Popular Post rodger. Posted April 18, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Weather has finally turned a corner here, so I have been out in the shop getting some organization, upgrades, and tuning done. Task 1- chose, buy, and install an ambient air cleaner. Took me a while to select one, but I finally did and went out and bought it. I bought a General Tools 10-550 Turbo, which runs 800 CFM (one speed) and filters down to 1 Micron. This thing moves some air in my small shop - holy cow! Its got some nice features (remote, timer, filter sensor, etc.) and was smaller in size than many others in the same performance category. This sells for a whopping 700 CDN, but I got it for for about 500 from a machine buy I often buy from in Toronto. Install sucked. Up and down a ladder to take measurements, getting a gorilla to help me lift it up 11', etc. Glad that job is over! Task 2 - Build an Off Cut Storage Area Used some left over maple ply and edge banding to make a space to store all the lumber that is about 3' and under. This stuff is always kicking around and in the way, leaning up against any free wall space. I finally decided to deal with this and I made a simple storage area. Forgot the pic - will upload later! Task 3 - Build an Auxiliary fence for the Kapex This was pretty straight forward, and I should have done it a while ago. I previously made some ZCIs for it, but just finally got around to building the fence. Used some leftover MDF and followed the guidelines in the supplementary manual. Splinter free cuts! Task 4 - Add a safety switch to the Router Table I moved my router table to the TS a while back, and I find it hard to get to the power switch without looking at it. This is potentially dangerous, so I installed a large paddle style switch that I can easily bump with my Knee if I get into trouble. Task 5 - improve the DC on the router table This was a head scratcher for a long time. I typically use a fence with a dust port, and it does a great job. However, there is regularly still some dust on the floor (and therefor in the air). So after thinking about buying or building a box, I decided to install a shroud around the bit. This shroud fits the 35mm Festool hose perfectly, and I can use my "pug boom arm" to keep the hose out of the way. This does mean using two vacs (one for the fence and one for the shroud), but it is incredibly effective! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Task 6 - CLEAN EVERYTHING I spent over half a day just moving stuff and cleaning. Then I used a leaf blower to blow out the shop, closed the door, and ran the air cleaner for 2 hours. The air cleaner can change the air every 15 minutes or so (in a shop larger than mine), so it must have exchanged the air 1,000,000 times. Then I cleaned all bits, machine blades, and and knives. Task 7 - Tune Up I tuned my jointer, my TS, and my planer. I waxed all the beds and verified everything was bang-on 90 degrees. My TS had some work do, and I cleaned all the innards while I was there. I had to run the AC again after that. Still to be done: Task 8 - sharpen everything hand tool related (plane blades, chisels, scrapers, etc) Task 9 - clean the Dust collector and filter bag (ug) Task 10 - Get some anti-fatigue mats or other comfort flooring solution Whew! More than 1/2 way done! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Some pretty awesome upgrades! What are you building next? Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Your industrial spring cleaning, has inspired me to sweep the floor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Edgar Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Your shop is way too clean I too use the leaf blower broom method. Looks good now make some sawdust! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Hopefully, that spit shine won't last to long....Make something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I also have that Trend T11 (or is yours a T10 on a router raiser?) and use two vacs with it - the main dust extractor on the fence and a shop vac via a dust deputy on the lower port. It is really effective. It's always nice to do shop upgrades to make the environment easier to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Great upgrades. I always enjoy seeing the things others do to make their shop better and more enjoyable. When my shop is decently organized I am more inspired to move ahead on projects. My shop never really gets super clean but, slogging through ankle-deep curlies can lead to accidents. I sweep and vacuum regularly throughout any given week and keep things picked up so I am not tripping over or searching for them. Thanks for sharing your efforts and ideas. Many of the things I have done around my shop came from threads just like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 14 hours ago, Pug said: Task 10 - Get some anti-fatigue mats or other comfort flooring solution Nice job! I suppose now I'll have to go down to mine and at least put some things away. Don't know if they have Harbor Freight in Canada, but in the US they have mats for $9 to $10 which is as cheap as I've seen in stores. I can't tell you how long they'll last, but they seem to work just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Question on the Kapex.. What thickness material did you use on the back fence? Does it interfere with the clamp? Great upgrades! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 9 hours ago, TerryMcK said: I also have that Trend T11 (or is yours a T10 on a router raiser?) and use two vacs with it - the main dust extractor on the fence and a shop vac via a dust deputy on the lower port. It is really effective. It's always nice to do shop upgrades to make the environment easier to use. That's an older model Freud 3.25 hp plunger. I took out the springs and use the intregal depth adjust. 3 hours ago, Mark J said: Nice job! I suppose now I'll have to go down to mine and at least put some things away. Don't know if they have Harbor Freight in Canada, but in the US they have mats for $9 to $10 which is as cheap as I've seen in stores. I can't tell you how long they'll last, but they seem to work just fine. Sadly, no HF, but we do have princess auto. Might check there. 3 hours ago, TIODS said: Question on the Kapex.. What thickness material did you use on the back fence? Does it interfere with the clamp? Great upgrades! I went with 4", and it tapers to 2" at the blade. Clamp is no problem, but it is negatively affecting the DC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 4 minutes ago, Pug said: I went with 4", and it tapers to 2" at the blade. Clamp is no problem, but it is negatively affecting the DC. How Thick is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 17 hours ago, shaneymack said: Some pretty awesome upgrades! What are you building next? Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Just finished a large DIY project (built in wall). I may have a deck build in my near future, so not sure on the furniture front. I do need a nightstand, however... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Just now, TIODS said: How Thick is it? Oops, should have read your post more carefully. It's 3/4" MDF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 1 hour ago, Pug said: Oops, should have read your post more carefully. It's 3/4" MDF. Interesting.. 3/4 material interferes with my clamp.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 22 minutes ago, TIODS said: Interesting.. 3/4 material interferes with my clamp.. hmm - maybe I should look at it more carefully. I moved the clamp out and it seemed fine, but to be honest I didn't give it much thought. I'll investigate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 They have Sam's club in Canada. I don't know if they carry these. I have a few sets. They are thicker than many others costing more. They stay put but are easily moved about or flipped up against the bench to get a machine by if required. I put them black side up but, dad puts them color side up so you can match your preference . They have lasted many years without a single failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 On 2016-04-18 at 6:48 PM, TIODS said: Interesting.. 3/4 material interferes with my clamp.. @TIODS was right! Fence is too thick to allow the clamp to work. The fence also negatively effects DC, so it's gotta go for now. I will make a thinner version soon, and reduce the height even more near the opening to allow better dust capture. I like the clamp too much to stop using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 20 minutes ago, Pug said: @TIODS was right! Fence is too thick to allow the clamp to work. The fence also negatively effects DC, so it's gotta go for now. I will make a thinner version soon, and reduce the height even more near the opening to allow better dust capture. I like the clamp too much to stop using it. I put on 1/2" material on during the miter station rebuild and still had a problem. I ended up shaving a little off the clamp foot so I could use it.. When I say a little, i mean about 1/16 off of the offending little corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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