Table saws produce dust in two places: above the blade guard and below the table in the blade housing. A good dust collection setup captures both. Most shop vac setups only capture one, which is why many woodworkers feel like their dust collection is not working well.
Here is a complete setup you can adapt to your saw.
Two Dust Sources, Two Ports
The blade guard above the table has a dust port. Most modern table saws include one. This port captures chips that fly upward as the blade exits the top of the workpiece.
The blade housing below the table is the bigger problem. Most of the dust goes downward through the table insert and falls into the housing. The below-table port captures this. It is usually the larger of the two ports on the saw.
If you only connect to one port, you miss half the dust. A complete setup connects to both.
Measure Both Ports
The below-table port and the blade guard port are usually two different sizes, and sizes change between saws. Do not trust a chart. Measure each port on your own saw. The 2-1/2 in. size page is one place to compare, and the size guide shows how to measure.
Jobsite and Compact Saws
For a jobsite table saw, the below-table port is the one that handles the volume. Here are your options:
Option 1: Match the hose to the port as closely as you can. A larger hose works best for volume. Use a 6 to 9 gallon vac with at least 6 amps.
Option 2: Use a smaller hose with a reducing adapter. You lose some flow capacity, but the higher velocity from the smaller hose helps with chip transport.
For the blade guard port, connect a hose directly or use a splitter to run both ports to one vac. Whichever you choose, the adapter is printed to the two numbers you measure.
Running Both Ports to One Vac
The simplest approach is a Y-fitting hose splitter. One inlet connects to the below-table port. One inlet connects to the blade guard port. The outlet goes to the vac.
Y-fittings cost $10 to $15 and split the suction between both ports. Each port gets roughly half the vac's suction. This is usually enough for both. The below-table port gets a larger share because it is the larger opening, which naturally restricts flow less.
If you have a larger vac (9 gallon, 6+ amp), running both ports with a Y-fitting works well. A small 4.5-amp vac may not have enough suction to split effectively.
The Cabinet Saw and Contractor Saw Setup
Cabinet saws and contractor saws need a dedicated dust collector, not a shop vac. The large duct port needs a dust collector with matching duct to move the volume of chips a cabinet saw generates.
A 1.5 HP single-stage dust collector connects to the saw port with a flex hose. This provides enough airflow for continuous operation on a 10-inch cabinet saw.
You can use a shop vac as a temporary solution, but you will fill it quickly and suction will drop as the canister fills. For regular cabinet saw use, a dust collector is the right tool.
Cordless Table Saws
Cordless table saws can run the same shop vac setup as a corded jobsite saw. Measure the below-table port on your saw. A cordless vac can give you a cordless saw plus cordless vac with no cords on the jobsite. A cordless vac often has a smaller hose end, so measure it too.
Tips for Better Capture
Keep the table insert tight to the blade slot. Gaps around the insert let chips escape downward without entering the below-table housing. Replace worn table inserts.
Make sure the blade guard is in place for every rip and crosscut. The guard channels chips toward its port and also protects you from the blade. Do not skip it just because it is in the way.
Empty the vac before long ripping sessions. A table saw ripping 3/4 inch plywood fills a 4.5-gallon vac in about 10 to 15 minutes. Start with an empty canister.
For a starting point, the port size pages show what we print at each size. Your own measurement is what decides the part.
