Thread: Improving my dust collection using the Dust Commander (1/3rd price o fDust Deputy

Watched this youtube vid on how to convert your Triton Dust bucket into a cyclone using 15ltr paint tin lids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqHmwiykabw

Found this guy with Dust Commanders and asked for a combined shipping price for 3 @ $60 each
DUST COMMANDER DLX ESD - High performance cyclone filter element/dust collector | eBay

I was expecting to pay about $200

He quoted:
3 x DUST COMMANDER DLX for the price of $100 AU
Plus unRegistered shipping of $27 AU
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TOTAL of $127 AU
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I confirmed a number of times and found no reason NOT to order so ordered.

I successfully found a professional painter willing to give me 3 15 ltr recently used paint tins with the hinged sealing clamps.


This is what I got from Dust Commander (including a gasket and some screws and washers:
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Leaving the lid on the paint can is easer to work with:
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Using a ruler I just found the widest distance across.
Makerd around the centre
moving 90% did it again.
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Using one of those gold plated drill bits I drilled the centre hole
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Found my 3" / 76mm hole saw and used it to mark the circle
Otherwise a 3" metal hole saw is about $70 with arbor.
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2 thin metal cutting jigsaw blades for $13
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MUST WEAR SAFETY GOGGLE HERE!
I got hit in the goggles with flying metal bits a dozen times.


Very nice arch to start with
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finished hole - doesn't need to be prefect
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find off the sharp edges now so wont be cut in the future
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No pic here of lining up the template for the screw holes on the bottom of the lid facing up.
Taped across the hole to hold the template in place.
Turned the lid over and drilled the screw holes.


Testing the fit.
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Making sure the gasket is in place
I was going to replace the gasket with something more substantial.
But decided to see how making the minimal effort would turn out.
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No pics here of lining up the lid holes with the dust commander holes.
Power drilling the screws in loosely unit all 4 are in.
Then tightening all four and checking for any gaps.



Successfully fitted the paint lid to the triton bucket
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Got lucky and found in my stash a PCV angle reducer
40mm x 42°
Got 6 more to use on the three dust commanders and saved this one.
Got them from Tait Timber Home Harware.
Couldn't be bothered going to Bunnings again.
Masters sold out long ago.
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Wrapping the fat end with electrical tape 3 times ( not 2 - not 4 )
was a perfectly snug fit in either of the portals.
(1 gaffer tape wraps was too loose. 2 gaffer tape wraps was too tight.)
And the Triton dust hose was a perfect fit the the skinny end.
Told you I got luck. That never ever happens.
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Pic of the Triton Dust Bucket before replacing it.
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The Dust Commander on top of the Triton Dust bucket would just NOT fit.
So decided to try the paint bucket instead.
Lucky again. I don't know what's going on!
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For the life of me, I can't remember why I decided to move to the Triton bucket with the paint lid.
Using the paint buckets, I now have 3 SPARE Triton Dust Collection Buckets.
And no paint buckets to throw out.
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I have to say the without the vacuum cleaner bags in the vacuums,
AND without the Triton Dust Bucket filter,
the pressure I'm getting thru the Dust Commander is amazing!

Almost forgot to mention:
While testing with the Triton dust bucket,
I held my had over the hose novel cutting off the air intake,
and the Triton bucket buckled.
Removed the my hand and the bucket expanded back into place.

The Dust Commander on top of the paint tin is top heavy.
will have to make a holder on wheels like on Pinterest teaching for cyclone.
So many plans.

Really happy with the outcome.

Going to stop for the day and bask and revel in the good luck I had building all three successfully.

hth