Thread: Dust Extraction for Drum Sander

Originally Posted by Putty

Hi Woodies,
I'm purchasing a Carbatec WDS-630C Wide Drum Sander in the near future and I understand that unlike table saws, routers, thicknessers and other toys the dust generated by sanders is not optimally collected by traditional HVLP extractors.

I don't know where you get this idea from, HVLP is the only way to collect enough dust from these machines. The problem is most folks try to use too small a HVLP extractor on these machines and the machines don't have large enough ports to accomodate the larger extractors.

I also understand you can buy 1 micron filter cartridges to fit said HVLP extractors. My question is should I purchase a 1200cfm single bag extractor with a 1 micron filter cartridge or is there a better way of keeping the drum sander running at optimal levels?

1200 CFM is indeed a admirable aim and should be enough for that machine.

It's not possible for a single bag extractor to extract 1200 CFM of air. Virtually all manufacturers data on air flow is inflated by about a factor of 2. By that extractor I assume you mean a generic 2HP DC of similar? However, in stock form they only draw about 575 CFM.

You will need at leat a 3HP DC and 6" ducting all the way between the extractor and machine and the ports opened up on the machine to 6" to be able draw 1200 CFM though that DC. If you don'r locate (or house and vent) any DC outside you will be largely defeating having a DC in the first place - will you be able to do this?

A Cartridge fiter
- increases air flow rates and hence dust extraction by around 10% provided everything else above is undertaken.
- increases the time between filter clean ups although with cartridge filters you should routinely sweep their paddles before every major job.
- the 1 micron thing is neither here nor there as the majority of the filtration is done by the fine sawdust layer inside the filter - it sort of filters itself.
The main reason for getting a cartridge is the second point above.