Reference

Glossary

Short, plain-English definitions. Each term links to the guides that cover it properly.

A

ABS plastic · also ABS: A rigid plastic used for many dust fittings. POWERTEC describes its 70136 reducer as heavy-walled ABS and its 70147 adapter as non-threaded black ABS, and Infinity says its MagSnap ports are ABS with rare-earth magnets. Read more: Blast gates: sizes, end types, metal vs plastic, 4 in to 2-1/2 in reducers: into a hose or onto a port?
Affiliate disclosure · also FTC disclosure: A clear statement that a site earns commissions when readers buy through its links. The FTC says such a relationship should be disclosed clearly and conspicuously, and that one disclosure on a home page is not enough because visitors land on individual pages. Read more: Buying dust-collection fittings online: a checklist before you order, Measuring and buying
Airflow · also air volume: The volume of air moving through a hose or duct in a given time. Woodgears measured inlet airflow with an anemometer over a hole in a box; this site reports the method and direction of such findings, not the numbers. Read more: Dust hose length and diameter: what the evidence shows
AirLock · also DEWALT AirLock: DEWALT's name for its dust-connection system. DEWALT's accessory index lists the DWV9036 as a 36 mm AirLock adapter and the DWV9336 as a 36 mm anti-static hose; its DWE6423 sander page does not mention AirLock. Read more: DEWALT AirLock and the DWV9000: what each adapter joins, 27, 32, 35 and 36 mm vacuum hoses: metric sizes are not one standard
Anti-static · also antistatic: A maker's label for a material meant to limit static buildup; it is not the same claim as dissipative or conductive. Masterduct says antistatic is standard on its PUR hoses, and Festool says antistatic performance needs a complete system of extractor, hoses, sleeves and couplings. Read more: Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims, Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover
ASTM D1785: ASTM's specification for PVC plastic pipe in Schedules 40, 80 and 120. ASTM lists D1785-26 as active, last updated August 28, 2026. It is a different standard from D2729 sewer pipe. Read more: Sewer-and-drain vs Schedule 40 PVC for dust collection, Duct fitting standards: hose fittings, S&D PVC, Schedule 40 and metal
ASTM D2729: ASTM's Standard Specification for PVC sewer pipe and fittings, covering materials, dimensions, workmanship, chemical resistance and joint tightness. ASTM lists D2729-21 as active; the standard does not address dust collection. Read more: Sewer-and-drain vs Schedule 40 PVC for dust collection, Duct fitting standards: hose fittings, S&D PVC, Schedule 40 and metal

B

Bayonet fitting · also bayonet lock: A joint that locks with a push and a short twist. Festool's 577162 connecting sleeve uses a bayonet fitting to lock a suction hose to a power tool's extractor connector. Read more: Festool hose sleeves and connectors: D 27, D 36 and the CT inlet, 27, 32, 35 and 36 mm vacuum hoses: metric sizes are not one standard
Belled end · also bell end, socket end: A pipe end widened so another pipe slides into it. Charlotte Pipe lists a socket entrance ID of 4.509 to 4.527 in for 4 in belled-end Schedule 40 PVC made to ASTM D 2672. Read more: Sewer-and-drain vs Schedule 40 PVC for dust collection
Bend radius: How tightly a hose can bend, usually given as a radius. McMaster-Carr's duct hose tables list a bend radius and a maximum vacuum rating for each hose product. Read more: Choosing 4 in dust-collector hose, Dust-collector hose
Blast gate · also gate, dust gate: A gate in a duct or hose run that opens or closes one branch. POWERTEC's 70135 has a cast aluminum body and a steel slide, and Infinity says its 4 in gate needs hose clamps. Read more: Blast gates: sizes, end types, metal vs plastic, Blast gates
Blow-molded hose · also stock shop-vac hose: A hose formed in one piece in a mold, often the hose supplied with a shop vacuum. Cen-Tec says its 41125 and 40751 threaded fittings are not compatible with most blow-molded hoses supplied with shop vacuums. Read more: Quick-connect dust hose systems: Cen-Tec, Rockler and DEWALT AirLock, Connecting a 1-1/4 in hose to a bigger shop-vac inlet
Bridge clamp · also keyed bridge clamp: A hose clamp with a raised bridge that steps over a hose's spiral wire. Lee Valley says its left-hand bridge clamps fit only left-hand spiral hose and sells right-hand clamps separately. Read more: Dust hose clamps: sizing by outside diameter and spiral direction, Hose cuffs, clamps and couplers
Bucket collapse: When a separator's bucket caves inward under suction. Dustopper's FAQ attributes it to too much airflow restriction, such as very long or small-diameter hoses, and Oneida recommends buckets with a wall of 90 mil or more. Read more: Why a separator bucket collapses, and which buckets the makers name, Cyclone separators and lids

