Since some of you have read my blogs you know that I am new to LJ but I have been a self-taught woodworker for twenty plus years now. Recently I purchased a 3/4 HP Jet Dust Collector for a steal off of CL and considering its size, it fits into my corner of the garage a lot better than some of the others I have seen or could afford. As I was finishing up the dust collector connection for my table saw last night I started thinking about this whole static electricity thing. I have been shocked several times by my shopvac over the years but as I step into the next class of dust collection I realized that I am moving more product at a higher rate of speed thus creating more static electricity. While I was shopping for components to hook up to my newly acquired DC I noticed that the clear 4-inch flexible hose I got on clearance from Woodcraft was reinforced with wire. I know that there are kits out there to spiral wire around the hose but why can't the wire that reinforces the hose serve the same purpose? Last night I put a butt connector on the end that attaches to the DC and as soon as I pick up an alligator clip I am going to solder a piece of wire onto the tool end of the hose with enough length to clip it onto whatever piece of equipment I am using. I guess my question in all of this is, will this suffice for solving the static electricity issue?
GreaseMonkey2275
Dust Collection and Static Electricity
My understanding is the static electrons collect on the surfaces of the hose and the internal wire is insulated and won't discharge them. That's why the ground kits have the wire exposed running inside the hose or wrapped on the outside of the hose.
My dad had a problem with his DC after he set it up. Every time he used the tablesaw it would shock the demons out of him. Turns out he had his copper ground wire wrapped around the DC hose and grounded at the DC housing, but also had it connected to the tablesaw, thus creating a complete circuit. So just connect the grounding wire to your DC and leave the other end free, and you'll be fine.
I have been wondering about this. The biggest culprit for me is the planer. It crackles a lot when running until I touch it and discharge it on me. I feel like Bob and Doug taking turns with shock therapy.
How much does an antistatic hose help? They are more expensive, but do lengths of that hose solve most of this problem?
Take off, eh
How much does an antistatic hose help? They are more expensive, but do lengths of that hose solve most of this problem?
Take off, eh
Derrick & BroncoBrian,
So far I have not had any static problems that I could tell since I grounded the DC portion of the hose to the DC. I also ran a small jumper wire from the tool end of the hose to my table saw and didn't have any problems. I might take the jumper wire off and see what that does. Amazingly enough I did not notice any "crackling" when I ran my planer with the DC on it but I do know that I sent a ton of chips into the impeller and I really wasn't a big fan of that. I was wondering the same thing about the anti-static hoses but I couldn't pass up the deal I had found for my existing hose from Woodcraft. After fiddling with taking the hose on and off I am definitely going to pick up some sort of quick-disconnect style handle!
So far I have not had any static problems that I could tell since I grounded the DC portion of the hose to the DC. I also ran a small jumper wire from the tool end of the hose to my table saw and didn't have any problems. I might take the jumper wire off and see what that does. Amazingly enough I did not notice any "crackling" when I ran my planer with the DC on it but I do know that I sent a ton of chips into the impeller and I really wasn't a big fan of that. I was wondering the same thing about the anti-static hoses but I couldn't pass up the deal I had found for my existing hose from Woodcraft. After fiddling with taking the hose on and off I am definitely going to pick up some sort of quick-disconnect style handle!
Originally I used a 4" all plastic flex hose from machines to the DC. When running my planer I would get close to the hose and get zapped all the time. Other machines weren't an issue since I didn't get close to the hose while chips traveled through. I changed to the steel wire reinforced flex duct and connected the wire to the ground for the DC in the switch box. No noticeable static now.
I should have noted also that my Dads setup uses mostly PVC pipe with just short runs of flexible hose to the machines. He just wrapped bare copper around the outside of the pipe with it attached to a screw on the DC.
My dust collector is the floor of my shop. lol
My dust collector is the floor of my shop. lol
Derrick,
I've used the floor of my shop for dust collection for years but after upgrading, I can honestly say that I enjoy the electric dust collector more!
I've used the floor of my shop for dust collection for years but after upgrading, I can honestly say that I enjoy the electric dust collector more!
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