Originally Posted by
Simon MacGowen
I do the same but, let's qualify "all openings". You need to have return air in order to get air flow. There seems to be plenty of other places for air to get in with the 'tilt-slot' generally covered with a piece of sheet magnet. Sometimes I forget to put it back after making a bevel cut and I do notice..
As to the performance of the overarm in general. The 3HP PCS method of tapping the overarm into the lower cabinet duct supplies sub-optimal suction. I credit the good design of the hood that it works as well as it does. I will now contradict myself and say that although the overarm collection is much improved if a better path to the DC is used, I find the bother of running something like a shop vac in addition to simply opening the tablesaw gate more than I am willing to do regularly. If I have a lot of ripping to do I will swing the overarm hose to a vac or a more direct port on the DC. I got it free when I bought the saw and am glad to have it; I just wanted to share my experience having used it for a few years.
"A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".
– Samuel Butler