August 28, 2025Aug 28 I have a when 13 inch thickness planer with a 2 1/2 inch dust port. Right now I have it attached too a rigid shop vac and it fills it up pretty quick. So I was thinking about attaching a 4 inch adapter to the 2 1/2 inch port and hooking it to my larger shop vac, but Im not sure if it’s a waste of time because of the loss of cfm…? Or should I see if I can find someone to maybe 3d print something that will work. Any thoughts, please. Im really getting annoyed with all this dust collection stuff…sheesh.
August 28, 2025Aug 28 I would try to hook it to the DC, but not with the 2.5" port. What about looking in the HVAC section at the box store and seeing if there's a boot that comes cloes to what will fit on the planer and use that? Another thoght would be to cut the 2.5" port off the OEM, and fasten a 4" opening to it in some manner.
August 28, 2025Aug 28 22 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said: Another thoght would be to cut the 2.5" port off the OEM, and fasten a 4" opening to it in some manner. That's what I did with my Dewalt. I didn't cut off the OEM port but adapted it to a larger hose. Another thing you can do is add a separator between the machine and your dust collector. I installed a home made "Thein" separator inline to collect almost all of the chips/shavings before they got to the dust collector. Some Ideas- https://www.jpthien.com/smf/index.php?topic=1428.0 https://www.jpthien.com/cy.htm https://www.woodcraft.com/products/woodriver-dust-connection-mini-dust-collection-separator
August 28, 2025Aug 28 Likewise, I have two Thien collectors, one on a 30 gal garbage can for the planer and table saw, connected to a Jet dust collector, and the other on an 8 gal or so for hand held power tools like sanders and biscuit joiner, and general clean up, then runs into a Ridgid shop vacuum. Both extract a vast majority of the dust.
August 29, 2025Aug 29 6 hours ago, kmealy said: Likewise, I have two Thien collectors, one on a 30 gal garbage can for the planer and table saw, connected to a Jet dust collector, and the other on an 8 gal or so for hand held power tools like sanders and biscuit joiner, and general clean up, then runs into a Ridgid shop vacuum. Both extract a vast majority of the dust.
August 29, 2025Aug 29 I would go with the adapter . There are many variations out there. I put a Dust Deputy between my drop box and the DC. It collects almost all the fines.
August 29, 2025Aug 29 Author 18 hours ago, Gunny said: I'd try the adapter and see how it works. I guess that would be the right thing to do…try this first. Thank you.
August 29, 2025Aug 29 Author 18 hours ago, lew said: That's what I did with my Dewalt. I didn't cut off the OEM port but adapted it to a larger hose. Another thing you can do is add a separator between the machine and your dust collector. I installed a home made "Thein" separator inline to collect almost all of the chips/shavings before they got to the dust collector. Some Ideas- https://www.jpthien.com/smf/index.php?topic=1428.0 https://www.jpthien.com/cy.htm https://www.woodcraft.com/products/woodriver-dust-connection-mini-dust-collection-separator Thanks Lew. I do have a separator. I like the way you made the adapter.
August 29, 2025Aug 29 Author 14 hours ago, kmealy said: Likewise, I have two Thien collectors, one on a 30 gal garbage can for the planer and table saw, connected to a Jet dust collector, and the other on an 8 gal or so for hand held power tools like sanders and biscuit joiner, and general clean up, then runs into a Ridgid shop vacuum. Both extract a vast majority of the dust. Thank you mealy.
August 29, 2025Aug 29 Author 6 hours ago, Gerald said: I would go with the adapter . There are many variations out there. I put a Dust Deputy between my drop box and the DC. It collects almost all the fines. Good place to start. Thanks Gerald.
August 30, 2025Aug 30 4" might be too big for a shopvac. You really should do the math to determine the CFM you'd get vs what you need. here is a calculator but you still need the CFM you are pulling in your best Dust vac https://www.nordfab.com/en-us/technical/ducting-calculator Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Cliff
August 30, 2025Aug 30 Author 4 hours ago, Cliff said: 4" might be too big for a shopvac. You really should do the math to determine the CFM you'd get vs what you need. here is a calculator but you still need the CFM you are pulling in your best Dust vac https://www.nordfab.com/en-us/technical/ducting-calculator Hi Cliff. Im not hooking to my shop vac, I want to get away form using the shop vac because if just fills up to quickly. Ill be hooking it to my larger dust collector.
August 30, 2025Aug 30 1 hour ago, Pauley said: ll be hooking it to my larger dust collector. you should be able to get a CFM for that in the doc's that came with it. My RL160 maxes out at 6" or 160mm Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Cliff
August 31, 2025Aug 31 Author 15 hours ago, Cliff said: you should be able to get a CFM for that in the doc's that came with it. My RL160 maxes out at 6" or 160mm Thanks Cliff.
August 31, 2025Aug 31 For adapters you can't beat the Home Depot (or wherever) plumbing aisle. Lots of rubber sleeves with hose clamps from one size to another. One group I worked with called them "slumlord specials" A separator sounds like it would solve your problems too. Edited August 31, 2025Aug 31 by JWD
August 31, 2025Aug 31 22 hours ago, Pauley said: Hi Cliff. Im not hooking to my shop vac, I want to get away form using the shop vac because if just fills up to quickly. Ill be hooking it to my larger dust collector. Why not add a "separator" to both? Lots of examples of examples of shop made separators for shop-vac on line.
August 31, 2025Aug 31 Author 4 hours ago, JWD said: For adapters you can't beat the Home Depot (or wherever) plumbing aisle. Lots of rubber sleeves with hose clamps from one size to another. One group I worked with called them "slumlord specials" A separator sounds like it would solve your problems too. Hi Cliff. I have a separator on my shop vac, t the blue barrel one from rockers. Also my larger has a separator on it. I have gotten this rubber sleeves before and they work great, but never heard the term slumlord specials, that’s funny.
August 31, 2025Aug 31 Author 4 hours ago, lew said: Why not add a "separator" to both? Lots of examples of examples of shop made separators for shop-vac on line. Hello Lew, i do already have separators on both my shop vac and the larger collector.
August 31, 2025Aug 31 17 minutes ago, Pauley said: Hello Lew, i do already have separators on both my shop vac and the larger collector. Sorry, I misunderstood what you currently have. I'm and idiot 🤣
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