Tip of the Week • Did you know that your vacuum hold down system can fuel a fire?

Dull cutters, improper feed rate, or incorrect spindle RPM add friction when routing. This is especially true when routing wood and wood composites that are being held in place with the vacuum hold down system. Composite woods are made up of saw dust and glue. When these raw materials are collected, it's not uncommon that they are molded with other materials in them such as metal. When these metals get nicked by the routing tool, they can create a spark. The vacuum pump draws air down through the vacuum table and it's this air that fuels the spark.


Operators should be made aware that they may not see any evidence of burning because the smoke is being drawn away from the machine through the vacuum table and vented out at the pump.

State laws mandate smoke detectors in buildings, but we suggest one be installed by the pump and machine as an early warning system. It is also recommended to have a fire extinguisher in both locations in case of such an event.