chip/dust collector for Safe-T-Planer

[Kary Karahadian]

does anyone have a satisfactory design for dust collection for the STP? I love the tool, but it really makes for a lot of shop cleanup.

[Bob Gramann]

I just clamped a couple of boards, making a corner, on my drill press table to contain the chips.

[Jason Rodgers]

I made a dust hood that works very well. I wrote up a "It worked for me" article that was published in American Lutherie last year. When I get on my PC today I'll post a photo, but I think I posted it here somewhere already.

[Jason Rodgers]

Here is what I did. Thai take-out container: hole in the bottom to pass the chuck through, hole in the side for the vacuum hose, neoprene "sweep" around the edges. I chuck the Safe-T-Planer just below the sweep. It works very well for thicknessing (tops, backs, sides) when the work and table are close to the sweep. When leveling thicker stock, a bit of dust escapes, but only because the hood is off the table. This works well for sanding discs, too.

[Kary Karahadian]

Thanks for the photos. Just what i was looking for.

[Dennis Duross]

I'm not a big fan of Thai food. I'm thinking of substituting a potato salad container from the deli, and wonder if anyone has tried something similar?

[Jason Rodgers]

Sorry, Dennis, but that just won't work. It's Asian take-out or nuthin!

Actually, I spent a lot of time thinking about this, and auditioned a couple different candidates. The first container I tried was a hard plastic iced tea pitcher that I picked up at a second-hand store. It was too hard and and brittle and was difficult to cut to height and for the dust hose. I considered a milk jug, but it was too flimsy. These take-out tubs from the Thai place down the street are great, nearly Rubbermaid quality, and my wife saves them for left-over containers and freezer jam. I'm sure your container would work fine, but it needs to be fairly rigid so that it doesn't contort or split when you attach the hose.

[Dennis Duross]

I'm glad you realized I was kidding.

But your point about the quality or suitability of one type of plastic vs another is well-taken.

[Shawn Hoover]

Stellar. Thank you, Jason.