C

CFM (cubic feet per minute) · also cubic feet per minute: A unit of airflow: the cubic feet of air that pass a point each minute. This site quotes no CFM figures for any machine, hose or fitting. Read more: Dust hose length and diameter: what the evidence shows
Clamp-together duct · also Quick-Fit: Duct whose sections join with clamps rather than crimped or screwed joints. Nordfab publishes literature on its Quick-Fit clamp-together ducting as a distinct duct system. Read more: Duct fitting standards: hose fittings, S&D PVC, Schedule 40 and metal, Duct fitting standard finder
Click ring: The latching ring on a Cen-Tec Quick Click hose fitting that holds the tool adapter in place. Cen-Tec sells a replacement acetal click ring (40113) separately from the threaded fitting with click ring (41125). Read more: Quick-connect dust hose systems: Cen-Tec, Rockler and DEWALT AirLock, Quick-connect systems
Combustible dust: Finely divided material that can burn rapidly and, suspended in air at the right concentration, can become explosible under certain conditions, according to OSHA. OSHA lists wood among the materials that can form combustible dust. Read more: Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover
Conductive · also electrically conductive: A maker's label for a material that carries electric charge readily. Masterduct describes its SL-F-EC hose as electrically conductive with a stated surface resistance of 10^4 ohm or less, and Cen-Tec lists Conductive Quick Click Adapters as a separate catalog category. Read more: Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims
Cone reducer: A reducer shaped like a cone with a plain end at each size. POWERTEC lists its 70136 cone reducer's 4 in end at 3-61/64 in OD and 3-41/64 in ID, and says it fits hoses only, not equipment ports. Read more: 4 in to 2-1/2 in reducers: into a hose or onto a port?
Connecting sleeve · also hose sleeve: Festool's term for the end piece that joins a suction hose to a tool. Festool lists its 577162 sleeve for D 27 and D 27/32 hoses and for power tools with D 27 and D 36 flanges. Read more: Festool hose sleeves and connectors: D 27, D 36 and the CT inlet, Track-saw dust ports: Makita and Festool connections
Coupler · also coupling, union: A fitting that joins two hoses end to end. Shop-Vac's 170400 is a rigid polypropylene coupling that joins two 2-1/2 in wet/dry vacuum hoses. Read more: Hose cuffs and couplers: threads, slip ends and hose-to-hose joints, Hose cuffs, clamps and couplers
CPSC recall · also product recall: A recall announced through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which says it is illegal to sell any recalled product and tells buyers to search cpsc.gov/Recalls. Finding no recall is not proof of safety or fit. Read more: Buying dust-collection fittings online: a checklist before you order, Measuring and buying
Crushproof hose · also crush-proof hose, threaded crushproof hose: A hose with a ribbed, threaded wall built to resist collapse; some fittings screw onto its ribs. Cen-Tec's 34982 cuff threads onto 1.25 in crush-proof hose, and its 41125 and 40751 fittings fit 1-1/4 in threaded crushproof hose. Read more: Connecting a 1-1/4 in hose to a bigger shop-vac inlet, Quick-connect dust hose systems: Cen-Tec, Rockler and DEWALT AirLock
Cyclone separator · also cyclone, dust separator: A cone that spins incoming air so heavier particles drop out before the air reaches the vacuum or filter. The EPA explains that a cyclone uses centrifugal and inertial forces and that its collection efficiency is related to particle size. Read more: Shop-vac cyclone or collector cyclone? Matching the separator to the machine, Cyclone separators and lids

