Dust collection holes in Zero Clearance Insert for Bandsaw

[Brian Holcombe]

I've made a ZCI for my Minimax bandsaw (the original insert left something to be desired). Should I drill some holes in it for the dust collection? I'm working on the impression that the dust should be carried out and through the insert by the saw gullets.

The original was very much covered in holes, but most of the ZCI's I see are without holes.

It's easy enough to try, but I don't have a dust collector just yet....so I can't.

Interested in your experience.

[Andrew Hughes]

There's no holes in mine,I also didn't care for the plastic one.

[Alan Schwabacher]

Unless you are just trimming an edge, the holes will be covered by the work during use.

[Steve Eure]

Unless you have dust collection right under the table, the holes in the zci are useless. You are correct in that the gullets carry thye dust into the cabinet/bottom of the saw where it can be contained and extracted.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Ask Bruce Page to post a photo of his ZCI.

[Bruce Page]

Brian, I made one for my MM16 out of 1/4" brass plate. I can't say that the holes add a lot but they don't hurt anything either.

[Van Huskey]

Unless you have dust collection right under the table, the holes in the zci are useless. You are correct in that the gullets carry thye dust into the cabinet/bottom of the saw where it can be contained and extracted.

The Minimax has a collection box right under the table.

I have always put holes in my shop made ZCIs for the MM saws, dunno how much it helps or if it does but I just copied the general design of the original one.

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks gents! Much appreciated.

Bruce, that is real sexy, nice work!

[Jim Becker]

I'm still running the original MM plastic insert with the holes and the dust collection design does utilize that air flow noticeably while cutting.

[Garth Almgren]

Brian, I made one for my MM16 out of 1/4" brass plate. I can't say that the holes add a lot but they don't hurt anything either.
Speed holes. :D

[Patrick McCarthy]

Bruce, everytime I see your insert I drool. Nicely done, sir. Best regards, patrick

[Brian Holcombe]

I'm still running the original MM plastic insert with the holes and the dust collection design does utilize that air flow noticeably while cutting.

Jim, how do you mean? Do you feel the holes are needed to support the volume pulled by your dust collector?

[keith wootton]

i would consider making an insert with the open part of the slot behind the blade. i have had a narrow piece i was re sawing be pulled forcefully down into the slot of the table because there was not enough support in front of the blade. (and maybe because i was stupid)

keith

[Bruce Page]

Bruce, everytime I see your insert I drool. Nicely done, sir. Best regards, patrick
Thanks Patrick!

[Sam Blasco]

Here's a picture of mine. QS White Oak. And make a few - it is just as easy to make 5 as it is to make one. I didn't use as many holes as the original.
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[Bob Bouis]

Is there any reason the homemade inserts have to have the slot facing the front? It's bad enough that the table is set up that way (and has no pin!), but the insert always sags at that slot (because it's unsupported in the center). Wouldn't it make more sense to turn it around and have the slot at the back?

[John K Jordan]

I've made a ZCI for my Minimax bandsaw (the original insert left something to be desired). Should I drill some holes in it for the dust collection? I'm working on the impression that the dust should be carried out and through the insert by the saw gullets.

It's easy enough to try, but I don't have a dust collector just yet....so I can't.


I make inserts from thin plywood for my 18" Rikon saw and always drill holes in them. The dust is normally pulled through the wood and the insert. However, when making a "skimming" cut which I do a lot when processing turning blanks, dust is also thrown to the side. I position a 4" flex hose with a strong magnet to suck in most of this but I do see dust going down through the holes on the insert so I know it's doing at least something.

My bandsaw is hooked up to a powerful dust cyclone dust collector. Note that the dust that gets pulled through the insert by the blade gullets does not all make it into the lower cabinet to get picked up by the DC - a lot is thrown on the floor by feet. To fix that I constructed a shroud to fit between the bottom of the table (around the guides) and the top of the lower cabinet which creates a chamber of sorts to pull dust down into the lower cabinet. With the shroud, there is no dust on the floor.

JKJ

[Bruce Page]

My bandsaw is hooked up to a powerful dust cyclone dust collector. Note that the dust that gets pulled through the insert by the blade gullets does not all make it into the lower cabinet to get picked up by the DC - a lot is thrown on the floor by feet. To fix that I constructed a shroud to fit between the bottom of the table (around the guides) and the top of the lower cabinet which creates a chamber of sorts to pull dust down into the lower cabinet. With the shroud, there is no dust on the floor.

JKJ
The Minimax has that box feature built in. It catches most of the sawdust but some dust still reaches the bottom of the cabinet.

[Brian Holcombe]

Here's a picture of mine. QS White Oak. And make a few - it is just as easy to make 5 as it is to make one. I didn't use as many holes as the original.
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Nice work Sam.

Did you bevel the insight so that you can tilt the table, as well, or not for these types of inserts?

[Jim Becker]

Jim, how do you mean? Do you feel the holes are needed to support the volume pulled by your dust collector?
Dust collection is 100% about air flow. In an "ideal" situation, the area that comprises where that air flow comes at the tool will be equal to or slightly greater than the supported area of the diameter of the connection to the tool. In the case of the MM16, that's a 100mm port (~4"). So yes, the holes help provide some of the volume of air flow necessary to "fill the duct".

"Where" that air flow comes from is also important. The dust and chips created on a bandsaw happen where the blade is engaged with the material and they exit downward. The holes in the table insert (in cuts where the material isn't totally covering them) help influence air flow to capture the chips and dust as the blade exits the material and generates better collection on a machine that's actually relatively difficult to collect from.

[Brian Holcombe]

Thanks Jim, much appreciated.