Thread: Corrimal Men's Shed Installation

We can nit pick over minor details, but these blokes have produced a great set-up. I've re-posted it on the Clear Vue forum (the installation is a Clear Vue CVMax.

I love the floor sweep. Bet that ali can made a noise.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

The best installation I have ever seen.....

I don't see how you can say this. It looks excellent up to where they connect to each machine with what looks like a 4" piece of flexy or fixed ducting?
DOH!
Given each machine seems to be in a fixed location they should have used fixed 6" ducting all the way and really focused on modifying machine ports to take advantage of 6" ducting.
From what I can see none of those individual machines will be collecting dust at source significantly better than someone using a 2HP DC with a short length of 4" ducting.

I know of a couple of other Men's Sheds that could use this sort of expertise.

Originally Posted by Avery

I know of a couple of other Men's Sheds that could use this sort of expertise.

if they draw up a basic plan and post it here and well see if we can make some improvement suggestions.

If they want input into the basic plan they could post some pics first.

Originally Posted by BobL

I don't see how you can say this. It looks excellent up to where they connect to each machine with what looks like a 4" piece of flexy or fixed ducting? DOH!

I would love to have sufficient power to my shed to run a 4hp dusty and TWO other machines let alone 5 to 8 machines.

I would love to have all the machines set in static locations permanently conneted to power and ducted dust extraction WITH AUTOMATIC BLAST GATES no less.

what an AWESOME setup, or could be an awesome setup, if not for the fact that EVERY machine is inflicted by exactly what I am devoting all my meagre shed time to overcoming.

All the hard work has been done. the trunk ducting is great, I do not know if the 4hp clearvue will handle 5 to 8 machines on 6" ducting. I suspect not and that is why 4" was selected.

Sorry, Chris. I have to agree with BobL. The setup does still leave a lot of room to improve on, but of course I cannot comment on your claim that it is the best setup you have ever seen. It just might be, but I do not think it is the best that they could have done.

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

. . . The setup does still leave a lot of room to improve on . . . .

I don't reckon it's a lot to improve.

This is all done very well
- large main trunk
- well sized branches
- ducting looks well made and well sealed
- 5 x 6" floor sweeps
- automated blast gates
- top-o-the-wazza cyclone
- effective cyclone muffler
The only thing that appears to be letting them down is the 4" flexy or ducting to the machines.
This is not that hard to fix but some machine port mods will be needed.

If modifying machine ports is out of the ability range of an individual I still recommend running 1 or even 2 extra 4" duct as close as possible to the dust source so it will scavenge the fine dust from the area.
I seriously doubt that that modifying machine ports is out of a men's shed ability range as there usually a handy member that can do the business required.

About the only other thing I would have done is locate the blast gates for each branch closer to the main trunks. If a branch is not used for some time a line may fill with sawdust and even though they have a grunty blower it might not clear the choked line.

Originally Posted by BobL

I don't see how you can say this.

I can say it because it is the best one I have seen.

Chris,

You can say that only because you have not seen mine!

Mind you, I don't have automated gates ... as you indicated, a bit of overkill for a hobbyist's shop. Great idea for a men's shed though, especially one populated by klutz's like me ... you know ... the type who sometimes forget to open a blast gate and then wonder where all the dust is coming from.

None of us know whether the Corrimal guys are finished yet. They may be doing what I did. Get the cyclone and ducting in place and then gradually working their way through the hoods/shrouds. I'm sure Chris can guide them in this respect. Also, any men's shed is likely to have a couple of cluey, handy blokes lurking amongst their number.

Originally Posted by John Samuel

Chris,

You can say that only because you have not seen mine!

In terms of collecting the most possible dust I think yours does sound like the best one - certainly on this forum.

I currently have
6" to my lathe and TS
3 x 4" to my BS
4" to my router, Thicknesser planer
Nothing to my DP as I mainly use that for metal.
2" and 4" hoses for power tools like ROS and Belt sanders

Todo:
Upgrade router to 2 x 4"
modify thicknesser/planer hood to take 6".
Duct my DP and .
I don't have a belt sander but have started building a 300 diam disc x 600 mm long belt and that will have either 2 x 4: or 6" collection.

Mind you, I don't have automated gates ... as you indicated, a bit of overkill for a hobbyist's shop. Great idea for a men's shed though, especially one populated by klutz's like me ... you know ... the type who sometimes forget to open a blast gate and then wonder where all the dust is coming from.

Automated gates are very useful but from what I can see the Corrimal setup hasn't really been thought through to really optimise dust collection.
I have been designing a system using electrically switched gates that uses 24V solenoids from Retic systems. However, the design deliberately does not involve linking it to machine operation because from what I have observed with a particle counter a DC should be left to run for some time after the last dust making activity. The time the DC should be left running is activity and machine dependent, so in my case operator judgement will still be needed. This venting is also best done with ALL gates open to clear the shed as quickly as possible. My approach will be to use a control panel with switches that will set relays that will operate the gates for a specific machine and one switch which will be able to open/close all gates. This approach may not be suited to a multi user shed because it is better if the suck is directed to dust making source but at least leaving that machine duct open for a while should be possible. Maybe a timer control knob could be installed next to a machine that sets the time the DC stays on. Simple one off cut - delay is just 60s , half an hour of ripping dry hardwood could be - leave the DC on for 20 minutes.

None of us know whether the Corrimal guys are finished yet. They may be doing what I did. Get the cyclone and ducting in place and then gradually working their way through the hoods/shrouds. I'm sure Chris can guide them in this respect. Also, any men's shed is likely to have a couple of cluey, handy blokes lurking amongst their number.

Sure - I don't want to denigrate the good side of what they have done but as usual there are always some improvements to be made

The blast gate at Corrimal can be timed at each machine for whatever period you want from no time at all to hours. Bob what works in a hobby shop will not work in a commercial operation and never will. If you used your thinking every gate would be open from the first ten minutes of operation. Idealism is nice but reality is what we have to deal with.

Originally Posted by BobL

I don't reckon it's a lot to improve.

This is all done very well
- large main trunk
- well sized branches
- ducting looks well made and well sealed
- 5 x 6" floor sweeps
- automated blast gates
- top-o-the-wazza cyclone
- effective cyclone muffler
The only thing that appears to be letting them down is the 4" flexy or ducting to the machines.
This is not that hard to fix but some machine port mods will be needed.

I agree, Bob. After what has already been done it is not a lot in work, what I meant was that there is a lot to be gained in performance by doing some more work. and as John says, they may well be planning on working through one machine at a time to improve things. I hope they do.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

The blast gate at Corrimal can be timed at each machine for whatever period you want from no time at all to hours.

Chris, The website says the delay is adjustable from 0 to 65 seconds and is primarily designed to clear the duct not clear the work area.
65 seconds should handle a quick cut with a power saw but will be insufficient for prolonged use of a powersaw, sander or thicknesser.
Given they have the timer already there they should think about changing that to at least 10 minutes.

Bob what works in a hobby shop will not work in a commercial operation and never will.

Sure - I did acknowledge that in my post.

If you used your thinking every gate would be open from the first ten minutes of operation. Idealism is nice but reality is what we have to deal with.

This is the often the case in large industrial situations as there's no sense in turning something like a 15HP blower on for just a few seconds operation. Those blowers often operate for a full shift.