One thing a lot of people overlook when cutting plastic records is room humidity. Humidity makes a huge difference in how well the swarf gets removed. If the room’s too dry, the swarf builds up static, and that’s when it starts clinging to the blank instead of flowing cleanly into the vacuum tube.
The sweet spot for cutting room humidity is generally 40–55% relative humidity. Below about 30% and static becomes a nightmare. Push it past 60% and you’re dealing with a different set of problems (moisture and mechanical parts...). Holding the room steady around 45–50% usually gives the cleanest swarf removal and the least amount of hassle.
So if you’re struggling with swarf sticking or flying everywhere, don’t just look at your vacuum system or tubing. Check the air in your room too, a cheap meter costs £20 and can give you humidity readings and can save you a lot of hassle. If you are fairly dry, stay clear of Ionisers, they can be lung irritants. Back when we lived in Bulgaria, the winters were really dry and my fix was really simple, I’d have hot drinks while cutting and the bit of steam rising off them was enough to stop my issues. Each room is different, but get a meter and keep an eye on it.