Thread: Hafco DCC-310 - Dust Collector & Cyclone Separator modification upgrade?

Welcome to the forum Stephen.

It looks like you can remove the 100mm hose and adaptor from both the impeller and the cyclone to put on a larger one, preferably shorter or even better a solid pipe. Looks like you can also do the same on the cyclone inlet.

It isn't a choice I would have made as it is marginal in size but without knowing what your budget is, shop size, tools you have and plan to get, shop size and whether you are rural or have close neighbours it's hard to suggest what would be good for you.

Pete

It won't make much difference putting a 125 or 150mm pipe in that position as the flex between the impeller and filter housing will still ultimately constrict the flow.
The other thing that will constrict overall flow is that cyclone.
It's an old design and was not specifically designed for that DC - I don't think that cyclone was designed for any specific impeller.
ALL cyclones restrict flow and DCs and cyclones have to be aerodynamically matched to the impellers intended to drive them or they end up restricting flow rates.

You may have been better off getting a larger DC and locating it outside the shed

The inlet to the DC-3 and the hose connecting the blower to the collection bag/filter is only 125mm so there'd be no point in using a connection bigger than 125mm between the cyclone and the DC-3. An upgrade from 100mm to 125mm would make a significant difference to the airflow, provided you're also intending to use 125mm hose between the dust making machine and the cyclone.

Guys, the OP has asked a simple question, he already owns the machine, he's not looking for advice on what he should buy, there's really little point in banging on about what's wrong with what he has or what he should have bought. He's trying to make the best of what he has.

There's a 'sticky' in the Dust Extraction sub-forum titled 'The Generic 2HP DC' Wanderanwills that you might find useful if you want to optimise your DC-3 over time.

Originally Posted by aldav

Guys, the OP has asked a simple question, he already owns the machine, he's not looking for advice on what he should buy, there's really little point in banging on about what's wrong with what he has or what he should have bought. He's trying to make the best of what he has.

The best flow rate will be without the cyclone.

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

Welcome to the forum Stephen.

It looks like you can remove the 100mm hose and adaptor from both the impeller and the cyclone to put on a larger one, preferably shorter or even better a solid pipe. Looks like you can also do the same on the cyclone inlet.

It isn't a choice I would have made as it is marginal in size but without knowing what your budget is, shop size, tools you have and plan to get, shop size and whether you are rural or have close neighbours it shard to suggest what would be good for you.

Pete

Thank you for the information, i have purchased the DC unit and it is still in transit.
I am in the process of building a shed which is 7.5m x 4.4m, I am a beginner but like the challenge of building and making.
Tools i have are drop saw, table top drill press, contractors table saw, router table plus hand power tools. I have a small spindle sander in transit as well. I live in town so cannot extract air straight outside. Tools that I have budgeted for to purchase once the shed is completed, a 14 inch bandsaw, combination jointer thicknesser, disc/belt sander. I thought that i better start with what I thought as good dust collection.

Regards
Stephen

Hi BobL,
If i change the flex to a solid pvc duct (change out flex), surely that will help, in reading a flow chart in the forum it looks like 125mm pipe carries nearly double the air flow of 100mm? From what I see you are the Guru on this subject.

I know the cyclone will restrict flow but capturing 99% of dust and chip before it goes through the impeller and clog the filter canister seems like a good compromise??

Regards
Stephen

Hi Aldav,
Cheers, thank you for clarifying. Yes advice on what i can do to get the best out of what I have got.
I thought i was buying a 100 series landcruiser of dust collection but looks like it is a Hilux, could not afford the 200 series, and better than Toyota RAV. haha
The industry needs to be honest with buyers, if they state 1200cfm, you would a least expect some good performance. In reading it looks like it will be more like under 400cfm!! and i have not even connected it to any tools!!

Thanks for the sticky link, have already started reading through..

Regards
Stephen

Hi BobL,

It seems to be a industry standard that dust extractor outlets are 100mm, sales rooms are full of 100mm outlets and multiples on dust collectors. I did not know they where available in larger sizes except for industrial purposes. Why are they selling them if they are no where close to adequate for dust control?
What is your ultimate system and secondly what is your best system for the average garage/workshop (which is a double garage).
I am just trying to get my head around the balance of sufficient dust collection, what is practical in real world and is not outrageous costly. I am sure there are lots of others trying to get that balance.

Your experience and feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Stephen

Hi Wander.

I bought the same cyclone for my 3hp dc but it seems to choke the dc that i have so I ended up using the dust drum and made a Bill Pentz cyclone for my dc, I vent it though the brick wall using NO filter.
I am not sure if 3hp+cyclone and NO filter works because I don't have proper equipments to test.

Originally Posted by Wanderanwills

I know the cyclone will restrict flow but capturing 99% of dust and chip before it goes through the impeller and clog the filter canister seems like a good compromise??

The most important thing for an operator's health is to make sure as much as possible of the fine (ie invisible) dust is collected at the source of the dust making activity before that dust escapes into your shed where it becomes near impossible to clean up. The greater the flow the more fine dust will be collected at source.

Remember whether the filter gets clogged afterwards is irrelevant if insufficient fine dust was never collected in the first place. This is a common problem with cyclones with folks that use them impressed by how little fine dust they see in their collector bags, But given somewhere between 95 - 99% of wood dust is visible and doesn't hurt you, its the 5 - 1% of the dust that is invisible that causes most health problems. These easily get through cyclones and even filters which is which I recommend venting DCs outside a shed.

You can easily vent the air coming away from this DC outside your shed - remember the dust that comes away from it will be invisible to your neighbours. For DIY users of 2HP systems setups like yours sheds you can continue to use the 2HP DC to collect chips and then I advocate ventilation (exhaust fans) as a way of addressing fine dust problems.

Hi Hoey,
Good points, I will look up the Bill Pentz as well. Thank you

Hi BobL,

Very good point, I will look at options to exhaust outside, thank you again.

Originally Posted by Wanderanwills

Hi Aldav,
Cheers, thank you for clarifying. Yes advice on what i can do to get the best out of what I have got.
I thought i was buying a 100 series landcruiser of dust collection but looks like it is a Hilux, could not afford the 200 series, and better than Toyota RAV. haha
The industry needs to be honest with buyers, if they state 1200cfm, you would a least expect some good performance. In reading it looks like it will be more like under 400cfm!! and i have not even connected it to any tools!!

Thanks for the sticky link, have already started reading through..

Regards
Stephen

The industry would argue that they are honest. They use machine port sizing based on airflow standards from many many decades ago from before the fine dust was understood. Their CFM ratings are based on an industry standard for just the impeller measured in the middle of the inlet, not the way it will be used. Marketing. Sellers of the systems will answer your needs. If you tell them you have a budget of $$ they will have just the thing for you. Tell them it is $$$$ and the same thing happens with a bigger machine. Ask them what you need and they will show you a DC that matches the ports on the machine and back it up with the "recommended" data. Tell them what you want and if they don't have it they will try to convince you you are mistaken and try to sell you something that they have. They are salesmen after all. They are all doing their part to "help you" but it doesn't always reflect the realities of what is needed because they are rooted in that old thinking.

Pete