Routers make some of the finest and most dangerous dust in the shop. The bit spins at 20,000 to 30,000 RPM. Fine wood particles from routing hardwoods can stay airborne for hours. Connecting a vac is not just about keeping the shop clean. It is about keeping your lungs clean.
The approach is a little different depending on what type of router you use.
Compact Routers (Trim Routers)
Compact routers often have a small dust port on the side or rear of the base. The size changes between brands and between models, so measure the one on your router. The port size pages are a starting point if you want to compare.
Measure the port across the inside of the opening, or across the outside of a stub. Then measure the end of your hose. We print the adapter to those two numbers. The size guide shows how.
Compact routers work well with a shop vac connected directly through the port. The suction at the bit area is good when the base is against the workpiece.
Routers move in every direction during a cut, so the hose can catch on the workpiece or your arm. A coil hose or a short swivel elbow at the port keeps the hose out of the way.
Plunge Routers
Plunge routers are larger. They use a guide base with more enclosed space around the bit. Some come with a dust port built into the base for a matching extractor hose, and the 27mm size page is one place to compare. A strong extractor pulls hard enough to clear the whole plunge cut.
Other plunge routers carry their own port on the base. Measure it, then connect a shop vac the same way as a compact router.
One tip for plunge routers: make sure the base dust shroud is installed. The shroud directs chips into the port. Without it, chips fly outward before the port can capture them.
Router Tables
Router tables are different from handheld routers. There are two dust sources:
- The bit opening in the table surface (top-side dust)
- The inside of the cabinet below the table (bottom-side chips)
Good dust collection on a router table means connecting to both. Router table fences and cabinets each have their own ports, and the sizes change between makers. Measure both. The port size pages are a starting point. A bigger cabinet port may need a dust collector with a larger hose.
For a home shop with a portable router table and no full cabinet, one pickup at the fence covers most jobs. The 2-1/2 in. size page is one place to compare. An adapter takes the port up or down to your vac hose when you need it.
Which Vac to Use
For compact and plunge routers, a shop vac with a 1-7/8 inch hose works fine. You want at least 5 amps of motor. Router bits produce fine dust and a weak vac lets it escape.
For router tables, a 1.5 HP dust collector with a 4-inch port is ideal for the cabinet. Run a shop vac on the fence port at the same time if you want far less dust in the air.
If you own a Festool extractor, it filters down to 0.3 microns, which is far better than a standard shop vac filter for fine routing dust. Check the hose end against your router port before you buy any part.
Getting the Right Adapter
Do not trust a chart. Tool makers change port sizes between models, and sometimes within one line. Measure across the inside of the port opening with calipers or a ruler. If the port is a stub, measure across the outside. Then measure the end of your hose. Give us the two numbers and we print the adapter to them. The size guide shows how, and Build My Adapter takes it from there.
Safety Note
Fine dust from routing hardwoods like walnut, teak, and rosewood can cause allergic reactions and respiratory issues. Even one routing session without dust collection can deposit a significant amount of dust in your lungs. This is especially true with exotics and composites.
Wear a respirator rated N95 or P100 when routing these materials, even if you have a vac connected. A vac catches most of the dust. A respirator catches the rest.