D

Drop: A short branch that comes down from an overhead duct run to a machine, usually ending in a gate and a length of hose. Read more: A small-shop duct run: the parts list, one standard at a time, Wyes, elbows and reducers
Duct run · also main line, branch line: The fixed pipe or hose path from a collector to the machines it serves, usually a main line with branches. Harbor Freight's 59726 manual says to connect 4 in vent pipe to the collector's inlet side and run tool hoses to adapters into that pipe. Read more: A small-shop duct run: the parts list, one standard at a time, Wyes, elbows and reducers
Dust collector · also collector: A machine with a larger inlet than a shop vacuum, typically 4 in or more, that draws dust from stationary tools through hose or duct into a bag, canister or bin. Read more: Dust-collector hose, Dust-collector inlet sizes: 4 in inlets, inlet Ys and caps, Vacuum and collector inlet finder
Dust extractor · also extractor, mobile dust extractor: A vacuum made to connect to hand-held power tools, usually with a smaller hose than a dust collector. DEWALT, for example, says its DWE6423 sander's dust port fits its DWV010 and DWV012 dust extractors directly. Read more: Sander dust port to shop-vac hose: maker routes for DEWALT and Bosch, DEWALT AirLock and the DWV9000: what each adapter joins, Vacuum and collector inlet finder
Dust hood · also dust shroud: A cover that surrounds a cutter or bit and channels dust to a hose port. Bosch's RA1172AT router kit, for example, includes a fixed-base hood and an edge-forming hood. Read more: Router dust hoods: Bosch RA1172AT and hose adapters, Tool-port adapters
Dust port · also dust outlet, extraction port: The outlet on a power tool or machine where a hose or adapter attaches to carry dust away. Its size may be given as an inside diameter, an outside diameter, or not at all. Read more: How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter, Tool-port adapters, Dust port finder by tool model

E

Elbow · also bend: A fitting that turns a duct or hose run through an angle, commonly 45 or 90 degrees. Read more: A small-shop duct run: the parts list, one standard at a time, Wyes, elbows and reducers
ETL Listed · also ETL mark: Intertek's mark showing a product was tested by Intertek and found to comply with national standards. Intertek says its online directories can be used to check marked products. Read more: Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover
Expandable hose · also stretch hose: A hose that stretches well past its relaxed length. Listed lengths can be stretched length: RIDGID says its LA2522 hose extends up to 20 ft, which describes the hose stretched, not relaxed. Read more: Replacement shop-vac hoses: RIDGID, CRAFTSMAN and Shop-Vac by part number, Shop-vacuum hoses

F

Female end · also socket, slip end, female fitting: The end of a fitting that its mating part goes into, so its inside diameter is the one that matters. Cen-Tec, for example, lists its 34982 cuff with a 1.50 in female slip end. Read more: Male, female and tapered dust fittings: which end goes inside, Hose cuffs and couplers: threads, slip ends and hose-to-hose joints
Free Returns (AliExpress) · also AliExpress Free Returns: AliExpress's program for products bearing the Free Returns icon from participating sellers. Its current terms say the return period is whatever the AliExpress order page shows, so check the order page rather than assuming a fixed window. Read more: Buying dust-collection fittings online: a checklist before you order, Measuring and buying
Friction fit · also press fit, slip fit: A joint held by a snug push fit rather than threads, latches or clamps. POWERTEC says its 70291 reducer friction-fits inside a 4 in nominal OD port, and Bosch calls the VAC005 hose's vacuum end a standard 2-1/4 in friction fit. Read more: Male, female and tapered dust fittings: which end goes inside, 4 in to 2-1/2 in reducers: into a hose or onto a port?

