2hp dusty worth modifying or not?

**elver** · 17th June 2020, 09:38 PM

All,

Some of you might have seen my issue with sanding dust.. At the same time as solving that problem I want to fix my dust from other machines (bandsaw, jointer, thicknesser and tablesaw).
Some details:

I only run 1 machine at a time.
I'm on single phase. Several 15a circuits though.
I can vent outside into a paddock, chips and dust all into a pile without recirculating into the shed.
I can get all my machinery in a single run of 7m with some side runs and short flexy for rarely used things like the jointer.
I can (initially have planned to) to make timber duct for the main run. It will be incorporated into the back of a storage bench.
I plan 150mm ducts to each machine. No more 100mm silly business if I can avoid it.
My 2hp dusty has a 300mm impeller and a rounded 135mm exit pipe. I plan to open up the inlet side with a 150 mm entry and open up the exit side as far as I can to get it close to a 150 mm exit hole. It will exit into a 150mm PVC pipe with a single straight run.
I plan to mount the dusty blower without a bag for collection and without a filter - just pump the dust out a pipe about 4m long into the long grass to a compost pile.

So the question: Is it worth modifying my old 2HP dusty (image below) as per the mod thread, if its got an round exit pipe of 5" only? Or should I just spend the $550 and buy a 3hp machine? Will the little constricted sub 6" stub really matter? I could butcher it back to the stub of the exit pipe and get closer to 150 mm but it will transition abruptly to a more open pipe - I don't know if that will cause so much back pressure as to make the process a waste of time.
Capture.JPG

**Tonyz** · 18th June 2020, 09:10 AM

I have the same 2hp, followed the mods.
it now sits upside down with a 6" inlet, 600mm above that it does a 90* then runs and splits around the shed. When its up and running its an excellent sucker.

My neighbour comes over every so often to see if its working and then does me a service by sweeping the floor to one of the floor level inlets, he just loves watching it suck up all the sh...it

**BobL** · 18th June 2020, 09:27 AM

If you only spend $550 on a 3HP DC don't expect too much from it out of the box. Even if modified most likely it will have the same 12" impeller as the 2HP DC so the only difference will be the twin filter/collection bag set up which will have slightly greater flow and take a bit longer to fill/clog and of course that assumes the inlet will still need to be modified to take 6" Ducting.

If you are handy and use 6" ducting and modify your 2HP as per this thread The Generic 2HP DC you will see a definite improvement. The drawback is with only single bag/filter you will need to empty it more often,

7m is a touch on the long side but maybe put your least dusty machinery at the end of the ducting run.

Also for anyone with a 2HP DC I recommend additional forced ventilation like a couple of bathroom style fans that can run for long periods to continually vent fine dust.

**aldav** · 18th June 2020, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by BobL

If you only spend $550 on a 3HP DC don't expect too much from it out of the box. Even if modified most likely it will have the same 12" impeller as the 2HP DC so the only difference will be the twin filter/collection bag set up which will have slightly greater flow and take a bit longer to fill/clog and of course that assumes the inlet will still need to be modified to take 6" Ducting.

If you are handy and use 6" ducting and modify your 2HP as per this thread The Generic 2HP DC you will see a definite improvement. The drawback is with only single bag/filter you will need to empty it more often,

7m is a touch on the long side but maybe put your least dusty machinery at the end of the ducting run.

Also for anyone with a 2HP DC I recommend additional forced ventilation like a couple of bathroom style fans that can run for long periods to continually vent fine dust.

Bob, he's not using any collection system or filters so there'll be no bag emptying or clogging. If the DE is modified to a 150mm inlet and outlet it'll have no trouble managing 1,000cfm year in and year out. Go for it elver, there aren't many of us who have the option to have a totally unrestricted outlet on our DE.

**BobL** · 18th June 2020, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by aldav

Bob, he's not using any collection system or filters so there'll be no bag emptying or clogging. If the DE is modified to a 150mm inlet and outlet it'll have no trouble managing 1,000cfm year in and year out. Go for it elver, there aren't many of us who have the option to have a totally unrestricted outlet on our DE.

OK thanks for clarifying this. In that case the budget end 3HP will make very little difference.

BTW It's not totally unrestricted, 7m of ducting and some flexy on the inlet side and 4m on the outlet side, plus machinery will add restriction.

Anyway - I'd love to see some photos of the "dust cloud" when it's all set up and running

**elver** · 21st June 2020, 12:11 PM

Will do Bob. I’ll runs some trials first I think.

I’ve seen a forum members setup in Corndale where he sent it all into the paddock. It was less of a mess than you’d expect. Some sensibly placed Geofabric and star pickets kept most of it in a pile.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**BobL** · 21st June 2020, 02:25 PM

Is your intended pile down wind of the shed?

**cjbfisher** · 21st June 2020, 06:28 PM

Probably depends on which way the wind is blowing.
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
I'll show myself out.

Thread: 2hp dusty worth modifying or not?

Thread Tools

Search Thread

2hp dusty worth modifying or not?

Similar Threads

Modifying Bar Clamps

Help modifying TV cabinet

2 small dusty or 1 large dusty

GMC Lathe modifying

Need help on modifying a Woodfast

Posting Permissions