Dust extraction???

[routermaniac]

Hey everyone, quick question...

Has anyone made a dust extraction unit from a common garden variety blower vac??? The idea hit me when I was cleaning up the other day... the suction is better than what my elctrolux can manage on the triton dust collector and given the diameter of most garden blower vacs it should be able to take 100mm fittings (adapted of course).

In addition no need to stuff around with an extra bucket as these vacs come with their own bags. The only downside if that they tend to be loud.

Anyway, may give it a go over the next few weeks... if it works it will be a cheap system. :D

[vsquizz]

My first question would be is the blower vac motor continuously rated?. Second one would be does it have enough guts to do what you need. Third one would be if yes to both above, what are waiting for??. Fourth..Where's the pickies??

I doubt that you will find the blower vac suitable for anything more than intermittent use and I would have some concerns about the motor overheating or otherwise being safe to use in a ducted setup. I know people who use them to fire up kilns etc so so if you thought of it I suppose someone else will have too.

You can but look into it..just don't stick your fingers into it.:D

Cheers

[scooter]

Have seen someone on the net somewhere who used a Homelite unit for this purpose, limited info available. Worth a shot, as mentioned longevity and noise may be issues but suck it and see :)

I have a couple of old driers around & I am chewing over the idea of using the belt driven fan in one for dust extraction through my cyclone. Should be nice and quiet, just unsure as to how effective the suction may be - may need to muck about with the pulleys to gear it up.

Cheers.........Sean

[Alastair]

I saw an article a couple of years ago. The unit used was the "old" type, where the conversion from blower to vac involved taking the nozzle off the machine, and replacing with a vac bag and large tube. GMC have a unit like this at Bunnings, for less than $100. Briefly the design involved taking a drum, (cardboard/ plastic) of around 100litres, preferably with a clip on lid. Make a hole in lid to match the 'upsuck pipe' of the vac, and add some draught strip to seal around. Add a tangential entry pipe near the top of the drum, to which the ducting is connected. To set up, start with the unit held so that the inlet pipe (~100mm dia) of the unit is just inserted in the hole in the top of the drum. Vacuum up sawdust, and observe outlet. Lower further into the drum, and repeat. When the dust emitted at the outlet is reduced to a minimum, note the length inserted, and cut off to this length, allowing the blower unit to sit on top of drum.

I have long been tempted to try this, but the blower is a noisy bugger, and as my workshop is under the kids bedroom, the idea was banned.

I have no idea how efficient it can be made for fine dust, as it is operated solely by crude cyclonic action, and there is no filtration. Should be OK at handling the coarser dusts and shavings.

The blower motor (mine at least) seems to be rated to run continuously in unrestricted mode, when the motor load is at its greatest. When connected to ducting, this load should be reduced. As the unit also cools itself with the same airflow, however, there could be problems with overheating if the airflow is too restricted, as with the HH vac.

[GCP310]

I think your going to become good friends with your neighbours shortly.

http://www.ubeaut.biz/argue.gif - http://www.ubeaut.biz/boxing.gif - http://www.ubeaut.biz/smileyaxe.gif

:D

G

[routermaniac]

Thanks for the input guys.

Had a go today at putting it all together... it works but it isnt any better than my electrolux connected to the triton dust bag, despite that the electrolux pulls 1200w and the blower 1800w... I think I might bite the bullet and eventually buy a DC, the only pain will be adjusting all my bits and pieces to fit 100mm and I gather from what everybody is saying a simple reducer is out of the question.

At the moment I have my scroll saw, drill press, router table and triton bench all connected to triton type hoses (home made extraction for the scross saw and drill press :D ).

Oh well sounds like another summer project coming up...

[CHJ]

Thanks for the input guys.

Oh well sounds like another summer project coming up...Try searching arround the "industrial" sector of the Dust/Shavings collection manufactures in your part of the world.
In the UK companies such as http://www.camvac.co.uk/ (see Accessories> Pt No.CVA 100-50-102)
This is flexible plastic and makes adapting hose sizes easier.(about £5.50 UK)
Not cheap but saves lots of agro. You may find similar.

Edit: If you are new to woodworking in confined spaces (i.e.Workshop) then do a search on this forum for Dust, hazards before you embark on a homemade system.

[Alastair]

Found the article I remembered. http://members.aol.com/Alamaral/DC.html

Also look at the threads on DC and cyclones in the "Best of the Best" forum on this site.

Alastair

[routermaniac]

thanks alastair

:D