G

Ground wire · also grounding wire: A wire in or along a hose meant to give static charge a path to ground. Masterduct mentions an integral ground wire on its SL-F-EC hose. This site gives no grounding instructions; the maker's manual is the place for them. Read more: Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims, Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover

H

Hose clamp · also band clamp: A band tightened around a hose to hold it on a fitting. Infinity includes a hose clamp with each MagSnap port and says its 4 in blast gate needs clamps. Read more: Dust hose clamps: sizing by outside diameter and spiral direction, Hose cuffs, clamps and couplers
Hose cuff · also cuff, hose end: The fitting on the end of a hose that plugs into a tank, tool or another fitting. Cen-Tec's 42324 cuff threads onto 1.25 in spiral hose and ends in a 2.25 in OD press fit for the vacuum tank. Read more: Hose cuffs and couplers: threads, slip ends and hose-to-hose joints, Hose cuffs, clamps and couplers

I

Ignition source: Anything that can start a fire or explosion, such as a spark, flame or hot surface. OSHA's woodworking guidance lists static electrical discharges among potential ignition sources in workplaces. Read more: Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover, Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims
Inlet cap: A cap that closes an unused opening on a multi-opening collector inlet. Harbor Freight's 59726 manual says to cap the unused inlet with the supplied inlet cap when only one inlet is in use. Read more: Dust-collector inlet sizes: 4 in inlets, inlet Ys and caps, Dust-collector hose
Inlet Y · also inlet Y-connector, inlet wye: A fitting on a collector's inlet that splits one opening into two. Grizzly's Shop Fox W1685 parts list shows a 6 in to two 4 in inlet Y (V2.12.01) and an earlier 5 x 4 x 4 inlet (V1), so the part depends on the machine's version. Read more: Dust-collector inlet sizes: 4 in inlets, inlet Ys and caps, Vacuum and collector inlet finder
Inside diameter (ID) · also ID, bore: The distance across the opening of a hose, pipe or port, measured inside the wall. Rockler advises measuring both the inside and outside diameter, because a port's outside diameter has to match the hose's inside diameter. Read more: How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter, Nominal vs actual dust hose sizes: why "2-1/2 in" does not mean 2.5 in

L

Left-hand spiral · also left-hand thread, left-hand hose: A hose whose wire or rib winds counterclockwise. Lee Valley says its left-hand bridge clamps fit only left-hand spiral hose, which you can identify when the wire spirals counterclockwise at an open end. Read more: Dust hose clamps: sizing by outside diameter and spiral direction, Choosing 4 in dust-collector hose
Locking hose end · also NXT, LockOn, locking adapter: A hose end that latches into the vacuum or accessory instead of relying on friction. Makers use their own names: RIDGID includes NXT locking adapters with its LA2522 hose, and Shop-Vac names LockOn tank inlets. Read more: Replacement shop-vac hoses: RIDGID, CRAFTSMAN and Shop-Vac by part number, Shop-vacuum hoses

M

Magnetic coupling · also magnetic fitting: A hose joint held by magnets so a hose can be pulled off one port and snapped onto another. Magport says its 4 in coupling needs more than one unit to work, and Infinity's MagSnap pairs a magnet port on the collector side with a ring port on the tool side. Read more: Magnetic dust fittings: Magport, MagFitt and MagSnap, Quick-connect systems
Maker claim · also manufacturer claim: A statement from a product's maker that no independent source in our register confirms. POWERTEC's copy for its 70147 adapter, for example, claims increased airflow and velocity but gives no test data, so this site reports it only as a maker claim. Read more: Dust hose length and diameter: what the evidence shows, Buying dust-collection fittings online: a checklist before you order
Male end · also spigot, male fitting: The end of a fitting that goes inside its mating part, so its outside diameter is the one that matters. A tool port that a hose slides over is a male end. Read more: Male, female and tapered dust fittings: which end goes inside, How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter
Mating surface · also mating diameter: The pair of surfaces that actually touch when two parts join: the outside of the male end and the inside of the female end. Rockler's advice to match a port's outside diameter to the hose's inside diameter is about these surfaces. Read more: How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter, Male, female and tapered dust fittings: which end goes inside
Maximum vacuum rating · also max vacuum: A hose maker's or seller's stated limit for how much vacuum a hose can take, often at a given temperature. McMaster-Carr lists one for each duct hose product in a 'Max. Vacuum @ Temp.' column. Read more: Choosing 4 in dust-collector hose, Dust-collector hose
Metric conversion · also inch to mm, inches to millimeters: Changing inches to millimeters by multiplying by 25.4, the exact value NIST gives for the inch. It is arithmetic only: a converted figure says nothing about whether two parts fit. Read more: 27, 32, 35 and 36 mm vacuum hoses: metric sizes are not one standard, Nominal vs actual dust hose sizes: why "2-1/2 in" does not mean 2.5 in
Mil · also thou: A thousandth of an inch, used for bucket wall thickness: 90 mil is 0.090 in. Oneida and Dustopper each advise a 90 mil or thicker bucket for their own separators. Read more: Why a separator bucket collapses, and which buckets the makers name

