There are a few tools in the shop that generate chips and dust that make it difficult to see what you’re doing. The biggest culprits are the drill press, band saw, and scroll saw. This portable, foot-powered air nozzle is my solution to this problem.
There are a couple of benefi ts to this system. It’s easy to set up on any tool in a matter of seconds. And a simple tap of the “switch” with my foot directs a puff of air to blow away debris as I’m working.
The “business end” of the assembly is the air nozzle. I used a flexible Loc-Line hose from Essentra Components (Item No. LP-40413). It can be aimed where you need it and it holds that position. It connects to a fitting in a small hardwood base. The base has a pair of rare-earth magnets set into the bottom. This makes it easy to position and hold the nozzle on the tool. From the nozzle base, a small-diameter hose connects to the foot switch assembly. Here, a few fittings are trapped in a hardwood base. The “switch” is a blow gun with the handle positioned for easy access with the tip of your shoe. From the foot switch, you’ll need a section of hose to connect to your air compressor.
