Woodworking Dust Collection Systems

Designing Your Ductwork System for Woodworking Dust Collection

Operating a large scale wood shop means having a workspace filled with wood dust. A dust collection system improves air quality in industrial, commercial and home production shops to improve breathable air quality and safety. Stainless steel ductwork and cyclone dust collection work together to remove shop dust from the air and environment. Dust collection systems work on the basic formula of capture, convey and collect (you can read more about the role of each of these factors over at our, Industrial Dust Collection Systems page).

Woodshop Dust Collection Considerations

The world of industrial ventilation and dust collection is complex in and of itself. A properly designed system with pipe correctly sized, the correct metal selected and the proper air-flow components goes a long way to creating an effective Collection System for Woodworking Dust Collection. Again, pipe size, metal choice and the proper choice of components are essential. Let’s look at each.

Sizing Duct for CFM

Sizing pipe for a system for woodworking dust collection depends largely on the Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) of your system. CFM is usually regulated by the fan speed of the collector as well as the capacity of the fan installed. Systems are often sized with a fan that offers little more than the maximum CFM needed for the collection system. See the chart below for a guide to selecting pipe diameter based on CFM. The CFM of your system will also depend on the tools used in the woodworking application. Shop dust generated from a belt sander may require a CFM around 400, but dust extraction for particles made by a large table saw requires a CFM closer to 900.

Material Considerations for Dust Collection Systems

Choosing material/metal for a system will depend largely on the material being conveyed through the system. Wood dust collection is mildly abrasive and not typically corrosive, so most often galvanized metal is chosen.

Choosing Dust Collection Pipes and Components

Component selection usually deals with air flow control. Gates, butterfly valves, blast gates, diverter valves and explosion isolation valves all regulate air flow for varying reasons. The more flexibility a system has to open-close or direct air flow, the more efficient the system is likely to be. A well designed Collection System for Woodworking Dust Collection would include gates and valves to regulate air flow and thus maximize the CFM capacity of the fan. In short, you can direct air where you need it, when you need it. Gates and valves can be operated manually by system users or automatically based on electrical signals from operating or shut-off equipment.

Woodworking Dust Collection Systems

Designing Your Ductwork System for Woodworking Dust Collection

Woodshop Dust Collection Considerations

Sizing Duct for CFM

Material Considerations for Dust Collection Systems

Choosing Dust Collection Pipes and Components

We have worked in the duct industry for years and know how to make it all work for you.