Router table dust collection

[Justin McCarthy]

Hey all,
First post here - been lurking for awhile.

Anyway, I had heard that putting a dust port under the router table can be problematic if it is poorly placed because it will suck out all the cooling air the router uses to cool the motor. I'm not too sure of the details and would like to know more.

Anyone care to elaborate on this? What configuration would be a no-no?

Thanks
Justin

[Eric Gustafson]

Hey all,
First post here - been lurking for awhile.

Anyway, I had heard that putting a dust port under the router table can be problematic if it is poorly placed because it will suck out all the cooling air the router uses to cool the motor. I'm not too sure of the details and would like to know more.

Anyone care to elaborate on this? What configuration would be a no-no?

Thanks
Justin

I would think any heat the router makes would be sucked away with the cooling air! It should help the router run cooler. Perhaps dust could be a problem, since you are pulling it around that motor.

[Tom Veatch]

Hey all,
First post here - been lurking for awhile.

Anyway, I had heard that putting a dust port under the router table can be problematic if it is poorly placed because it will suck out all the cooling air the router uses to cool the motor. I'm not too sure of the details and would like to know more.

Anyone care to elaborate on this? What configuration would be a no-no?

Thanks
Justin

The air that is pulled out of the enclosure is replaced by air flowing in from outside the enclosure unless the enclosure is hermetically sealed. If there's enough flow to pick up and carry the dust away, there's plenty to supply the router motor with cooling air. Air inside the enclosure will be exchanged many times per minute.

If there's a problem with cooling, it's likely due to the router motor pulling dust laden air through it's cooling vents and, eventually, clogging it's insides with dust buildup. Plan your installation so that the air flowing past the router's air intake is relatively dust free and you should have no problems. For one approach to that solution see my previous post with pictures of my installation.

Hmmm, just saw Eric's post and seems I did little more than repeat what he said.

[glenn bradley]

As others have said; urban legend.

[George Lohnes]

Just adding my thoughts to the need for above table AND below table dust collection





Before I added the under table hole for my central DC to connect to I only had the top hooked up to the shop vac.... HUGE difference in dust in the air as well as on the workpiece once I added the under table cabinet collection.

Nothing new here (in fact done quite a bit worse than some of the other pics I saw here... but just confirming their statements.

George