Thread: 2-stage duct collection kit

knucklehead,

Reading on the Lee Valley website; about their cyclone lids, they indicate that a relief hole needs to be drilled if a shop vac is being used, to ensure that "the inflow of air must never be blocked" otherwise you can get stuff collapsing... maybe that is what the book is refering to.
If; however, like Wongo & Gumby you are using a 2hp DC, and not a shop vac, I don't think it will matter as much.

Wongo's use of a 2 stage separator is what I'm going to use with my new setup.
I'll be going one step further by using a second collection bin for my setup.
I got hold of 2 200ltr drums with airtight camlock lids for a grand total of $60.00. I'll be using 150mm plastic pipe to connect the 2 drums to the 3100CFM DC. This should make emptying the DC bags at least a tri-monthly occasion.

G'day wongo very innovative. A few questions 1. does the fact that you dont have the pipe to dc extend into the bin effect perfomance, in that the inlet/outlet points may be close enuff to effect cyclonic flow, and 2. does baffled sides of bin effect that cyclonic motion.

Originally Posted by Gumby

Thanks for the tip on this Wongo,

I went to Bunnings yesterday and bought some gear to make my pre-separator. I thought the 80L bin was solid enough to attempt putting the two pipe adaptors straight in, rather than on a piece of ply. It worked fine when sealed with some self adhesive sealing tape (also pictured). This tape is also on top of the bin under the lid. It's $9.95 for 3M and saves destroying the mouse pads

No probs with it looking like imploding - seems solid as a rock. My first few runs have resulted in virtually all the shavings in the bin. I sucked up some very fine dust which was in my smaller Triton cyclone bucket and virtually all that ended up in the bin as well. I love it

Hi Gumby,

I have a superfine Bunnies garbo bin as the 2nd stage for a while now; it's hooked up to a 2HP DC, and although the machinery inlet looks a bit like an oil refinery "Christmas Tree", with the various blast gates in place, it works fine. I just recently figured out that I was loosing a goodish amount of 'suction' because the lid on the bin wasn't sealing properly with the bin itself. Now fixed with some foam and three screws holding the lid down

See attached pic (sorry for the dust 'n poo!)

Cheers!
Steve B

Thanks Steve, mine seems OK with the tape but I might light a match near it and see if the smoke gets sucked in. Then I will re-seal if necessary.

Hi guys,

Been doing quite a bit on my dust collection system as well (having had my vacuum cleaner do its own impromptu smoke testing) I now have a 4" collector, and it seems to do a great job, but only when the tubing is full size. It seems to have pretty much no suction if I drop the hose diameter (something about low pressure, high volume air flow).

How do you deal with this? Sometimes you want to use a small diameter hose (such as from a router), and I am not intending on buying another vacuum.

I spent some time this afternoon trying to get the 4" to do below-table suction from the router table. The problem is, I still want easy access to the router itself...... I was getting some collection happening, but no where near what I want, and no where near 100% collection.

Originally Posted by stuart_lees

Hi guys,

How do you deal with this? Sometimes you want to use a small diameter hose (such as from a router), and I am not intending on buying another vacuum.

.

I don't. I have the 4" connected to a 2HP DC for the tablesaw and jointer. The vac is connected to the modified Triton bucket for hand held tools. I think it's best to have 2 separate systems requiring different types of airflow and air speed. Thes second unit is handy for portability as well. i've had it inside sanding bench tops and taken it to a mates place for his. Can't do that with a 4" 2 HP DC

Not happy Jan.

BTW - what do you do regarding static electricity buildup?

Originally Posted by stuart_lees

Not happy Jan.

BTW - what do you do regarding static electricity buildup?

Nuthin' ....

remember this ???

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ghlight=zapped

Agree with Gumby, I personally think that the whole myth about static build-up and attendant explosion hazard is just that - a myth, at least in amateur shops.

Cheers!
Steve B

Mythbusters did a section on Static and PVC - BUSTED! Gumby, you may have got a little belt, not the ampherage required to cause major probs, just a gentle reminder to earth the blessed thing and yourself.

Dunno about the risk of explosion, but I've had enough static electricity belts from the cyclone unit not to want to repeat the experience voluntarily! (ok, so it took a few times for me to remember to keep clear of the unit, that is until I got around to earthing it!)

Hi Guys,
Excuse my ignorance, but what is the purpose of this modification? is it to only stop bits going through the impeller?

Does it improve the suction achieved?. I have only a 1 hp dust extractor, is there any point of this mod for a 1 hp?.

I have seen a bit about the cyclone mod. How come no one makes these commerically?

cheers

RB

Originally Posted by Redback

what is the purpose of this modification? is it to only stop bits going through the impeller?

It is easier to empty the bin and I can do more often. My 2hp DC does lose a little bit of suction but not enough to worry me.