curvature of the pipe, positioned the mounting blocks and arm on top of the pipe, and then drilled a 1/4" hole through all three pieces. I attached the arm to the post with a carriage bolt, washer, and wingnut, and then bolted the pipe and mounting blocks to the arm. With a dust-collection hose clamped to the end of the pipe, I just aim my cannon at its intended target and "fire!"

--Pete Burgoyne, Wawa, Ont.

If you like this project, please check out the hundreds of shop-proven paper and downloadable woodworking project plans in the WOOD Store.

WOOD Store

Free Year + Free Gift! Order NOW and get 1 Free YEAR of Wood® Magazine! PLUS you'll get our Great Projects for Your Shop Guide instantly! That's 2 full years (14 issues) for the 1-year rate- just $28.00. This is a limited-time offer, so HURRY! (U.S. orders only) (Click here for Canadian orders)

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Email Address:

Comments (4)

opalko1 wrote:

I can't believe that little carriage bolt and wing nut will secure that long piece of PVC. As soon as you attach the hose (notice how it is floating in mid-air in the drawing), the hose will pull the PVC back end "down", the front end will go "up".

12/30/2010 01:05:06 PM Report Abuse

ronmellhd wrote:

I am sick of you pop-up add to subscribe. I just tried to print a plan four times, and I never got it printed because to kept jumping to the pop-up and it did not have any way to close the add exept to sign-up for a another year. I am very close to close-out of you emails. Ron Mellinger

12/28/2010 08:30:11 PM Report Abuse

Mark E. wrote:

Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

11/27/2010 05:52:41 AM Report Abuse

lou van dyne wrote:

thank you for the sawdust boom plan, so simple and easy to make. making one this week and the box joint jig too. thank you again.

11/24/2010 10:08:36 PM Report Abuse