I have a Hitachi miter saw (one of my first tools!) and need to get better control over the dust generated. 

 

I've just been using the bag on the port (actually fills) and vacuum up the spray of dust. With my incoming minisplit I want/need to do better. 

 

First I looked at hooking up the vacuum to the dust port. If course nothing in my box of fittings is a match. Will need to see what I can find.

 

In the mean time, I started on building a box to contain the saw. I'll have removable front panels so I can vacuum inside. Have watched a bunch of YouTube and am trying to merge all of those into a workable solution.

 

Open to any suggestions or recommendations as I move forward. Thanks!

I use rubber drain pipe reducers with hose clamps for adapting vacuums to tools.  They work great and can be found in the local HD plumbing isle.

 

I have an old Hitachi 8.5" SCMS and even with a vac hooked up there is a lot of dust on the bench around it.  Just the nature of miter saws I think, though filling up that bag is a good sign.  I've noticed a lot of newer tools have gotten a better handle on the dust - competing with Festool I expect.

3 minutes ago, JWD said:

I use rubber drain pipe reducers with hose clamps for adapting vacuums to tools. 

I took measurements yesterday and hope to get some fittings or connectors that I can adapt. Always frustrating to have a box of connectors and none work!

58 minutes ago, BB1 said:

I took measurements yesterday and hope to get some fittings or connectors that I can adapt. Always frustrating to have a box of connectors and none work!

That's why I like the ones with hose clamps - you get a fair amount of range out of them and can usually mash them to fit 😄

 

The other thing is that they are all made to go outside the pipe so the ones for sched 40 PVC are larger than the ones for light duty stuff like P traps under the sink.  Never go by the size molded into the rubber, bring a tape!

Good idea to bring a tape measure, and might just take my digital caliper too. Expect I'll end up with multiple fittings!

It's amazing how often I get caught at the home center and even the lumber yard without one!  I apparently can't learn the lesson so I typically have 2-3 cheap ones that live in the truck 😄 

19 minutes ago, JWD said:

It's amazing how often I get caught at the home center and even the lumber yard without one!  I apparently can't learn the lesson so I typically have 2-3 cheap ones that live in the truck 😄 

Just 2 or 3!  I loose that many in a week!

 

1 hour ago, BB1 said:

I took measurements yesterday and hope to get some fittings or connectors that I can adapt. Always frustrating to have a box of connectors and none work!

I have the very early Hitachi Slider. I'll take some pictures of what I made. May give you some ideas.

1 minute ago, lew said:

have the very early Hitachi Slider. I'll take some pictures of what I made. May give you some ideas

That would be great. This is the one I have. 

@BB1

 

Your saw puts my little one to shame! Don't think my garage engineered solution will help, but-

 

 

 

Mine does work, when I remember to turn on the dust collector...

I think you and I have the same saw lew.  8.5" or 10"?  I've replaced the brushes twice - can still get those on Amazon.  I know it's time when the brake stops working.

 

I bet mine would do better on a DC with the higher flow.  My vacuum is good but not great.

Edited January 14Jan 14 by JWD

Thanks Lew. Hopefully I can find a fitting that will allow me to attach my vacuum. 

 

I've been debating the location of my saw, in part considering whether the shop vac or DC would be better.

1 hour ago, JWD said:

I think you and I have the same saw lew.  8.5" or 10"?  I've replaced the brushes twice - can still get those on Amazon.  I know it's time when the brake stops working

I think it's 8 1/2. I have to confess, I bought it after an episode of "Norm". It seemed like a good idea at the time and I use it a lot, but, the thickness capacity is limited compared to the newer models.

4 minutes ago, lew said:

I think it's 8 1/2. I have to confess, I bought it after an episode of "Norm". It seemed like a good idea at the time and I use it a lot, but, the thickness capacity is limited compared to the newer models.

Yeah, it was not really designed for much more than 8/4 lumber.  I have a modern 12" saw for construction work and the very rare piece of 12/4 I might find.  I like the smaller blade for shop use - doesn't deflect as easily and they are cheaper to buy and resharpen.

Having a lathe makes it easier to adapt fittings for use.  I've turned quite a few PVC pipes and fittings for use on my system.

 

1 hour ago, HandyDan said:

Having a lathe makes it easier to adapt fittings for use.  I've turned quite a few PVC pipes and fittings for use on my system.

 

 

Truth!!!

Late to the party but had to do some brain declutter to find what I thought I remembered. First, my mitersaw(s), a 10" and 7-1/4" are both non sliders. They were bought years ago primarily for home improvement, rough and finish carpentry work. Since I had (still have) a radial arm saw I didn't feel I needed a CSMS at that time plus they were relatively new, limited manufacturers and quite pricey. When used indoors dust collection is assigned to the port bag or adapted to the shop vac. But I digress.

 

Given a utopian shop with adequate space. I'd consider one of THESE. Rob Cosman gives it great reviews. I tried to find the thread but could not, but I seem to recall @Gene Howeshared his home built version of this type of collection method.

 

6 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Given a utopian shop with adequate space. I'd consider one of THESE.

Thank you. I saw that before and re-watched the video you linked. I think this is ideally suited for a portable situation - the price reflecting the convenience and portability. Thinking I'll do something among the lines of an enclosed box. Although as I consider the price of plywood, maybe the $160 is reasonable? 

Grandpadave52 has me thinking more about the "tent" option. Looked into this a bit more, and there is also an option from FastCap. Wish prices were a bit lower!

35 minutes ago, BB1 said:

Grandpadave52 has me thinking more about the "tent" option. Looked into this a bit more, and there is also an option from FastCap. Wish prices were a bit lower!

Sure wish @Gene Howewas able to check-in with pictures of his. IIRC Gene fabricated one from heavy card board.

 

In lieu of plywood, you might fabricate one using 1/8" or 1/4" "Masonite" as a skin wrapped around 1"x1" or 1"x2" frame glued and Brad nailed together. You could make your own 1x from less expensive framing lumber or even from reclaimed pallets. Just a thought.

@BB1 here is what I did for dust collection for my miter saw. Like you I watched a lot of YouTube videos and came up with this.

I started with ha Harbor Freight shop vac.

 

 

I connected the shop vac to a HF cyclone dust separator attached to a 5 gal. bucket.

 

 

I highly recommend the separator, it puts most of the dust in the separator and saves having to clean the shop vac filter every time you turn around. Then the separator is connected to the miter saw dust port using one of the plumbing reducers someone else mentioned.

 

 

I use these butterfly hose clamps I got off Amazon because it males it easy to move the dust hose to my band saw and belt/disk sander on a cart next to the miter saw. With a heat gun and PVC pipe or fittings you can make just about any adaptor you need (YouTube it).

 

I also built a box at the base of the miter saw that catches a lot of the dust that doesn't make it into the miter dust port. The top of the box is plexiglass so I can see when I need to vacuum the box out.

I built the box in two pieces with a magnetic latch at the back. This makes the box easy to move when I need to rotate the saw for angle cuts.

 

 

I have this helps