We do a lot of sanding in our prefinishing shop, and the fine dust often clogged the filter on the shop vacuum. Cleaning the vacuum filter was messy and time-consuming, so I looked for an alternative. After considering expensive commercial filters, I decided to build my own out of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and a 1-in.-thick fiberglass furnace filter.
Whatever size filter you choose (some are rectangular, some square) build the box around it for a tight fit. Holes in the top of the box receive the hoses from the sander and the vacuum, one on each side of the filter. The filter slides in from the front between wooden cleats. The door, attached with hinges, locks with screen-door hooks and eyes. I caulked all joints in the carcase and put a rubber gasket around the door to make it airtight.
I was surprised how well this simple and cheap device actually works. The vacuum filter still clogs, but now I clean it weekly instead of daily. A light tap on the furnace filter every few days helps keep it clear.
Drawing by Jim Richey.
Drawing by Jim Richey.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Makita LS1219L Miter Saw
This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.
Regardless of the board’s grain, this jointer produced excellent results. Its fence was totally flat, worked smoothly, and locked well, staying in place even after jointing multiple edges. Getting the fence to 90° was very easy, but the 90° stop was a little tricky to set and the fence did not go back to square when using it. For those who would use it, there is also a digital depth-of-cut scale.
The gauge has a quick and easy method for fitting the guide bar precisely to your tablesaw’s miter slot. This means the gauge can be recalibrated if necessary for continued accuracy. The face of the protractor head can be adjusted square to the table and also square to the guide bar. This ensures accurate cuts, and it, too, can be readjusted if the need arises. The protractor head has stainless-steel knobs and fittings and high-contrast, easy-to-read white numbers and increments.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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