Greetings all -
I recently got a Saw Stop PCS, and am trying to work out what I need to do to accommodate a ClearVue DC system. The saw has a blade guard/hood that encloses the blade quite closely, but it has only (I think) a 1.5" port on it. The port at the back of the saw is only 4", though it looks like it is connected by an interior duct to the bottom of the trunnion.
I've been reading my Bill Pentz, and am dismayed to discover that it looks as though this saw's dust ports (like most) are way too small to deliver the airflow necessary to collect the fines that a proper DC system should collect. The folks at Saw Stop weren't particularly helpful when asked about this problem - they said they'd done extensive testing and their system worked really well, but it's pretty hard to square that with Mr. Pentz's data, if I understand it correctly.
I'm reasonably handy, but relatively new to woodworking and have no experience with modifying power tools, so I'm one of those who is somewhat flummoxed by this problem (definitely NOT excited at the prospect of cutting a big hole in the back of my shiny new tool), and I'm hoping someone here can help me with a way forward. Has anyone adapted their SawStop for bigger ports? Is it indeed necessary? If so, how did you go about it? Did you need to change the size of the internal ducting as well as the port size? Was this possible, and if not, does it make any sense to change the external port to 6" if the 6" port will be served by a 4" internal duct? Also, do I need to discard the pricey new hood that "works really well" and get a Shark Guard with a 4" port?
<rant> I'm not an engineer, and I don't know how critical all of this is, but I confess I'm a little grumpy that the saw I just laid out a premium price for doesn't have larger ports already, since the evidence seems pretty convincing that it should. I can't imagine a 6" port asnd duct would be much more expensive than a 4" system, especially when considered as a percentage of the price of the saw! </rant> (Thanks, I feel much better now...)
If this has been addressed before, I apologize, but I searched and didn't find it. Thanks in advance for any thoughts, ideas you may have.
Best,
- John