Thread: Cyclones

Why don't you give Smithy_1 a PM... he just got himself a ClearVue...
Regards, Luckyduck

If it's the mini cyclone you're after, why not save some dollars and convert a Triton bucket for around $50 (inc the bucket).

It works the same and is a lot cheaper. Those look really good types but cost is an issue.

There's a video showing the Triton bucket working in our videos thread (link at the bottom of this post). There's also lots of info in the Triton forum and other forums about building one.

Check it out before you buy.

(I thought their video was pretty poor considering they're trying to sell something. No commentary or anything. They need some marketing expertise I think)

I found as a rough rule of thumb US$ X 2.5= AU$
That is factoring in freight, currency conversion, duty and taxes.
If it's a cheap item just convert currencies without the last two items.

Wajor,
Why don't you contact Ed at ClearVue. He is more than helpful.

As a guide, for my system (which didn't have the leeson motor, 60hz not 50hz)
USD $750 for the cyclone & blower & impeller & blast gates
USD $660 shipping via ups (took about 1 wk) this price included customs fees & brokerage to import the goods, arriving to my door by courier

As to performance, I have not got it fully assembled yet so I can't say - but i'm hoping it will suck the paint off the walls!
I contacted Bill Pentz & Ed about what difference 50Hz as opposed to 60Hz will make (read 2980 rpm as opposed to 3450rpm). Their advice was that whilst the flow will be less, it will still be over the 1000cfm needed (about 1250 in fact).

If you get it, I found TECO to be the only company who can supply a 5hp single phase motor (although there may be others). However in the end I went 3 phase. And also, get Ed to give you a metric taperlok for the impeller (as the standard one that ships is imperial and won't fit australian metric motors). I got a 28mm one as most motors of 5hp size were 28mm.

Good luck
smithy_1

I made my own clearview cyclone (well, the cone was clear), here:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=27501

Zenwood you would see a big difference with your cyclone if you added an air ramp and went from the round pipe to rectangular pipe on entering the cyclone. I just cut the ramp out of masonite and glued it to the drum. These were additions that Pentz's recommend and they work very well.
Barry

Thanks for the feedback

I was only looking at a small unit to fit my shopvac for use when routing or on the bandsaw, so I wouldn't need anything as large as Smithy_1's outfit

I have looked at Gumby's triton bucket upgrade which looks a great solution several times, but as I haven't got one, thought if I was going to spend money on a solution, buy a ready made one. Cost is always an issue, and I did suspect that the freight from the US may make it prohibitive. I agree, the quality of the video is not great, but I was impressed with the apparent efficiency of the unit.

Zenwood's cyclone looks great, and an interseting project as well. It would also mean not having to move outside when jointing and thicknessing if I went for something bigger.

Barry, is the air ramp glued to both the outside cylinder and the pick-up tube?

Wajor its only attached to the outside as all the dust forms a cyclone effect on the outside and you also have to have the option of removing the pipe to the impellor in case of blockages.
Barry

Originally Posted by BarryBurgess

Zenwood you would see a big difference with your cyclone if you added an air ramp and went from the round pipe to rectangular pipe on entering the cyclone

Barry: are you saying that you have tried a cyclone with and without the ramp and rectangular inlet and measured the difference?

My gut feeling is that these are fairly minor details. I am very happy with the performance of mine. I have emptied the lower drum three times now, and checked the bag for the first time last weekend. There was not a single chip of wood in the bag, just very fine dust.

The next major improvement to mine will be to vent the outlet to a chimney going through the roof of the shed. I think the bag (especially one clogged with dust) presents the major impediment to the airflow. When I checked the bag last weekend, I gave it a run through the washing machine, and putting the clean bag back resulted in a much better airflow (as measured with my hand over the inlet). I want to eliminate the bag by venting directly. Will probably install something like those little covers on vertical truck exhaust pipes to stop the rain getting in, counterbalanced to get out of the way as soon as the air starts moving.

Zenwood yes Itried it for a short while without a ramp and the results were not as good as I now get. I have clear tubing from the cyclone to the impellor and see no dust going to the impellor. There is a picture of my cyclone in the metalwork section under cyclones. I don't use a bag but 40m2 of filters. The collector after the filter has collected nothing in 2 months. The filters appear to be clean suggesting more than 99% is collected in the cyclone. The inramp transitioning from round to rectangular also helps I feel, but I did not test it.
Barry