bandsaw maintenance & improved dust collection

[scooby]

I'm just doing some maintenance on my home 10" bandsaw. A couple of the bearings were seized so I've ordered 6 decent SKF bearings. In the meantime, I was wondering if anyone has managed to add additional dust collection to a 10" saw in the same way Steve Maskerry and Dr.Al have done to their larger machines?
I always use the dust port at the bottom of the machine but the lower bearings always get absolutely pummelled with dust, the main problem is there's not a lot of clearance between the underside of the bed and the lower bearings. Struggling to come up with something that actually works.

 

[scooby]

Just tried a simple approach using 1-1/2" pipe and a 90 elbow and having the bearing adjusters inside the elbow so I can get it as close as possible.
Original attempt was with smaller diameter pipe and slicing some of it in half to get it under the bed insert. Haven't tested yet.

 

[MarkAW]

Let us know how well it works

 

[scooby]

I had a quick go, cleaned out the cyclone bucket and cut up a scrap of 4"x2". There's quite a bit of sawdust in the bucket so it's doing something and the bearings look a lot cleaner. I didn't have the bottom port connected and haven't checked inside the saw at the moment so can't comment on overall efficiency.
Not overly high I'm guessing, but definitely better than nowt.

Edit: The thrust bearing and the bearing mount looks cleaner. I've got lignum blocks in at the moment due to not having 6 working bearings.

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

I modified the dust collection on my Hammer n4400 with huge improvement via this collector. ....

The cap was removed for improved air flow.

Full write up here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Powered Tools and Machinery/HammerN4400DustControl.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Mike Fletcher]

I did a similar thing, but I used a half pipe located just above the lower bearings. The pipe was cut in half along its length, then mounted with a clamp attaching to the front of the machine. I have an Axminster, who installed a "blade guard" below the lower bearings effectively blocking any vacuum to the area. The blade guard was removed and now all is clean. I also opened up the vacuum port for the hose going to the blade area.

 

[cmoops2]

I did a similar thing, but I used a half pipe located just above the lower bearings. The pipe was cut in half along its length, then mounted with a clamp attaching to the front of the machine. I have an Axminster, who installed a "blade guard" below the lower bearings effectively blocking any vacuum to the area. The blade guard was removed and now all is clean. I also opened up the vacuum port for the hose going to the blade area.

Mike - can you share ay photos of your below-table fix ?

 

[Mike Fletcher]

Photo 545 shows the duct removed from the saw. The duct is a piece of small guttering with a clear Perspex end, as that was all I had laying around at the time. I 3D printed some others of similar dimensions for our Men's Shed but simply haven't had the time to print one for myself. The other two photos are with the duct installed. Photo 544 shows some saw dust laying forward of the bearing support. This was knocked loose when I removed the duct. Again, it sucks up most of the dust. When I turn the saw off, I brush the saw dust from the top of the table through the throat plate. Keep in mind, my extractor is 2000 cubic feet (so the manual says). I did measure the airflow at the duct but cannot remember the numbers.