I'm not a newbie to figuring things out, but I'm fairly frustrated and mystified by trying to source and piece together a dust collection system. Main trunk lines are 4" S&W pipe, with blast gates and fittings from Rockler and Woodcraft. 4" to 2 1/2" where required. Fine. But I ordered the Loc Line segmented hose and tool-end fitting as an auxiliary pick up for my Makita compound miter saw. The Makita comes with a woefully inadequate diameter fitting to pick up all the dust. Loc Line requires 3" PVC for their adapter.
I have a 4 to double 2 1/2 fitting, one to connect to the Makita stock port, and the other intended to supplement with the Loc Line.
Without having a Rube Goldberg contraption, any elegant solutions?
And while I'm at it, how come these tool, hose and fitting manufacturers don't create some sort of thoughtful standard? Ugh.
The thoughtful standard question has been asked 9,548,375,579 times. Say hello to Rube. You would get a better answer to what is the meaning of life. There standard is: 'There is no standard'
As ibewjob has stated, this question has been asked many times and answered many times with each of the many asks.
I'm not going to repeat myself other than to say, you can fabricate out of timber to which I have no solutions or try 3D printing which I have covered in several blogs. I'm not going to provide links here as far too many responses have been negative regarding 3D printing. However, if 3D printing is not a dirty word in your vocabulary, have a browse through my blogs that have 3D or dust collection in their title.
If you have specific questions, I'm more than happy to try and answer.
It's not quite that bad. If it's close, and you have a hard plastic, you can use heat guns to expand it, make a fit, allow it to cool, and it will stay stretched. That can work to go inside, or outside diameter. But those guys were right, a lot have been frustrated due to no standard sizing, brand, or fit.
For in the ballpark, but too wide a difference to fit, there is an army waiting to help, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
Say hello to Mr Fernco, well maybe he's Rube's Cousin….. Whoever he is, he works.
Being in the middle of this right now, if there is a Menards nearby, I've found them to be the best local for me to find items that mate. Blowes, and Home Cheapo ought to just close their doors.
Thanks for the responses, and you all have confirmed my experience. 3-D printing isn't available to me, but Mr. Fernco could become my next best friend.
How big do you all figure the market is for well designed fittings and plans for small shops?
About as big as a full faced sun mask that only protects each individually placed freckle on ones face.. I'm sure the delivery midwife sprayed every newborn with the same template…
No two shops or combination of machines/tools are the same… except maybe for squatters.
manufactures don't have to come up with standards. folks keep buying their stuff regardless. why spend extra $$$ to affect the bottom line? i would bet serious dust collection is the bottom of the barrel reason why folks buy equipment. Usually, they want cheap and "it simply works" attitude.
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