Has anyone done any sealing around the dust port on one of these? It has some HUGE gaps around the bracket on the right, and I don't know why they thought that those diagonal slots that lead about straight down to the motor would do any good. I'm looking for ways others may have found to seal it up.  Thanks!

Sorry I don't own one of those, but I am curious because I cant see where the dust extraction from the spindle happens?

I would guess the slots are to cool the motor.

Quote from: Flem on February 14, 2021, 09:47:12 AM
Sorry I don't own one of those, but I am curious because I cant see where the dust extraction from the spindle happens?

I would guess the slots are to cool the motor.

I just pull it apart like the one in the picture and vac it out after each use.

Flem, the extraction is supposed to happen from the port inside the black circle. It is also open to the slots on the way inside. There is a gap in the housing under the slots leading directly to the motor. And, the yellow circle is where the belt indexes, and is open to the housing, too. Makes for very poor downdraft from the belt or spindles, as these holes are larger. I'll put some duct tape ingenuity to work, then post up a result. Just thought somebody else may have gone through this before, and I'd save some time....

[attachment=1,msg2952301]

I never gave it any thought. Mine seems to pull in most of the dust.
Dave.

For what it is worth, here is what I've done- taken a hole saw and opened the port fully to the inside, then with caulk and duct tape, tried to seal off the gaps to the inner housing so it will draw down around the belt better. I did a bit of trial sanding, and imo the amount that is airborne or left on the top of the table is reduced, so I'm calling it good. Hope this helps somebody else with this sander.

I think the large image disappeared:)

Nice mod! After seeing what you did with the hole saw, I am amazed any dust collection happened before opening up that port

Is there any provision for cooling air to get to the motor?

Quote from: Flem on February 16, 2021, 10:10:13 AM
Nice mod! After seeing what you did with the hole saw, I am amazed any dust collection happened before opening up that port

Is there any provision for cooling air to get to the motor?

Through those chevrons.  There is a lot of open area underneath.  I blew my whole system out with air once and the dang motor wanted to start backwards till I got it retrained.

Some good tips. I just replaced my old rigid grey colored sander that lasted about 15 years. The new one isn't nearly as smooth running or quiet as the old one.

Hey, thanks, Roy! The chevrons on top drop to a channel to the dust collection duct (and also down into the housing, why, I don't know?). The ones on the back cool the motor. The bottom is open, I think, to let air rise through it and out the back for cooling.

knuk, you don't have a 14" Ridgid bandsaw by chance?  I'm waiting for someone to address the poor dust collection, so I don't have to

I have the same problem with my Sears bandsaw, have the vac hose connected to it but more dust flies outside than in the vac.

Thinking it's because of that big enclosed bottom wheel with fins on it creating wind turbulence...

For bandsaw dust collection, build a small box or "U" channel that encloses the area between the table and the bottom wheel housing.  It should span from the underside of the table all the way down to the top of the wheel housing.  Connect the vacuum or dust collector hose there and it will take care of just about all the dust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTLZtKWuvGs

I've been needing to do something to mine
Nice how to Roy

You guys are awsome! That little magnetic port is a good idea. I think it would be even better if you could some how get a 4" port on your machine.

Evil, do you have a picture of that mod? I had been thinking of removing the lower wheel cover door and building a box that enclosed everything between the table and the base.

I have an old 12" Atlas, which I just put a fix on. I use a 1 1/4" shop vac for the machines that generate more chips than dust, so I put a hole in the cover, glued a couple of PVC fittings together, then used a 1 1/2" to 1 1/4" compression fitting to clamp on the shop vac hose. I'll still put some more sealing around the gaps, it does better than the old port at the lower edge of the cover used to, though.  Cheep is my middle name.

I've tried that way above but it doesn't do very much.

I'm gonna try the method in the video above...

A smaller port like going from the larger vac hose to the smaller 1.5 plastic pipe, causes more velocity Flem

Flem, I have not done the mod to my saw yet.  I am still a filthy dust breather for the moment.