New ways to control dust, spray and fumes

Dust, spray and fumes can affect the quality of finishes on wood, but far more important is the threat they present for employee health. Fortunately, plenty of solutions are available in today’s marketplace.

Festool USA (festoolusa.com) recently introduced two new cordless dust extractors, the Cleantec CTC Sys and the CTC Midi. Both come in basic and HEPA models, and the company describes the rectangular Sys model as a “Systainer on the outside, cordless dust extractor on the inside.” It can be wheeled onto the jobsite, stacked on the rest of an installer’s Festool equipment, and runs off two 18-volt batteries. Features include three suction levels, Bluetooth auto-start, a remote control, and shoulder carrying strap.

Makita USA (makitatools.com) has become something of a leader in the cordless vacuum field, offering a catalog of solutions based on its 36-volt, 2.1 and 4-gallon wheeled units, plus a 2-gallon rectangular box vacuum with a handle on top. Named the XCV11Z, it has a brushless motor that delivers 57 CFM using a single 18-volt battery. It’s very compact: the entire unit only weighs about 10 lbs., yet it has a filter cleaning system and a HEPA filter. Makita also makes 0.5 and 1.6-gallon backpack dust extractors.

DeWalt (dewalt.com) also has a new cordless vacuum, model DCV585B, featuring a HEPA filter, wireless remote, and automatic filter cleaning function.

In the corded category, Bosch (boschtools.com) presents the new 9-gallon wet/dry vacuum, model VAC090AH, with a HEPA filter and automatic filter cleaning system that operates every 15 seconds for maximum suction power.

The Turbo II X AC HEPA wet/dry extractor from Fein (fein.com) features an automatic filter cleaning system and the added benefit that tool cases from various systems can be placed on the vacuum lid and secured. Another advantage here is reach: it comes with a 25’ cord and a 13’ hose.

Back in the woodshop, General International’s air filtration system (generaltoolsusa.com) includes a patent-pending Smart infrared dust sensor control system with an electrostatic filter, an eight-bag inner filter, a diffuser filter, and an optional PM2.S filter that “combine to remove 99 percent of all particles 5 microns, and 85 percent of particles 1 micron in size,” according to the company. There’s an optional activated carbon filtration layer and HEPA filtration layer, plus a remote control that has a built-in timer.

Among the latest innovations from JPW Industries (jpwindustries.com) is the ISF-1000 ‘intelligent’ air filtration system. Designed for small shops, this unit from the company’s Baileigh Industrial division has an automatic air quality sensor that adjusts the fan to one of six speed settings based on air quality. The ceiling-hung unit has an LED light that tells when the filter needs changing and timer that runs up to 16 hours.

SawStop (sawstop.com) offers a floating overarm dust collection system that looks like it could be used on just about any cabinet saw to harvest airborne particles at the blade. What’s especially nice is that it swings out of the way when not needed, and then quickly back into the operating position.

In larger shops with central dust collection, a spark extinguishing system detects sparks as they evolve and automatically extinguishes them. Fagus-GreCon (fagus-grecon.com) has patented a new optical detector that identifies dangerous ignition sources using multi-sensor technology to read the infrared radiation spectrum. The detector then processes those signals and puts out the fire within a matter of milliseconds.

In smaller shops, cyclones are the way to go because they help maintain airflow speed. They also provide the opportunity to separate large and small debris, thus minimizing impact on the fan blades. Laguna Tools (lagunatools.com) introduced a new lineup of seven smaller cyclones last year, with larger surface areas and premium filters. But it’s the details that make the difference, so inside each canister there are two paddles to knock the build-up down, and the company has patented a drum-lifting mechanism that eliminates hoses. The plenum is a single piece too, to minimize resistance. Laguna also offers several 5- and 10-hp baghouse-style collectors for larger shops.

For smaller shops that want to turn a single-stage collector into a cyclone, the new Super Dust Deputy 4/5 by Oneida Air Systems (oneida-air.com) works with nearly any 1- to 3-hp unit. It has two 4” OD adapters that allow the cyclone’s inlet to connect to 4” or 5” hose, and the outlet to connect to 4” or 6” hose as needed. Oneida also offers cyclonic collectors from hobby units that run on household current to 20-hp collectors.

South Bend Tools (southbendtools.com) sells an interesting downdraft table (37” x 53”) that has built-in stops to hold work.

Stiles (stilesmachinery.com) offers a Dust Management solution that includes experts who will design, engineer, install and service a complete solution from the ground up, and a new clamp-together ducting system.

Recycling becomes a possibility in shops that produce a large enough volume of wood waste, but there may be a requirement to separate solid wood from resin and plastic based sheet materials. Nederman (nederman.com) has developed a wide range of products and systems including dust collectors, hoses/ducts, fans, conveyors, silos and automated control systems. These systems allow customers not only to achieve a healthy working environment but also to recycle waste wood that can have significant economic value.

For larger shops, SCM (scmgroup.com) offers the Formula VPF, where each model is available in versions with either a rotary valve or a briquette press, in addition to the classic version with bins for sawdust collection. The company also makes a line of smaller shop collectors with filter bags, which is called the Formula Eco line.  

This article was originally published in the April 2023 issue.