Dust collection ideas/advice

[mdallensr]

Anyone using a router to remove ground from relief carvings? I've seen it done, and I've tried it myself successfully, but how do you control the dust and chips? I decided to take my work outside this weekend, rather than pollute my shop. Porter-Cable used to offer a dust collector accessory for my 690 LR router, then stopped selling it. There must be a reasonable way to do this, other than cobbling a shop-vac hose to my router with duct tape. Mike

[squbrigg]

I've used a router once or twice to remove the background, but was not crazy about the results. I found that a Forstner bit on the drill press a better option for me and gave better control. Dust, chips and all that stuff, means a clean up job afterwards, but not too bad. Not as bad as the planer or bandsaw.

Bob

[vacation212]

Ice CreamI have used the router but found for inside a little messy and kept some of my work to complete outside in the summer.How would you use a forester bit? Is it easier to clean up?

[mdallensr]

I've used Forstner bits in my drill press as well, but I needed a really flat ground on this carving and didn't want any marks from those bits. It's amazing how much mess that router will make in a small shop; everything gets covered with chips and dust! So I took my pieces outside, did my routing, then cleaned up with a leaf blower! There has to be a better way to do that year-round. Maybe a router station with a shower curtain to surround it? This shouldn't be so complicated. Mike