Miter saw dust collection seems like an impossible feat, but I've found the best solutions for your workshop! Keep sawdust contained and out of your lungs!
Last week, I showed you my dust collector setup and how I upgraded it for better performance. Since then, I've been brainstorming the best way to hook up that beast to all my machines.
First up: the miter saw. Miter saw dust collection is tricky because it spews sawdust in every direction, making it hard to contain. These genius solutions will hopefully inspire you to get that miter saw mess under control!
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The dust ports found on most miter saws aren't particularly helpful. Even when hooked up to a shop vac, it still leaves a huge mess. I have both a dust collector AND a shop vac attached to mine, and it still doesn't get everything! You can learn more about the difference between a dust collector and shop vac here.
This video does a great job of comparing different brands to see which miter saw dust collection ports create the least sawdust.
There are so many different ways to contain miter saw dust, with varying results. Some only work for saws without the sliding mechanism for cutting those wide boards, so check the depth of yours before you start building!
Miter Saw Dust Collection Tents
Tent-like domes like this one get great ratings, but come with a hefty price tag. I'd prefer this model because it has a 4" vacuum port in the bottom to connect to my dust collector. Other miter saw tents like this one funnel the dust down to a container under the machine for later disposal.
Why not make your own instead? I created a miter saw dust hood using a baby tent! It works the same way as the expensive versions above, for a fraction of the price.
Build Your Own Miter Saw Dust Collection
This wooden miter saw hood plan is a good way to use up all those oddly-shaped plywood scraps. Unfortunately, this one wouldn't work for my sliding compound miter saw unless I made it a foot deeper!
Let the light shine through this plexiglass version from One Project Closer! This one would even work on a sliding miter saw. Learn how to cut plexiglass in this tutorial if you've never tried it before.
Those two DIY solutions work great . . . until you need to make a mitered cut. Change the angle of your saw and you're spewing sawdust everywhere! This sliding dust port can move back and forth to capture the mess from any direction.
Simple Miter Saw Dust Collection Solutions
Are the miter saw dust collection ideas above too much for you? This trash can solution might be just what you're looking for! I've also seen plastic storage bins and even cardboard boxes used as a quick fix.
Want something that's a bit more mobile? This set up uses a roller stand with a special clamp to hold this huge dust funnel in exactly the right spot. Then move it over to the thickness planer, lathe or even when sanding to keep the area dust-free!
Which of these miter saw dust collection solutions are you going to try in your own workshop? Let me know in the comments below!
Al
Thursday 21st of June 2018
I liked the saw comparisons, chop saws are hard to catch the dust.
Nicole
Sunday 22nd of April 2018
Getting a dust hood (or any of the other miter saw dust collector ideas) seems like a great accessory to use with your saw. Thanks for linking up with us a the #HomeMattersParty this week!
Tom Lecoq
Tuesday 6th of March 2018
I hung a clear plastic shower curtain behind my 10 inch sliding miter, which sits on a steel framed table. The curtain wraps around the sides just shy of the fence on each side. The bottom is gathered into a box with a dust collection port on the bottom. I used aluminum duct tape to secure the shortened curtain to the inside of the box, which is just a small plastic tub. The table is enclosed and has a door, which keeps stray duse town. The top of the curtain is syspended by conventional shower curtain loop, and I've taped a piece of the cutoff into the top so it hangs down near the level of the saw. My Bosch saw has mediocre dust port just behind the saw, which I plan to modify. I'll use some aluminum flashing to wrap around the port and extend down as far as possible just behind the blade, so it also clears the fence. With ample suction on the port, plus the curtain, I expect to catch 75-80 percent (or hopefully more) of the flying sawdust.
Vineta
Tuesday 6th of March 2018
Such a smart idea! Thanks for sharing!
Courtney
Wednesday 28th of June 2017
These ideas are awesome! I like anything that's easy. Thanks for sharing!
XO Courtney
Janice@sawdustsisters
Friday 23rd of June 2017
Great idead! I think I have a sliding miter saw as well so it makes things trickier! Thanks for sharing!