By Martin Harris.

Magnetic Dust Collection Fittings: Are They Worth It?

Magnetic dust collection fittings are worth it if you move one hose between several machines. They turn a hose change into a few seconds of work, with no clamps to loosen. If every machine already has its own duct drop and blast gate, you don't need them. Each machine needs its own receiver, so the cost grows with every tool you add.

This page covers how the fittings work, where they help, what can go wrong, and the cheaper options. For the rest of the parts in a duct system, like wyes, elbows, and reducers, see my guide to dust collection fittings.

How magnetic fittings work

A magnetic system has two halves. A steel ring, often called a receiver, stays on each machine's dust port. A connector with magnets goes on the end of your hose. You bring the hose up to the port, the magnets grab the steel ring, and the two halves pull together. To take it off, you tip or twist the hose and the halves let go.

The details vary by brand. POWERTEC's connector holds 8 rare earth magnets, which are small, very strong magnets usually made from neodymium. Its steel ring receivers fit onto machine ports with flexible rubber cuffs, which stretch to seal against ports that are slightly off size. POWERTEC sells 4 inch and 2-1/2 inch versions, plus a connector that joins 4 inch hose to 2-1/2 inch ports, and a surface mount receiver for flat panels and shop built cabinets.

Woodpeckers' MagQuick system also pairs magnets with steel rings instead of pairing magnets with magnets. Magnets have a north and a south side, and two magnets can push each other away if they meet the wrong way round. A magnet to steel design avoids that, so one magnetic connector on your hose works with every ring in the shop. Woodpeckers adds a bevel inside the fitting that guides the halves into line as they close, and it claims up to 40 pounds of pull force.

Kits you can buy

These are the magnetic fitting kits I found with clear product listings. I haven't put a set through my test bench, so read these as product descriptions.

• POWERTEC. The POWERTEC 4 inch magnetic starter kit (70505) covers two machines. The POWERTEC complete setup kit (70504) covers up to five machines. Single receivers and connectors are also sold separately, so you can add tools later.
• Woodpeckers MagQuick. Sold as a MagQuick 5-piece starter kit and a MagQuick 8-piece deluxe set, with collector side, machine side, and surface mount pieces. Each port has a grooved ring for a hose clamp.
• Fulton. The Fulton 4 inch MagLink starter kit is another magnetic quick connect set for moving a 4 inch hose between machines.

Where magnetic fittings help

• A portable collector on wheels. You roll the collector to the tool you're using. With magnetic ends, the hose swap is the fastest part. My best portable dust collector picks suit this style of shop.
• One drop shared by a group of tools. A jointer, planer, and bandsaw parked near one duct drop can share a single hose.
• Tools on mobile bases. In a one car garage, machines often live against the wall and roll out to work. A quick hose change fits that routine.
• Benchtop tools on shelves. A spindle sander or a small drum sander that comes out now and then is easy to hook up.

The biggest benefit, as I see it, is habit. When hooking up takes a few seconds, you are more likely to connect the hose for a two minute cut instead of skipping it. The fine dust from those quick cuts adds up.

The drawbacks

• Cost adds up per machine. Every tool needs its own receiver, and often a cuff. A plain hose clamp costs far less. Count your tools before you buy a kit.
• A sideways pull can knock it loose. The same tipping motion that releases the fitting on purpose can happen by accident if you snag the hose or drag the collector. Support long hose runs so the weight of the hose doesn't hang off the joint.
• Magnets collect steel dust. If you grind or cut metal in the same shop, steel particles will stick to the magnet face. Anything caught between the halves keeps them from closing fully and opens a leak. Wipe the faces clean.
• A poor seal costs suction. A leak at the joint pulls room air in place of air from the tool. The fit of the rubber cuff on the machine port matters as much as the magnets. My weak dust collector suction guide shows how to find leaks.
• Small port adapters limit airflow. A 4 inch hose joined to a 2-1/2 inch port can only move what the small opening allows. Tools with small ports often run better on a shop vac or dust extractor, as I explain in my dust collector vs shop vac comparison.
• Grounding wires need a plan. If you run a ground wire along or inside your hose, every quick connect is a break in that wire. My guide to grounding PVC dust collection covers how to carry a ground across joints.
• Strong magnets and medical devices. If you have a pacemaker or another implanted medical device, ask your doctor before handling rare earth magnets.

Do they cost airflow?

The makers I looked at don't publish static pressure loss numbers for their fittings. Static pressure is the resistance your collector has to pull against, measured in inches of water column (in. w.c.). Woodpeckers says its ports keep full CFM at each machine, but that is a manufacturer claim with no published measurement behind it.

Here is how I think about it. A full size 4 inch fitting with a smooth bore works like a short coupling in the hose. That is a small loss next to the parts that do cost you. In Oneida's published table, a single 4 inch 90 degree elbow costs .450 in. w.c., and every foot of 4 inch flex hose costs .280. Check that the inside of the fitting matches the inside of your hose, with no narrow lip. Then spend your attention on keeping the hose short, which matters far more.

Magnetic fittings vs the alternatives

My own comparison of how each option is used. Costs are relative to each other.

If your tools stay put, the money for a magnetic kit usually does more as blast gates and duct. My best blast gates roundup covers the hardware. For the hose that goes between the fittings, see my best dust collection hose picks.

Setup tips

1. Measure each port. Machine ports vary a little in outside diameter. Check that the cuff or receiver fits snugly before you buy one for every tool.
2. Stick with one brand. Receivers and connectors are designed as matched sets. Mixing brands may leave a gap or a weak hold.
3. Keep the hose short. In Oneida's table, 1 foot of 4 inch flex costs about as much as 5 feet of rigid duct. Quick connects make it tempting to use one long hose for everything.
4. Hang the hose. Support it overhead or on a hook so its weight doesn't pull on the joint.
5. Wipe the faces. Clear dust and chips off the magnet and the ring before you connect.
6. Check for leaks. With the collector running, run your hand around the joint. You should feel no air moving in through the seam.

My verdict

If you have a portable collector or a single drop and three or more tools that share it, magnetic fittings are a good buy. They make hooking up fast enough that you'll do it every time. If you have a ducted system with a drop and a gate at every machine, skip them and put the money toward gates, a better filter, or shorter hose. For how fittings fit into a whole shop plan, read my complete guide to small shop dust collection.

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