Thread: Lucky catch

Nice save, at least it's not a 3 cu.m skip overflowing....

What about a boring bathroom scale? Weigh it when it's full and make sure you don't go past that number.

Further to Elan's idea of a bathroom scale, wondering if it's possible to modify the scales, so that at a given point, a pair of contacts connect and either sound a buzzer or light up a signal globe??<br>
Kryn

"Saw dust bin full" Sensor

There is a couple threads in the Sawmill Creek forum in the Workshop section on making a bin full sensor. First gives a cheap source for the sensors. Second is how to make it.

An inexpensive dust bucket saw dust level sensor new cheaper parts

Building Your Own And Improving Upon The Oneida Dust Sentry Bin Level Sensor

Moderators. If the links are not allowed please delete.

Pete

There is always the low tech solution - The batteries never go flat and it does not depend on the weight of the sawdust, which can vary considerable depending on dust or planer shavings, hardwood or softwood - when its full it shows in the window.

Thanks to BobL & QC Inspector for your replies. They present what seems like viable solutions to my problem.

Bobs input prompted my memory of his previous thread on the subject and I went back and reread.
I had never heard of the Oneida Infrared System until this thread, only the one discussed on the Clearview forms which seemed a bit hit or miss to me.

Bob, regarding the use of the force module, when you have a heavy metal drum and sawdust that can vary from tight compact off the table saw to loose fluffy chips off the P/T do you think that your system can cope reliably with the variation?

QC does dust contamination on the face of the sensor cause problems with the Oneida type sensor? I guess the cost & simplicity of the Oneida Type system warrants a trial. Will order some parts and will report back on my progress. In the meantime I will just have to remember to regularly inspect the drum. Unfortunately like many hobbyists my use of the dust collector is variable, sometimes filing the drum in less than one day and at other times weeks go by without needing to empty. A reliable Bin Sensor seems like a necessity.
Ron

Your welcome.

I have no idea what the dust on the sensor would do except make it think it was full and warn you prematurely. Better than an overfill I suppose. I "think" a ramp or little deflector near or beside the eye could keep it cleaner much the same way snow or sand blows over/around a rock leaving none on the lee side. Best would be to pose the question on that forum and see what they say about it. Some of what the members say about dust collection is good advise and some is .

Pete

Thanks QC
Expect you might know all about snow at the moment
Cheers
Ron

Originally Posted by doug3030

There is always the low tech solution - The batteries never go flat and it does not depend on the weight of the sawdust, which can vary considerable depending on dust or planer shavings, hardwood or softwood - when its full it shows in the window.

Hi Doug3030
Thanks for your response and I know what you mean about low tech and reliability.
Unfortunately the operator in this case is the one not reliable!

When I am using the P/T it is another room to the Clearview, and a window in the drum would not be visible.
Planing boards is what makes the most sawdust in my shop. My drum is only 150L and this is as large as feasible both because of restricted height and weight to move.

The drum picture in my OP was photographed at the end of a days planing- another few boards would have been disaster. I was lucky this time but not sure it will always happen hence the need for a backup system.
Ron

Originally Posted by ronboult

Unfortunately the operator in this case is the one not reliable!

When I am using the P/T it is another room to the Clearview, and a window in the drum would not be visible.

Surely it would be easier than opening the top to look in.

Another benefit to this system of mine is that the sawdust swirls around in the drum, which entertains the grandchildren and keeps them away from the "danger" end of the dust collection pipe when I am working. They also tell me when the bin is getting full.

It really is a cheap and easy mod to make in a 44 gallon drum.

Cheers

Doug

Ron, you could make a drum with a bigger footprint out of plywood or MDF. Seal all the joints with silicone as you assemble it and it should remain airtight.

MDF is inherently not airtight; it's quite porous, that's why it's used on CNC vacuum tables as a spoilboard - the vacuum sucks straight through it.

Hi Chris
While a larger drum would be convenient I don't really want a larger drum. 150L of sawdust is all I can cope with. Not getting any younger and my shoulder is ratshit. One problem I do have is looking in my drum as the lid is held on by a lever action ring compression clamp which is not easy to replace.
I am going to build one of the Oneida copies. i have ordered two sensors to try.
Ron