2y ago

How I sealed my table saw for dust collection with a shop vac

How I Sealed A Sawstop Contractor Saw For Dust Collection

4 comments

I hate how manufacturers DGAF about dust control.
Looks excellent and has inspired me to recontemplate getting a table saw, as I had written it off as being too messy for my tiny workshop.
The amount of work on this is crazy.
What I did is make a flexible membrane out of multiple strips of tuck tape to seal between the shroud on the DeWalt's pivoting saw assembly and the bottom of the table.
Is it perfect? No, there are holes at the corners, maybe two square inches total, because Tuck tape doesn't flex asymmetrically very well. But honestly, the remaining unsealed surface area is probably still smaller than the sum of all the joints and moving parts that is created by attempting to encase the entire assembly in a large box and pass the controls through.
Maybe the geometry of the shroud on a saw stop isn't favourable? I have to say, the motor hanging off the back is certainly a major downside.
- Agreed, it was a ton of work. The back of the saw was definitely the biggest struggle because of how the motor moved when adjusting tilt and height.
  Sealing the blade shroud might have worked. I'd probably try that first if I did this again.