Air-Care Dust Collection + Containment

Dust Collection

For health and safety purposes, every woodworking shop needs to have a dust collection system. Excessive dust on, around, or underneath machinery becomes a fire hazard, and inhalation of fine sawdust can lead to serious respiratory problems for operators. Several collection and containment solutions are available: shop vacs, dust collectors, and dust extractors. Learn about each in more detail below:

Shop vacs operate using a one-stage system meaning that debris of various sizes are collected and stored in a single canister. There is no filter to separate particles by size, which can bog down the vacuum motor over time. We recommend using shop vacs for cleaning up small amounts sawdust and debris following the use of hand tools and/or hand-held power tools.

Dust extractors look a lot like shop vacs but have the added feature of a filter for separation of particle sizes. HEPA-grade filters can be used for better collection of microscopic media. In addition, dust extractors use high air volume and wider hoses which decreases likelihood of blockage or motor trouble. These machines can be used to collect dust produced by both handheld and stationary power tools. Dust extractors are also highly effective for collecting airborne dust. Dust collectors, like extractors, operate using a two-stage mechanism which filters particulates by size. However, they cannot filter airborne dust. Dust collectors require a direct port, which is why they are ideal for connection to stationary power equipment such as table saws, band saws, planers, and more. Find a quality dust collection + containment system among top brands including Bosch, Husqvarna, JET, and Milwaukee in-store or online at Northern Tool + Equipment.