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Dust Collectors Suck

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Howard Eisenhauer, Apr 18, 2021.

  1. Apr 18, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    I picked up a used dust collector a few years ago after a major project involving the table saw literally filled the garage with sawdust. Whoever named these things was an out & out liar :( They collect sawdust just fine but the dust...

    Not so much :(



    The garage gets dusty on it's own just fine (dust) without blowing the stuff around all over the place. :steamed: I tried a Thien Disk as the original design swirled the air right down into the bag stirring everything up; it does a fantastic job- the sawdust literally just drops straight down into the bag now but the dust dust still goes up & right through. :(

    sm_dc_ducting_20210402_120717.jpg


    So when hepa filters went on sale not too long ago I grabbed one-

    sm_hepa_20210402_115900.jpg

    Business end- the flappers are attached to a handle on top so that every so often you can rotate them to knock the dust loose & down into the bag.

    sm_hepa_20210402_121150.jpg

    Not actually designed for my machine, instead of slipping inside it just kinda sat on top so in the best traditions of custom engineering design I duct taped them together. :)

    sm_hepa_20210402_121817.jpg

    I had a couple of nice shiny bands so I slapped them on to make it look Purdy :)

    sm_hepa_20210402_124737.jpg

    From 10' away it almost looks like it's supposed to be that way. :D

    sm_hepa_20210402_121346.jpg

    No more dust :bananatool:



    Except...

    It came with about 10' of 4" spiral hose to connect it up. All I ever used it for was the table saw but being able to use it for other things would be nice so I endeavored to set things up to facilitate this. There's lots of do's & don't's on the web about running a dust collection system- the only thing they seem to agree on is the spiral hose sucks. :(

    Because it doesn't suck. At least it doesn't suck well. So it sucks bad.


    Right off the start I found something interesting- the stock hose connector also sucks. :(

    Because it doesn't suck. At least it doesn't suck well. So it sucks bad.

    Watch the hose expand up when the port adapter connector gets pulled off-



    It really doesn't come across in the video but the difference in air flow into the filter/bag is astounding with the blower port open.

    Possibly it would be better with the second cap removed but frankly for this class of machine you'll hardly ever see them running more than on saw at a time. I replaced the stock sucker setup with a 5" floor vent-

    Inlet_1.jpg

    It's canted at a slight angle. Officially this is a forward thinking feature to allow access to the top right retention screw. Any rumours you may hear that it's because I drew the center line to the wrong mark is a vicious lie. :susp:

    sm_dc_ducting_20210403_171120.jpg



    sm_dc_ducting_20210403_171141.jpg

    I used 4" sewage pipe running aluminum tape inside everything to take care of static buildup, I don't believe that it causes explosions in a home shop environment but getting zapped is damned annoying. :shock:

    I must say that even with 15' or so of pipes the air flow is far better than the stock adapter & hose, it's really like there's nothing connected at all.

    That's it for now, I'll extend the duct pipes & add gates when time availability & necessity determines it's time to do so. :)
     

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    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
  2. Apr 18, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Did you need to take precautions (grounding) against static sparks in the ducting?
     
  3. Apr 18, 2021
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    Saw ‘dust’ not dust dust

    :lol:
     
  4. Apr 18, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Yes- aluminum tape inside the pipes, you can see some of it in the tee in the last pic.
     
  5. Apr 19, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Ooops, re-read your post and saw you mentioned that already. I'm awake now.
     
  6. Apr 19, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Good job with the upgrades. I have a similar dust collector, and my solution was to completely do away with the filter and route the exhaust out the window. After building the thein baffle, there's so little dust that makes it past the bin that it's negligible.

    With the stock bag, it collects the chips, but blows the dangerous dust into the air. Great work fixing that flaw!
     
  7. Apr 19, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Do you feel there is any noticeable energy loss from the shop? (heating/cooling)
     
  8. Apr 19, 2021
    Snoops

    Snoops Making progress, slow but at least it's forward! 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Very fancy!
     
  9. Apr 19, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    the wood shop at school has a really nice collection system, guess i got used to a luxurious life.
     
  10. Apr 19, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    That would be a good idea except

    1- The neighbours

    2- Air going out has to be replaced by air coming in, bit of a downer in the winter :(
     
  11. Apr 19, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Just add a second fan to blow snow in?

    :)
     
  12. Apr 19, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    We don't have the neighbor problem, but as far as air replacement: my dad has the same setup in NH, and in the winter it does pull in a bit of cold air. But, we don't run the power tools for too too long, so it's still tolerable. One of those remote start buttons helps with keeping it running all the time

    Another option is to build out a closet for the dust collector where it has its own intake and exhaust :bananatool:
     
  13. Apr 19, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    I don't notice it here in Virginia, but in my dad's shop in southern NH, if we run the dust collection for too long, the temp does drop, but in a shop that stays between 40-50 degrees in the winter, what's 5 degrees here and there. Cold/colder.

    If we had a woodstove down there, we would probably have an excess of heat where the cool air would be a blessing!
     
  14. Apr 19, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Yup, I have a current sensing relay setup that turns the collector on when the saw is running; you can see it on the wall in the last pic. You can buy these commercially but I rolled my own.
     
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