When you start using a mitre saw, and especially for the first time, you might be really surprised by the amount of sawdust that one of these can produce. The actual amount produced will pretty much depend on the type of wood you are cutting.
That is not really that important, but suffice to say, that plenty of dust is produced in a very short space of time. It is well known in the industry that trying to extract dust from a mitre saw is actually quite difficult. Not only is it a nuisance, but it can over time build up inside your saw and cause sticking of the turntable.
Any sawing activity creates dust, from a simple hand saw to a full blown table saw. If you have bought power tools such as planers or circular saws, then you will know that many of them come with a dust outlet. You also normally get some type of small canvas bag that can be attached by a clamp to help reduce the dust.
We will bet really good money that garages and workshops up and down the country are littered with these little black bags that simply get discarded. So are you guilty of that? In the past we have thrown these away and to be honest, that was a big mistake.
Dust, especially fine dust created by a fine blade, can get into places you never even imagined. That includes your eyes, your ears and yes your nostrils and mouth. Dust particles in the air can also be breathed in and that over time can be quite extensive.
For a lot of people that may only cut a few pieces of wood every now and then, so the impact would be minimal. However if you are working on bigger projects, then that type of dust in the air can actually impact on your respiration and breathing.
Below we have outlined a number of ideas and options to reduce the amount of dust that you are breathing in, when using any type of saw, including a mitre saw.
Mitre Saw Dust Collection Ideas
1. Saw Outside Whenever Possible
The simplest and cheapest way of reducing dust is to do the sawing outdoors. We do understand that it is not always possible to do this given the weather that we get in the UK. We would recommend that where possible you should consider that as your first option.
You also get the added benefits of real light rather than the artificial light you may have in a shed, garage or workshop. It also means there is less dust to clean up as a lot of will simply blow away in the wind. Many contractors keep a small canopy in the back of their vans so as they can use their saw outside and keep it out of the rain.
2. Dust Bag
Most mitre saws do come with a dust bag. If you have used a mitre saw and used one of these, then you will know that they don’t capture all the dust. That said, they do capture most of it, and that is better than nothing.
The only reason we don’t use them is really down to just wanting to get on with the work, and these can be fiddly to fit properly. In reality, fitting one takes about 15-30 seconds and helps protect your lungs.
If you are doing a couple of quick cuts, then it only takes a few seconds to pop this on, and a few seconds to empty. It keeps the work area clean and keeps the air free from dust. We have noticed that many of the brands who make these, are starting to increase the capacity of these bags
3. Wear a Dust Mask
Many users will turn to dust masks especially when cutting boards like MDF. The main problem with these is remembering to put them on, and also they can be pretty uncomfortable if worn for a long time.
Nonetheless, they help a lot and are effective. They are also pretty cheap to buy and at the end of the day they will protect your lungs.
For those of us who are working inside, or in a garage or workshop, and cutting a lot of wood, then sawdust can become a serious enough health risk. This is a risk that can be simply dealt with by either making use of the dust bag, wearing a dust mask or even better using both.
Mitre Saw Dust Collection Adapter
Many saws, including mitre saws have a port and this is where the dust bag will connect to. Instead of using the bag some people prefer to attach this to a vacuum cleaner.
When you attempt this it is common that the vacuum cleaner hose you have is too big. This is where this type of adapter plays it part. This adapter allows connections between electric saws or sanders to vacuum cleaner pipes for any diameter between 21 and 35mm.
Check Amazon UK for Availability.
Mitre Saw Dust Collection Hood
This type of dust collection hood connects to any 4” ID dust collection system hose or pipe
The hood can be placed behind or underneath any saw machine, or on a workshop table.
The wide mouth is designed to help collect a large field of dust, debris and wood chips
It has a large 13-Inch by 16-Inch opening and this handy attachment makes catching sawdust a small task.
This one is made of plastic but some people make a DIY version from light metal such as aluminium.
Check Amazon UK for Availability
Dust Collection Tents
Dust collection tents are a great solution, but as you can see they are an expensive buy
They have a vacuum port where you can connect up a shop-vac or vacuum cleaner
They are good as they capture almost all of the dust irrespective of the direction it goes.
Some people make their own version of this option which will of course save you money if you can be bothered with the hassle.
Dust Collection System – The Ultimate Solution
The best option though is to buy a simple dust extraction system. Check Amazon UK for Availability.
If you already own a vac, then it doesn’t take long to make your own using a simple dust port adapter. When it is done, then it helps keeps you healthy.
The vast majority of users will never need this at all, so feel free to skip this part if it doesn’t apply. If you plan on doing a lot of sawing, planing or drilling in any type of confined space, then please give serious consideration to setting up a simple dust extraction system.
Take a bit of time and do this as it can be one of those jobs that you put off for a very long time. When you do get it done, it will make a huge difference to the overall speed and cleanliness of your work and working area.
If you use the bag that is usually provided, then this will remove about 70-75% of the dust that is created. It is almost impossible to remove it all. As we mentioned earlier, you do have the inconvenience of both attaching the bag, than you have to remove it, empty it and attach it again.
If you find that you do a lot of work in your workshop or garage, then it doesn’t take long to have a much improved system. The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot either
FAQ
What is the best way to collect mitre saw dust?
Mitre saw dust collection is quite tricky. The reason is that most saws fire out sawdust in just about every direction you can think of. Most mitre saws come with a small dust collection bag that gets attached to the port on the saw.
It is better than nothing but does fill quickly and fiddly to continually have to empty. A shop vac is better if you have the right adapters. The duct collection tent is good at capturing dust in different directions. A combination of a tent and a shop vac is probably the best way to collect sawdust.
Can you attach a shop vac to a mitre saw?
Yes you can attach a shop vac to a mitre saw using the port. You may need an adapter to help get the right fit. Having the wrong fit means you are losing pressure and also allowing dust to escape.
How do you control the amount of saw dust?
We would always recommend where possible to do any sawing outside. Using an type of saw on wood creates dust. If connected to the standard dust pouch you are relying on the saw to push the sawdust into that. It works a little but not an ideal solution. You really need some type of suction such as a shop vac to suck the sawdust away. That along with a dust hood or dust tent helps restrict where the dust can go to.
Do mitre saws come with dust bags?
Every good brand will supply a dust bag with their saw. Some are easier to connect than others and they only work to a limited extent. Always wear a dust mask eve is using a dust bag or any other dust collection solution.