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Workshop activities pose many threats when dust comes into the equation. For safety and to produce good results in keeping the shop safe from fire and ventilation problems the vacuum system has played a vital role, in overall safety standard for woodworking work shops. Today there are many varieties of vacuums on the market for woodworking shops. These vacuums are important to prevent the dust particles from becoming irritants and fire hazards in shops today.

Many people that have wood workshops can not afford the high priced systems of a centralized dust evacuation system. The centralized dust collection system is by far the best at removing dust from wood working shops. The cost can exceed five to ten thousand dollars and the evacuation system is run to all locations of fixed wood working machines. Four inch hoses are connected to the backs of each fixed machine with a on/off switch connected to each. This allows the vacuum system to cut on and off with the use of the machine.

The best vacuum systems for a centralized evacuation of dust are the Craftsman, Shop Vac and Dewalt 20Hp range systems that are permanently installed to stationary shop tools. This system is for the extreme wood shop worker. These systems not only protect the shop's environment, it also protects the life of the shop tools too, by keeping the moving parts dust free and increasing the life of the power tool.

Portable power hand tools such as belt and palm sanders can also be hooked up to a 3.0 hp shop vac mobile system or a 5.0 hp Craftsman auto collector system that is made just for power hand tools. The vacuum is designed just for the purpose of these hand tools and has a plug in on top of the vacuum that cuts off when the power tool cuts off. These vacuum systems are well grounded and protect you from electric shock due to static electricity produced from dust evacuation through the hose.

The centralized vacuum units are also grounded for protection of electric static shock. It prevents an arch of static electricity from sparking into a dust enriched atmosphere due to power tool operation. Wood dust is very combustionable and it is very important to ground all hoses and fixed power tools to a proper ground for safety. A wood worker can properly ground their tools by drilling a hole into the hose and inserting a copper wire inside. The other end should be attached to the fixed machines cabinet housing.

Craftsman, Dewalt and Shop Vac all have great standards for dust evacuation in a shop and no wood worker will be disappointed in having his wood shop and tools protected, not to mention their health as well. Keeping the air dust free protects everyone and everything from being exposed to wood dust resins. The choosing of a wood shop vacuum that best meets the need of the woodworker will be determined by how much he wishes to protect his investments in power tools and their health.

Learn more about this author, Rex Coker.
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