N

NFPA 660: NFPA's combustible-dust standard, which NFPA says combines its earlier standards NFPA 61, 484, 652, 654, 655 and 664. It is a standards document; it does not certify any product or home system. Read more: Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover
Nominal size · also nominal diameter, label size: The family name a maker gives a part, such as 4 in or 2-1/2 in, rather than a measured diameter. POWERTEC, for example, labels its 70135 gate outlet 'nominal 4-inch OD' and lists the actual size as a taper from 3-29/32 to 3-31/32 in. Read more: Nominal vs actual dust hose sizes: why "2-1/2 in" does not mean 2.5 in, How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter, Dust hose size finder
NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) · also Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory: An independent laboratory recognized by OSHA to test products to applicable safety standards, as Intertek defines it. On this site such marks come up only for identifying powered machines. Read more: Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover

O

Outside diameter (OD) · also OD: The distance across the outside of a hose, pipe or port, wall included. Rockler notes that a tool port's outside diameter has to match the inside diameter of the hose that goes over it. Read more: How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter, Dust hose clamps: sizing by outside diameter and spiral direction

P

Polyurethane hose · also PUR hose, PU hose: Hose made of polyurethane, sold mainly for industrial ducting. Masterduct says antistatic properties are standard on all its PUR hoses and describes one model, the SL-F-EC, as electrically conductive. Read more: Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims, Choosing 4 in dust-collector hose
Pressure drop: The loss of pressure as air passes through a hose, fitting, filter or separator. The EPA notes that high-efficiency cyclone designs that capture finer particles require a higher pressure drop. Read more: Dust hose length and diameter: what the evidence shows, Shop-vac cyclone or collector cyclone? Matching the separator to the machine

Q

Quick-connect · also quick connect system, click-connect: A system of matching hose ends and tool adapters that snap or click together so one hose moves between tools. Cen-Tec sells its Quick Click system as separate parts: a threaded hose fitting with click ring, a replacement click ring and soft TPE tool adapters. Read more: Quick-connect dust hose systems: Cen-Tec, Rockler and DEWALT AirLock, Quick-connect systems

R

Reducer · also reducing adapter: A fitting that joins two different sizes. Reducers differ in which end goes where: POWERTEC's 70136 fits hoses only, while its 70291 has a 4 in end that friction-fits inside a 4 in nominal OD machine port. Read more: 4 in to 2-1/2 in reducers: into a hose or onto a port?, Wyes, elbows and reducers

