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Sawmill Dust Collection
Question
Forum Responses
From contributor W: I installed a cheap Harbor Freight dust collection system (1 1/2hp 110volts) above my sawmill and it carries the sawdust about 50 feet from my mill. I don't use it when milling cypress logs. From contributor B: When we installed our Baker Planer Molder, we also put in a Baker 3-phase chip extractor (4-port). We disconnect the flex tube that goes to one chute on the molder and reattach it to the mill when sawing with the mill. The 5 horse chip extractor runs at 3000 CFM and does a great job pulling sawdust. We pull sawdust through 30 feet of 4" tube before it gets to the extractor and from there it is sent uphill and into our holding tank. Overall the system works very well. The only drawback is kiln dried lumber, when set on the mill to straight line rip prior to going through the molder, makes dust - not even sawdust - and very little of it makes it to the extractor. If you're not re-sawing any dried lumber on your mill, though, you won't have to worry about that. From contributor W: The system I use moves almost all the sawdust away from my mill. I put a threaded swivel inline as my mill goes back and forth, so it doesn't bind. I'm using 4" drain pipe.  Click here for higher quality, full size image  Click here for higher quality, full size image  Click here for higher quality, full size image From contributor U: Maybe I'm missing something, but how do you get the dust to blow that far? From contributor W: I use a dust collection system just like in my woodworking shop, without the bags to collect the sawdust. The unit is above my mill. It seems to work well on all types of sawdust except cypress. From contributor U: Thanks - that will work for me too. Do you have problems with bark hanging up? From contributor R: I've seen a used hay elevator set alongside the sawmill to catch the sawdust, and when it was full, they would turn on the hay elevator to dump the sawdust. From contributor S: I like the simple tripod to hold up the 4" PVC. Is that so you can move the discharge easily to a new spot? From contributor W: No problem with bark. My Wood-Mizer has several fingers in the dust chute to catch the blade if it breaks before discharging. These fingers would also catch any bark that could get by. The covers over my blade seem to help prevent bark from entering and exiting though the dust chute. I expanded my 4" PVC pipe to discharge further away from my mill and the only material that I had was some top rail that I took down from a fence. I will be replacing with a post. I use my front end loader to move the sawdust when it builds up too much. This system is credited to a fellow sawyer friend, Mr. Clark, who used one like this for years. I got tried of shoveling sawdust and not sawing, so I installed this system and I'm glad I did. It is easy to unhook if I need to go on the road. Just 2 screws. Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
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