Thread: GMC Shopvac

I noticed that too, was thinking of wrapping it up in an old pillow case to knock off the bigger stuff/

Originally Posted by Iain

For tools (sander) I run the vac through the Triton dust bucket.

The modified version i hope

I use this el cheapo collector between the shop vac and the tool. Based loosely on the principle that the air flow is much slower in the bigger vessel than the tubes, and in slower flow the dust settles out. With a tangential feed, the flow is (theoretically) smoother and the dust settles quicker. Five dollar bucket, PVC elbow, PVC bushing, some solvent cement, and presto.

I think it gets 90 - 95% of the dust in the bin instead of the shop vac, maybe more, and I only clean out the filter a couple of times a year.

Tex

Originally Posted by Tex B

I use this el cheapo collector between the shop vac and the tool. Based loosely on the principle that the air flow is much slower in the bigger vessel than the tubes, and in slower flow the dust settles out. With a tangential feed, the flow is (theoretically) smoother and the dust settles quicker. Five dollar bucket, PVC elbow, PVC bushing, some solvent cement, and presto.

I think it gets 90 - 95% of the dust in the bin instead of the shop vac, maybe more, and I only clean out the filter a couple of times a year.

Tex

I've got a few drums laying around, might try some experiments on a new mid stream catcher. the triton filter fouls up quickly too with the fine dust.
Might try to get a swirling effect by bastardising the Donaldson air cleaner design, and try to keep it pointing downwards.

Originally Posted by Iain

I've got a few drums laying around, might try some experiments on a new mid stream catcher. the triton filter fouls up quickly too with the fine dust.
Might try to get a swirling effect by bastardising the Donaldson air cleaner design, and try to keep it pointing downwards.

If you've already got a Triton bin, just modify that as per the 'Sturdee' cyclone mod. Works a treat and no need for any other bucket in between.

Tex B, have a look at this mod. Your's is close but could be improved.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...triton+cyclone

Reckon anything that slows the air flow between tool and vac will remove most of the dust. If I only have to clean the vac filter once a year, that's good enough for me, though I'm sure there's always room for improvement. The slower the airflow, the finer the dust that will precipitate. You could use a 44 gallon drum, make it airtight, put an inverted cone on the top, etc etc, just depends how much time and $$ you want to spend on it, and how much space you have.


Tex

Iain, the yanks rave about the Cleanstream filters they can get for their shopvacs, made of goretex apparently which any accumulated dust just falls off. Sounds good.

Available here? Prob not. May be able to make up a sock to cover the paper filter as a pre filter, something slippery but antistatic.

Get the missus going on the sewing machine.... if she's talking to you yet


Cheers...............Sean

Tex B - the drum would work better (I believe) if the inlet with a slightly longer pipe inside than the outlet pipe are both in the lid of the canister (bucket). Certainly save a lot of frustration in having to empty the vac with very little in the can because the filter is blocked.:mad:

Break,

The inlet is about halfway up the bucket. It's based on a design (patent expired about a year ago, but pretty sure i didn't violate the patent anyway) for removing solids from water. the theory is that a tangential flow introduced mid height moves the flow immediatly into a slow controlled motion. the outflow in the middle of the lid is part of the flow control. The less turbulence, the slower the airflow. The slower the airflow, the smaller the particles that precipitate. seems to me blowing it down from the top and sucking it out the top is a recipe for turbulence. However, probably the real value is just having a large enclosed vessel between tool and vac, and the slower airflow removes most of the dust.

I empty this bucket about once for every major project, and once for every six or seven small jobs. However, I do not have a thicknesser or joiner, don't do heavy planing, and etc. Just sawing, drilling, and routing.

I'm sure there are better methods than this out there, but for the money I am very happy with the results. To be fair, I have not tried a Triton style bin so don't have a comparison.

If I get bigger machines and bigger dust collector, I may try your suggestion of a longer tube from the top. Sounds logical, maybe you could achieve the same thing. If you try it, let me know how it works.

Tex

Why dont you guys with paper filters simply buy cloth filters......or a decent vacuum cleaner that takes them.

Alternatively, visit a cleaning supplies store or Godfreys, and see what vacs are on offer.....most of the vacs used by commercial cleaners use cloth filters and cloth bags.

As far as the triton dust bucket goes.....i havent had a problem, but that is probably thanks to my "secret weapon".

Its called a bannister brush!

Cheers
Steve

Back to the original point, I bought the vac as it is a switched unit and I only intend using it for my Rotex, I have a Triton bucket but then there are a lot of hoses to fall over.
I also have a DC but that is an overkill for just a sander.
I may try to modify the bucket and I will investigate a sock for the filter as well.
A bit dubious about goretex as that is a material applied on material that has extremely fine pores, allows breathing whilst remaining waterproof, I imagine that this would require a very large surface area to allow for the airflow required.

Iain
is the problem that the filter bag fills too quickly, or that the pores in the filter bag become clogged well before the bag is ful and the vac doesn't suck anymore?


ian

Pantyhose. Or a sock-stocking thingummy doodad.

Originally Posted by Iain

A bit dubious about goretex as that is a material applied on material that has extremely fine pores, allows breathing whilst remaining waterproof, I imagine that this would require a very large surface area to allow for the airflow required.

Yeah, the Cleanstream ones I mentioned are pleated like a paper one for more surface area.

Wot I was saying in the second para would be the go I reckon, maybe satin (shorten yer nighty ) or something equally fine sewn up as a sock prefilter, spray it with antistatic spray or a dilute fabric softener solution so static wouldn't make dust cling to it.


Cheers...............Sean, nighty night