Jointer and Dust Collection? Now with PICs

[Alan in Little Washington]

When I hoisted my DJ-20 jointer up to my shop in two pieces- casting and cabinet- I could easily see the rectangular dust port in the top of the base under the cutter. It wasn't until later that I noticed that the rectangular chute that runs inside the cabinet from this opening to the external dust port on the front of the cabinet, does not have a top- it is a three sided chute!

That can't be good for suction at the cutter head! Anyone have a DJ-20 or other jointer with a similar setup?

I can think of no good reason why the chute should be open at the top inside the cabinet. Since my jointer often spits shavings out the pulley side of the cutter, I will close in the top of the chute.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Update: Here are some pics which illustrate what I attempted to describe.

The chute angles from upper right to the discharge at the lower left.

Those are the fingers of the hand I inserted into the chute outlet that are sticking out where there is no top on the chute.

 

[toolferone]

Re: Jointer and Dust Collection?

Alan, I say do it. I think it is the companies just being cheap and not trying to design real DC in the unit. Just slap on any ole thing kinda thinking. Show us what you come up with.

 

[Jon]

Re: Jointer and Dust Collection?

Do it so I know what to do to mine.

 

[woodArtz]

Re: Jointer and Dust Collection?

Do it so I know what to do to mine.

Ditto

 

[Jon]

Re: Jointer and Dust Collection?

So um Alan you done yet ?

:rotflm:

 

[Steve W]

Re: Jointer and Dust Collection?

Hmmm.:eusa_thin

Gonna have to look at my Ridgid and see if the same thing exists on it.
:kermit: Steve

 

[dancam]

Re: Jointer and Dust Collection?

Allan,

I had the same situation w/my Griz 8". There was only a sheet metal box chute that let to the 4" portal. It was attached to the sides w/sheet metal screws with some fairly large gaps. I duct taped the the bottom where it met the sides and I also put an additional piece of 1/8" Masonite at an angle to slope all the chips towards the portal. I also capped the top w/another piece of the 1/8: Masonite and put duct tape at all the seams.

Bottom line is that the 2hp DC pulls all of the chips thru the portal and I get little or no chips from the blade opening. If I ever have to take the top off I'll post a few pics (I hope not to have to take the top off).

Good luck.

Dan C.

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

Initial post updated with pics.

 

[Travis Porter]

I can say I didn't understand what you were referencing until I saw the pics. Being that I have a DJ-20 disconnected, I stuck my hand in the chute and was shocked to know that this was the case. I had always wondered why the dust collection on it wasn't any better than it was.

If you are going to do all of that, one other thing to consider is maybe some foam tape or something between the steel base and cast iron assembly. I always seemed to get a lot of chips on the outside in that area.

 

[Jon]

For anyone who is interested I cut a piece of MDF 8 and 3/8 wide with 22.5 bevels on each end and slid it in through the end of the chute and put 3 screws on each side and covered that with Duct tape. and caulked all the cracks. It vastly improved dust collection. I didn't take any pictures, sorry.

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

For my DJ-20, I used a piece of ply 8 3/8" wide and 17" long with a 35 deg. bevel on one end and a 55 deg bevel on the other. I buttered the beveled ends with silicone caulk and shoved the top into place. I added a screw through each side of the chute to hold the plywood in place.

Screw installed through chute to hold plywood top.

View up chute towards cutter head showing plywood top.

 

[Bas]

Nice solution. I need to do the same with my little 6" jointer, you wonder why they make so many holes in woodworking equipment.

 

[woodArtz]

Great job Alan :icon_thum. Mind if I borrow? I also have a DJ20 with a nasty habit of spraying sawdust from the top :eusa_doh:.

 

[cpowell]

Alan, now that the chute is sealed have you seen any difference in removal efficiency?


Chuck