S

Schedule 40 PVC · also Sch 40: PVC pressure pipe made to ASTM D1785, which covers Schedules 40, 80 and 120. Charlotte Pipe describes its Schedule 40 pipe as Iron Pipe Size for pressure uses up to 140°F. Read more: Sewer-and-drain vs Schedule 40 PVC for dust collection, Duct fitting standards: hose fittings, S&D PVC, Schedule 40 and metal, Duct fitting standard finder
Self-cleaning slot · also self-cleaning groove: POWERTEC's description of an open slot in the back of its 70135 blast gate, there for self-cleaning, alongside a locking stop for gate alignment. It is the maker's design description; claims that a gate will never clog are unverified marketing. Read more: Blast gates: sizes, end types, metal vs plastic, Blast gates
Seller of record · also seller: The business that actually sells you an item and handles its return, which may not be the marketplace. Amazon's return policy says items shipped by third-party sellers go back to the seller rather than to Amazon. Read more: Buying dust-collection fittings online: a checklist before you order, Measuring and buying
Separator lid · also bucket lid separator, lid separator: A separator built into a lid that sits on a bucket or can. Dustopper says its PRO latches onto a standard 5-gallon bucket without drilling or tools, and Grizzly says its Shop Fox W1049 lid fits a standard 30-gallon metal can. Read more: Cyclone separator kits: what is in the box and what is not, Cyclone separators and lids
Sewer-and-drain PVC · also S&D, S&D pipe: Thin-walled PVC pipe for sewer and drain plumbing, made to ASTM D2729. Rockler says it does not connect directly to most dust fittings without an adapter. Read more: Sewer-and-drain vs Schedule 40 PVC for dust collection, Duct fitting standards: hose fittings, S&D PVC, Schedule 40 and metal, Duct fitting standard finder
Ships from / Sold by · also ships from and sold by: The two lines on an Amazon listing that name who ships an item and who sells it; they can be different businesses. A listing showing Amazon as the ships-from party, as B0CYN6KGVQ did when read, does not by itself say who sold it. Read more: Buying dust-collection fittings online: a checklist before you order, Measuring and buying
Shop vacuum · also wet/dry vac, shop vac: A portable wet/dry vacuum with a tank, used with smaller hoses on tools and for cleanup. Shop-Vac warns not to vacuum toxic, carcinogenic, combustible or other hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead or pesticides with its vacuums. Read more: Shop-vacuum hoses, Shop-vac hose sizes: 1-1/4 vs 1-7/8 vs 2-1/2 in, Wood dust, fire and static: what OSHA and NFPA say, and what we do not cover
Single-stage collector · also single-stage dust collector: A collector in which dust goes through the fan straight to the bag or filter, with no separator before it. Grizzly describes its G8027 as a single-stage bag collector, and Oneida markets its Super Dust Deputy 4/5 for 1/2 to 3 hp single-stage collectors. Read more: Dust-collector inlet sizes: 4 in inlets, inlet Ys and caps, Shop-vac cyclone or collector cyclone? Matching the separator to the machine
Sliding gate · also slide: The flat plate that slides across a blast gate's opening to close it. POWERTEC describes the 70135's as a steel sliding gate in a cast aluminum body. Read more: Blast gates: sizes, end types, metal vs plastic, Blast gates
Snap-lock pipe · also crimped duct, snap-lock duct: Sheet-metal duct whose seam snaps closed, usually with one crimped end that slides into the next piece. Oneida says its 6 in Super Dust Deputy models have ports sized for crimped ductwork fittings. Read more: Duct fitting standards: hose fittings, S&D PVC, Schedule 40 and metal, Duct fitting standard finder
Static pressure · also suction: The pressure difference a vacuum or collector can pull against a restricted inlet. Woodgears reports that hose choice mattered much less on the shop vac it tested, which had far higher static suction, than on the collectors it tested. Read more: Dust hose length and diameter: what the evidence shows
Static-dissipative · also dissipative, ESD: A maker's label for a material that lets static charge drain away. Cen-Tec calls its 1.25 in Quick Click hose static dissipative, while its catalog files some adapters under 'Conductive', so read each word as that maker's own term. Read more: Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims, Quick-connect dust hose systems: Cen-Tec, Rockler and DEWALT AirLock
Step adapter · also stepped adapter, multi-size adapter: An adapter with several diameters along its length, so one part can meet more than one port size. Cen-Tec lists an adjustable adapter, part 41851, with a stated range of 0.5 to 2.63 in; a stated range is not proof of fit for every port in it. Read more: Tool-port adapters, Sander dust port to shop-vac hose: maker routes for DEWALT and Bosch
Surface resistance: A figure, in ohms, for how easily charge moves across a material's surface; a lower figure means more conductive. Masterduct states 10^4 ohm or less for its SL-F-EC conductive hose. Read more: Anti-static, dissipative and conductive hose: reading the claims
Sweep elbow · also long-radius elbow: An elbow with a gradual, long-radius bend rather than a tight corner. Dustopper includes two sweep elbows with its PRO separator kit. Read more: Cyclone separator kits: what is in the box and what is not, Wyes, elbows and reducers

