Dust Collector Lathe Hood

Dust Collection At The Lathe

As an answer to the questions about collecting dust, shavings, and debris at the lathe, I offer the following observations:

1. Forget about the large shavings. They are a clean-up problem, not a health problem.

2. Regardless of its size, there isn't a home-shop dust collector made that will move enough air to pick up enough of the large shavings and debris to do any good

3. Dust IS a health problem. I will invite anyone who wants to argue this point to come back in 20-years and tell me again that it isn't.

4. A Shop-Vac or similar vacuum-cleaner doesn't move enough air to be of any value.

5. Any dust collector with a 4" suction hose and at least 700 CFM capacity will do a reasonable job of picking up the airborne dust. The more CFM's, the better the job it will do.

The only question remaining is how we can collect that airborne dust at the lathe. My solution is shown in the following photographs.

I started with a packing box so I could "cut and fit" while I tried to find a way to install a more permanent collection hood that would still give me access for turning and sanding. In the end, the permanent solution was to find a better box. If I want a larger hood, I get a larger box.

The base is a piece of 1/2" plywood that is stuck between the ways of the lathe. The box comes from the local liquor store because they are heavier than the other packing boxes. The suction hose is stuck through a tight fitting hole that is cut in the bottom of the box, and a piece of duct tape keeps it from falling out. The box is held to the base with two spring-clamps so that it is adjustable. The top flaps of the box are left in place because they add stiffness to the box, and they can be used to direct the air flow or reduce the effective size of the hood opening.