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How to match a dust extractor to a power tool
Matching an extractor to a tool is about more than the hose fitting: the extractor has to move the right kind of air for the dust that tool makes.
Suction versus airflow
Two numbers describe an extractor. Suction, or sealed pressure, is how hard it pulls; airflow, in cubic feet or cubic metres per minute, is how much air it moves. Fine dust from a sander needs high suction through a narrow hose. Bulky chips from a planer or saw need high airflow through a wide duct.
A shop vacuum gives high suction but modest airflow, so it suits hand tools. A dust collector gives high airflow but modest suction, so it suits machines. Using the wrong one, such as a shop vac on a planer, clogs the narrow hose almost at once.
The hose diameter follows the tool
Airflow falls sharply as a hose narrows, so a chip-making machine needs a wide, usually 4 inch, hose to keep enough volume moving. A fine-dust hand tool works on a 1.25 to 2.5 inch hose because the extractor's suction, not raw volume, does the work. Match the hose diameter to the tool's job before worrying about the exact adapter.
A long or convoluted hose run loses airflow to friction, so keep the run short and smooth. Every extra bend and every ribbed metre costs some of the extractor's capacity.
Filtration and fine dust
The finest wood dust is the most harmful to breathe, and a cheap filter can pass it straight back into the air. For fine dust, an extractor with a fine or HEPA-rated filter captures the particles a coarse bag would return. This matters most with sanders and routers, which produce the finest dust.
Automatic tool triggering, where the extractor starts when the tool does, is a convenience found on many workshop extractors and keeps the extractor running only when needed.
Pairing them up
Decide first whether the tool makes fine dust or bulky chips. Choose a shop vacuum for fine-dust hand tools and a dust collector for chip-making machines. Then match the hose diameter to that choice, add the right adapter at the tool port, and keep the hose run short so the extractor's rated capacity actually reaches the cut.
Match an extractor to your tool
Open the PortMatch finderPick your tool to see its port and the hose an extractor needs.Find workshop dust extractor on eBayaffiliateRelated
Sources: Oneida Air Systems airflow guidance ยท Festool mobile dust extractor documentation