Thread: Check your Y-fittings

Bob,

How common have you found blockages on 6 inch systems to be?

Assuming air flow and velocity are both good, what types of issues should we be aware of? (Verticals? ... long horizontals? ... and so on.)

Thanks.

Originally Posted by John Samuel

Bob,

How common have you found blockages on 6 inch systems to be?

Assuming air flow and velocity are both good, what types of issues should we be aware of? (Verticals? ... long horizontals? ... and so on.)

Thanks.

I've only had my 6" system for about a year so I cannot claim a long experience - so far no blockages in the 6" sections but I still get them in the 4" sections of the ducting. Even on 6" ducting any vertical runs should either be left easy to dismantle or incorporate an inspection point at the bottom of a run.

I've encountered that problem - it's easily solved by removing the cap over the unused port on the Y connector. Or connect a hose to it and add it to the saw as well. Might as well try to capture as much as you can instead of wasting capacity.

Originally Posted by richmond68

I've encountered that problem - it's easily solved by removing the cap over the unused port on the Y connector. . . .

The sawdust was so compacted on the one I was looking at that removing the cap did nothing and I had to vigorously prod the wad of sawdust with my boot.

Originally Posted by John Samuel

Bob,

How common have you found blockages on 6 inch systems to be?

Assuming air flow and velocity are both good, what types of issues should we be aware of? (Verticals? ... long horizontals? ... and so on.)

Thanks.

Any unused leg of a system (just like in Bob's example) or dropdown that has a blast gate closed will all potentially fill up with dust regardless of size, especially if there is dust coming from an upstream inlet, (a machine in use)

In those videos I did a little while back I had to have a gap at the side where I had the perspex cover to allow air in otherwise the upstream section of pipe from the inlet I was trying to show would just fill up with dust and blocked the view, the first one I did (I think) has the dust swirling right there at the perspex, this dust travels into the unused legs and just sits there, sometimes a little leak/hole can be helpful in keeping the pipes clear or make a habit of going around opening and closing unused blast gates at the end of the day to clear any sitting dust.

Pete

So far I have had no issues. However I tend to use all the lines (except the one to the drill press) nearly every day I am in the workshop. Also, it seemed like a good idea to follow your suggestion and run each line at the end of the day occasionally.