Thread: Microclene filters

I'm assuming if you are thinking about the microclene system you already have a dust collector and are looking at something to scrub the air?

If not, the microclene system will not help that much, in fact it will become quickly clogged and not do anything about the dust that falls all over your car. The dust needs to be removed as close to the source as possible because once it escapes the tool a lot of it will fall before the microclene will pick it up. So the first thing to get is a good shop vac or a dust collector that you can plug your tools into.

Most DCs and many vacuum cleaners using standard filters pick up the shavings but just distribute the fine dust all over the place. In particular the fine dust you cannot see just gets circulated over and over again through these systems. The microclene type system will help this but a cheaper solution is to locate your DC outside your shed or shop.

I'm not sure how popular those air scrubber systems are for home use but a few months ago I tried to give away 6 large units that were being removed from our old clean air chem labs at work and got no interest from any WWF WA folk. In the end I took one and the other 5 ended up in the dumpster! I'm not sure I am even going to bother installing mine as I have my DC outside my shed and the best way to get rid of dust suspended in the air inside my shed is to just run my DC for 10 minutes. The fine dust ends up coating the garden and the rain and sprinklers wash it off the foliage and into the soil.

Bob L
No at the moment do not have a thing for dust collection,I just go mad vacuuming everything in sight after session in garage giving me the sh 1t ss.Any suggestions where to start,wouldn't like to vent any exhaust over next door neighbour as he is quite close only 1.5 metres away form my garage.:confused:

My neighbor is also 1.5m away from the external DC. My DC is enclosed in corrugated polycarbonate sheet enclosure (see picture about half way through thread, http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=29475) Nearly six months use and now complaints so far.

I thought that having the enclosure made of clear plastic would mean that it would be coated on the inside with fine dust in no time but the only dust you see, is on the ground around the DC enclosure which the rain and sprinklers washes into the soil. You don't see much or any dust in the air while the DC is working as it is too dispersed.

Even after all this I still have a dusty shed.
In terms of effectiveness I would rate my dust collection from best to worst as follows.
1) Best of all is the jointer, the DC connection captures all the shavings and the vast majority of the dust. There is very little dust escaping even around the jointer, even after extensive use. I don't feel the need to use a dust mask when I use this machine.
2) Next would be the belt and RO Sanders and the electric hand plane. I connect these direct to the DC. The dust from these only really shows up around the shed after very extensive (hours of ) use and it is only the very fine stuff and it goes all over the shed. I wear a dust mask when using these if I am using them for more than 15 or 20 minutes.
3) Next would be the Drill Press, It does not usually make that much dust but scatters chips all over the floor. I don't usually wear a dust mask when using this device.
4) My table saw connection to the DC captures the chips but does not really capture the fine dust very well and much of it ends up all over the shed. I usually wear a dust mask if I am cutting MDF but only wear a dust mask with other timber if I am doing extensive resawing or lots of continuous cutting.
5) Then the router in the router table. Despite a DC port built into the fence I cut a lot of blind slots and have no catching cabinet underneath and it just flicks the stuff all over the floor. Definitely a dust mask is needed.
6) Finally the router in the router mill I made generates huge amounts of dust that I cannot capture very well and the stuff is sprayed all over the place. I wear a dust mask and have 3 x 100 mm dust ports running at the same time to keep the dust levels in the air down but everything in the shed and I are just showered in the stuff after using it for about 30 minutes.

For other power tools (eg jigsaw or portable drill) and even hand tools like planes, I usually leave a 100 mm open port running right near where I am working.

After I finish using all tools I usually leave the DC running for 10 -15 minutes to clear the shed air. Continusing to work for the full 2 days over the weekend when my DC was out of action I had a good half cm of dust over everything by Sunday night. With the DC working I usually have a very fine coating all over the shed and about a mm on the floor to clean up on Sunday nights. The Router mill alone will generate this in about one hour. I will need to sort some proper dust control for that thin.

Hi Coastie,
I use the Microclene 1200 model in my shop but i use DC's with tools and machines also. As already stated these are not DC's
The Microclene will pull in most of the airborne dust extremely well but you must leave it running before , during and after each session in the shop.
They are good but I suggest a bit noisey and there are much quieter filter systems around. Also, make sure you have a few replacement filter as they gather a lot of dust, quickly. The filters are washable and re-useable though.
Just looking at the filter now and again makes me thankfull I have the Microclene!! Look at the workshop tour and you will see:eek:
beejay1

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos9

From what is available looks like I might go with the Jet ts1000b as an air filter plus small (say 1hp) dust collector,so could get both units for price of Microclene.As I only have belt and disc sander plus Triton at the moment that would probably handle all the dust I'm likely to create.Now how do I hook up ducting etc.The sander already has two outlets (1 for face plate 1 for belt) Have Triton dust collection system(pretty inadequate).Any suggestions please.