T

Tank adapter · also tank cuff, tank connector: A fitting that joins a hose end to a vacuum tank opening of a different size. Cen-Tec's 42324 ends in a 2.25 in OD press fit, its 41213 fits a 2.63 in opening, and its 62909 is made for Milwaukee FUEL vacs with a 2.5 in ID opening. Read more: Connecting a 1-1/4 in hose to a bigger shop-vac inlet, Hose cuffs and couplers: threads, slip ends and hose-to-hose joints
Tank inlet · also vacuum inlet, tank port: The opening on a vacuum's tank where the hose end plugs in. Makers often state hose fit by inlet size: Shop-Vac sells its 5430133 hose for wet/dry vacuums with a 1-7/8 in inlet. Read more: Shop-vac hose sizes: 1-1/4 vs 1-7/8 vs 2-1/2 in, Connecting a 1-1/4 in hose to a bigger shop-vac inlet
Taper · also tapered end, tapered fitting: An end whose diameter changes along its length so it can wedge into or over a small range of sizes. POWERTEC lists its 70291's 4 in end as tapering from 3.51 to 3.73 in and its 2-1/2 in end from 2.45 to 2.49 in. Read more: Male, female and tapered dust fittings: which end goes inside, 4 in to 2-1/2 in reducers: into a hose or onto a port?
Tolerance · also fit tolerance: How far a real part may differ from its listed size. No maker in our source register publishes a fit tolerance for a dust hose, port or fitting, so this site never states one. Read more: Nominal vs actual dust hose sizes: why "2-1/2 in" does not mean 2.5 in, How to measure a dust port: inside or outside diameter
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) · also thermoplastic elastomer, soft TPE: A soft, rubber-like plastic used for flexible tool adapters. Cen-Tec describes its Quick Click power tool adapters as soft TPE and rates its dissipative TPE adapters at 55 Shore hardness. Read more: Quick-connect dust hose systems: Cen-Tec, Rockler and DEWALT AirLock, Tool-port adapters
Two-stage system · also two-stage separator: A setup that drops heavier debris in a first stage, such as a separator lid on a can, before the air reaches the vacuum or collector. Grizzly says its Shop Fox W1049 lid fits a standard 30-gallon metal trash can and has molded inlets and outlets for 4 in flexible hose. Read more: Shop-vac cyclone or collector cyclone? Matching the separator to the machine, Cyclone separators and lids

V

Version code · also Grizzly version code: A code on a Grizzly or Shop Fox part listing that marks a design version. Grizzly says a code such as V2.01.17 means version 2, first used in January 2017, and its W1685 parts list shows different inlets for V1 and V2. Read more: Dust-collector inlet sizes: 4 in inlets, inlet Ys and caps, Vacuum and collector inlet finder

W

Wire helix · also wire-reinforced hose, spring wire: A spiral of wire in a hose wall that keeps the hose from collapsing and sets its spiral direction. Woodcraft's listing for the Dust Deputy Low-Pro Deluxe kit, for example, includes a 2 in by 3 ft wire-reinforced vacuum hose. Read more: Choosing 4 in dust-collector hose, Dust hose clamps: sizing by outside diameter and spiral direction
Worm-gear clamp · also worm-drive clamp, screw clamp: A slotted metal band tightened by a screw that engages the slots, sold by the range of diameters it can close around. Read more: Dust hose clamps: sizing by outside diameter and spiral direction, Hose cuffs, clamps and couplers
Wye · also Y-fitting, Y-connector: A Y-shaped fitting that joins a branch to a main at an angle. Grizzly's W1685 inlet Y, for example, splits a 6 in opening into two 4 in openings on the V2.12.01 part. Read more: A small-shop duct run: the parts list, one standard at a time, Wyes, elbows and reducers