Thread: Dc purchase

This DC3 gets the minimum required CFM and is cheap enough to chop up without guilt: http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W394

Nathan

Don't underestimate the cost of 6" ducting, junctions, blast gates etc. You could easily spend as much on that as you would on a 2hp dusty. Probably more. While you can keep it with a clearvue, it's still money you need to spend now.

Trav

Nah I undersrand that the 150mm junctions are expensive. Thats what im weighing up whether I just make do with a standard 2HP and the hoses I habe now or invest in the 150mm and set it up reasy for the clearvue 12 months later.

2hp is better than nothing so I should buy that and use it for a while. The dc3 from the link above should do the trick

Originally Posted by delbs

Nah I undersrand that the 150mm junctions are expensive. Thats what im weighing up whether I just make do with a standard 2HP and the hoses I habe now or invest in the 150mm and set it up reasy for the clearvue 12 months later.

2hp is better than nothing so I should buy that and use it for a while. The dc3 from the link above should do the trick

I like BobL's optimised 2 HP system because it places a reasonable dust collection system within the budget of most woodies. However, it is borderline, even optimised.

My inclination would be to connect it to the machines with flexy and to leave the ducting for later, only because even well designed ducting causes some losses, and the 2 HP can't afford much by way of losses.

For now, why not concentrate on mods to machines/ports/shrouds that will improve your dust collection system immediately (with a 2 HP dusty)? When you upgrade to a bigger system, these mods will still help a lot. Ron Boulton was kind enough to visit my shop and bring his air velocity measurement instruments with him. The data were convincing. We do get losses from ducts/fittings etc, but even with a 4 HP ClearVue cyclone the biggest losses could be traced to the machines themselves and the hoods/shrouds in use.

Cheerio!

John

Originally Posted by John Samuel

I like BobL's optimised 2 HP system because it places a reasonable dust collection system within the budget of most woodies. However, it is borderline, even optimised.

Yep very border line.
Bags should be cleaned on a regular basis
6" ducting is essential
Ducting restricted to no more than ~3m for any single run - this restricts it in practice to a one car garage.
Machines MUST be opened up so they can breathe.

My inclination would be to connect it to the machines with flexy and to leave the ducting for later, only because even well designed ducting causes some losses, and the 2 HP can't afford much by way of losses.

If possible I think it is more important to vent the DC outside than it is to get that last little bit of airflow and dust out of it. If this means using a bit more ducting then this is still preferable. The reason for this is leaks, they all leak and it's way better that the DC leaks outside than inside. A running leaking DC pours dust out even when no dust is being made by the machine it is connected to. At least with the DC outside the DC can be run for some time after the dust making activity to vent the shed.

For now, why not concentrate on mods to machines/ports/shrouds that will improve your dust collection system immediately (with a 2 HP dusty)? When you upgrade to a bigger system, these mods will still help a lot

After leaks (if you have any) and 6" ducting machine breathing is where the next biggest gains that can be made on any system.

Originally Posted by BobL

Be careful with the Woodfast unit - I heard (pun intended) that it is VERY noisy.
It maybe OK if it is a noise proof enclosure outside the shed.

Yes I would use 6" everything.

Im having trouble finding out impeller size, doesnt seem that its one of the top priority of specs for manufacturers to advertise. need to email a few people to get some questions

also anyone know an online source of 6" piping?

Even though i want to get a cheaper unit to modify to use 6". It seems to be still a fairly heavy investment just in the pvc alone.

Better just roll up both front and rear doors a bit more frequently

Well woodfast have the impeller size listed. But the downside to the woodfast 3hp is its a 15amp plug and as I just got a bunch of sparky work done less than 2 weeks ago not interested in doing anymore. Also not to mention from adelaide to canberra the freight on those units isnt cheap. Maybe hares and forbes 2hp with filter it is

Nathan, believe me, buying 6" ducting is a pain. The best place to buy the ducting appears to be bunnings because is comes in 3m lengths. Most plumbing joints will sell 6m lengths. Not sure how to get that home.

It's the junctions and bends that kill you. I nearly passed out when I took my list of junctions to a plumbing place. Unreal. They are literally 10 times the price of 4" junctions.

I bought mine from an irrigation place in Brissie when I was up there on a holiday. I can't think of the name off the top of my head but it'll come to me at some stage.

If you're keen to practice setting up a DC, you can come around to my place one weekend and help me do mine! I need to do the BobLmod, build a doorway, then run the ducting. Don't think I can keep it to 3m lengths though...

Trav

Originally Posted by Trav

Nathan, believe me, buying 6" ducting is a pain. The best place to buy the ducting appears to be bunnings because is comes in 3m lengths. Most plumbing joints will sell 6m lengths. Not sure how to get that home.

Take a hacksaw along and cut it in half.
I'm lucky I have a van with a long roof rack.

It's the junctions and bends that kill you. I nearly passed out when I took my list of junctions to a plumbing place. Unreal. They are literally 10 times the price of 4" junctions.

It depends where you buy. If you go to Bunnings the price of 150 mm fittings will be higher than 100 mm fittings but I have never seen it 10X higher.

The trick is buy STORMWATER (Not DVW) pipe and fittings where you can - Bunnings only sells 90 mm stormwater but professional places sell it in 150 mm.
Where a storm water and DWV fittings are effectively the same, some places sell only the DWV because it saves them keeping two different things that effectively do the same thing in stock, and while it is permitted to use DWV fittings in storm water applications the reverse is not. Shopping around will show you who does what and you can save a bit this way.

Below is a comparison between a few Bunnings 100 mm fittings and a WA irrigation company's 150 mm fittings.
The prices I see for 150 mm fittings are typically 2 - 3x Bunnings 100 mm prices.


I'd never buy any pipe from Bunnings because 6 m of 150 mm storm water pipe is pretty cheap.
Even at Bunnings 150 mm fittings are no more than 5 to 6 times the price of 100 mm fittings, e.g. the 150 mm thread coupler is $15.99 compared to $4.90 so thats about a 5x price difference.

Happy to help put yours together trav. You just let me know when your not busy with work n family.

Thanks for the comparisons bobl. I cant find any 150mm connections at my local bunnings ill have to keep looking around as I dont even have a souce for 150mm pipe. Pitty I cant find a decent online place. Will head out to fyshwick or mitchel to track down a supplier

Originally Posted by delbs

Thanks for the comparisons bobl. I cant find any 150mm connections at my local bunnings ill have to keep looking around as I dont even have a souce for 150mm pipe. Pitty I cant find a decent online place. Will head out to fyshwick or mitchel to track down a supplier

Mosr of our smaller Bunnings stores don't have it either. On-line Bunnings show only 3 , 150 mm fittings, 2 end caps and a threaded coupler (used to join pipes, and I use these to make blast gates). One Bunnings Warehouse near us has s few (expensive) connections, Y's and elbows at various angles.

The cheapest place I have found for 150 mm pipe and fittings is Total Eden. Unfortunately, they don't have a store in ACT.

However, last time I looked the price difference was enough that a trip to the nearest supplier may be worth considering. Even getting it freighted to ACT might be an option.

Have fun!

John