Thread: Dust Extraction - Cyclone

Darryn,

Yes, I was using a lpg torch with direct flame as the torch I have does not have a soldering iron attachment available. As for holding the joint together, it is held together with pop rivets but there is a small gap. Short of making/buying some kind of long (i.e. 500mm) clamp, I cannot fully close the gap hence the solder ran through and the joints looked like s*&$. In any case, I have started liquid nailing it just to seal the joints with the pop rivets in place as well. It will work fine.

Thanks for the help.

Even if you are good at soldering that is pretty hard to do.

I would look through a few seocndhand shops and try and find an old plumbers soldering iron, the one that looks like a big blob of copper with a handle on it. Just heat it up with your torch and you will get results I am sure'

Darryn

Just an update for those that are interested.

I have nearly finished the cyclone just have to attach the motor/blower and hang the lot from the wall/joists. I hope to do this over the next couple of nights and will be post a pic or two shortly.

Stay tuned....

Wayne

A breath of fresh air, well almost.

Are you going to check the amp draw on the motor?

Also are you going to check the total air flow?

If you are how and what instruments will you use?

Something I have little idea about.

Thanks

Pulpo,

Yes, I am going to check the Amp draw and I have a digital multimeter and a Clamp style Amp meter attachment. As for checking the airflow, I don't have or can get a pitot tube as Bill's site mentions. Really, I am not too worried about measuring the CFM as I'll get what I get and I would not be able to do anything about it in any case. However, if you have an idea of how to measure CFM cheaply (read 'for nearly nothing'), I am interested.

Thanks for your interest. Hopefully, there will be a cyclone warning in Brisbane in the next night or two.

Wayne
Moving off the track slightly and before the cyclone warning.

I too have digital multimeter but do not have the "amp style camp meter attachment".

I have brymen MM (I think) rarely use anything more than 10% of its features and only on the car; ( it came with almost no instructions).

Is this clamp attachment sold separately?
Could I attach this to my multimeter?

Is there another way with the current two leads/probes?

Do you know a way of testing an electric motor's power?
Horsepower; AMP rating; Duty cycle?

As for measuring air flow I have No idea.

The only reason why I mention this, is I intend to make the blower as well, and may have some long runs, so it would be good information almost necessary for me.

Seeking info from an engineer I know (but I think his civil not mechanical).

Thanks

Pulpo,

I got the Clamp Amp meter attachment from Jaycar a while back for $35. It suits digital multimeters only.
(http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productVie...Max=&SUBCATID=)

As for other ways, I believe it involves placing the meter in circuit so I decided that a Clamp was a better, safer method. Just in case you don't know, you have to clamp an individual lead (i.e. the Positive) not just the power cable (i.e. all three cables) so this means that you have to open up the switch box on the motor.

Well, as I mentioned before, I have finished the metal section and am now mounting the motor. (Well I would be if I was not chatting on the BBS )

Anyway, below is a couple of pic's

An here is a pic of the motor, Ply support boards and aluminium angle brace about to be assembled (maybe tomorrow night).

Note, I have decided not to take off the stock Air Inlet plate from the Blower and increase the inlet hole as Bill Pentz recommends. This is because the unit is new and I don't want to void the warranty. However, in about a years time when it is out of warranty that sucker is gunna get bigger!

Please do not think of me as an Ebay junkie but I thought that this may be of some use to those who are thinking of making one of these dust extraction units. It seems cheap enough for a trial and error.

Ebay

Cool Stinkie. I did look on ebay for motor/fans in the past and did not find anything. A few points if anyone is thinking about this unit:

• I looked at 3hp motors and found out they draw over 9 amps which leaves a 10amp household circuit a bit wanting. Nice to have a big dust collector but not fun if you can ONLY turn it on and not the saw as well. However, if someone has 3 phase or 15 amp circuits or two 10 amp circuits in their shed/shop, go for it.
• I guess it would work Ok with the cyclone, you would just have to run a 150mm (minimum) pipe from the top of the cyclone down to the inlet side blower on the floor as I would guess that unit is very, very heavy. I would probably even go to 200mm steel piping for this.
• You would probably want to make the Cyclone out of thicker steel than mine. With that size unit, if you closed all the blast gates, the cyclone and the ducting would probably collapse from the suction!!
• And don't let your Cat/Dog/Small Children near the inlets (unless you DO want to get rid of them)

G'Day Wayne,

Well done on the cyclone!

For the blower I recommend a backward curved material movement impeller such as the Jet DC-1900 that is about 355 mm (14") powered by a good heavy duty 3 to 5 hp motor.

Don't forget the filters. The standard here are the Donaldson made Torit cartridge units that filter 0.2 or 0.5 microns.

*smile*

bill

PS, Soldering and construction hints here:

http://cnets.net/~eclectic/woodworki...ldcyclone.html

Wayne,
Hang on, now I am confused again. That thing is a blower not a sucker and even I understand the difference there. How would you use it ?

Ken,

The unit is a Blower but it does Suck on the Inlet (on the side) so that is where you could hook up the hose and the Filters would hook up to the Blower outlet.

HOWEVER, I emailed Bill (the US Cyclone Guru) the link and he sent me back this:

Wayne,

Good job on your cyclone!

The EBAY blower is too big! Not a good fit. Check out my budget blower page as did an update last week with a much better solution.

Also, have a new page http://cnets.net/~eclectic/woodworki...ldcyclone.html that covers the soldering and much of the basic construction to make much easier. I know, better late than never.

*smile*

bill


So, forget that ebay blower in any case.

P.S. By the above post, it looks like Bill has joined our little board.