A dust hood for Ridgid oscillating sander

[Simon Leung]

After reading many favorable reviews of the Ridgid oscillating sander (model # EB44242) and with a 15% rebate offered by the manufacturer, I finally bought this sander as my Christmas present. The more I use it the more I like the sander. I would have given it a 5 star rating if it has better dust collection capability when the belt sander is used. The dust just got collected at the end of the belt and landed all over the floor. I thought there must be a better way to collect the dust. Here is the dust collection improvement that I made.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv38/SimonSKL/0062m.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv38/SimonSKL/0163m.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv38/SimonSKL/0042m.jpg

Here is a video showing how well the dust hood work with my prototype.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv38/SimonSKL/th_003-7.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/albums/vv38/SimonSKL/?action=view&current=003-7.flv)

[Bill Huber]

Looks like it works really good.

What I did with mine was to tape over half the holes in the back and that also helps a bunch.

[Alfred Hoffmann]

SIMON,I really like the set up. I have the same sander and would like to copy your idea. Could you provide a sketch with same dimensions? What material did you use?

[glenn bradley]

Nice job. I used stiff hose (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=133336&d=1258860615) for a similar setup. It really does help this weak point on this machine. I really like the tool but the DC was poor as provided.

[Jim O'Dell]

Very nice! I emailed the link for the video to myself at home so I can save it for future use! Thanks and great job!! Jim.

[Brandon Weiss]

Nice looking work. I might do the same for my Rigdid OSS. Where did you pick up the Acrylic you used?

[Simon Leung]

Brandon,
I bought the acrylic sheets from a local home center but you can also find them in Lowes or HD. They come in different sizes and thickness. What you may have difficulty is finding the acrylic cement/solvent as the home centers don't carry them. You may be able to find them in an acrylic shop. Go to the blog that I posted in LJ and you can see a picture of the cement that I use. Good luck!

[Noah Katz]

Great idea.

Do the original dust collection ports do anything now?

I'm wondering why bother with the Y, and just use the new hood.

Also wondering why you didn't put the port closer to the bottom.

[Glen Butler]

Great idea. Thanks for posting.

[Noah Katz]

Thanks, Simon, here's another:

Extend the shroud all the way around the back of the belt so the original ports are used and the extra port and division of airflow is eliminated.

Hmm, but then what about when just the spindle is used?

Actually I guess the same question applies to your original design.

OK, a clear tube that goes over the spindle and that's height-adjustable to the work thickness, with the inlet hose connected to the top.

[glenn bradley]

Simon, I missed your very cool use of the existing knob and punch-out in the sheet metal stop. Very cool. I sense a cottage industry growing for you ;-)

[Simon Leung]

Noah,
Good suggestion about extending the shroud around the back but with the current back panel (where the port attached) edge almost touching the belt (about 1/8" gap) there is very little dust got behind the back. Also the slots on top of the machine will pick up any dust get back the hood. The original dust port now becomes the backup port.

[Noah Katz]

Good, that keeps it nice and simple.

[Joe Leigh]

Thanks for the inspiration. Here's my version...

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q226/lj61673/DSCN1678.jpg

Oh, and the sander is a steal at $199

[John Petsche]

great idea, pictures are nice. Looking forward to adding this modification.

[Ellen Benkin]

I must be doing something wrong but I don't get the video about the dust hood just a set of pictures about a cart with a compressor.

[Bill White]

I want one! I want one! Wahhhhhh!
Bill

[Myk Rian]

Thanks, Simon, here's another:

Extend the shroud all the way around the back of the belt so the original ports are used and the extra port and division of airflow is eliminated.

That's what I would do. No sense having 2 hoses cluttering it up.

[Michael Heffernan]

Ellen, the post is from early 2010. He probably deleted the video from his photobucket page.


I must be doing something wrong but I don't get the video about the dust hood just a set of pictures about a cart with a compressor.

[HANK METZ]

This pickup design really works very well, I made mine almost 2 years ago for my Rigid when constructing shutters for my home. A video link is here, and at about 2:36 it shows the pickup in use. I used a 4" floor duct screwed to a plywood scrap so I could simply clamp it to the table and move it about as needed, I found it had plenty of volume thanks to my Delta d.c. unit, and so didn't go the extra mile to make it more professional looking.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU2fEdGwD84