Thread: Dust Extraction - Cyclone

Wayne,
I Just had a quick squizz at your site & it looks great. As a matter of fact I think we could describe your effort using the famous comment by the 'Supercoach' Jack Gibson to , 'He done good, played strong.'

Good job Wayne, look forward to more.

Pat

Wayne,

You have sold the cyclone idea to me.

When I build my new shed, a cyclone will be a high priority. I have almost bought some of those fabric type ones several times but that idea has now been terminated.

I will not make it around Easter time though because the shops will be closed!

- Wood Borer

Thanks Guys!

I hope to do some more updates soon. Flesh out the Building bit and clean up a few things. Bit overloaded with Work at the moment.

Stinkie,

I do have a lathe (cheap Carbatec one) and it is over to the side (out of shot). Still learning this turning stuff but not enough free time (hah - free time - two little kids, SWMBO and Work - whats free time).

Cheers,

Originally posted by Sarge
So I went through all the online ordering and right on the last screen they added in the freight, US$111. After I got up off the floor I decided that maybe I might be better off ordering it from Queensland.

You welcome to come around and smell it when it arrives

STRUTH RUTH!!!!!

I've just received my parcel with a complete ignition system and Camshaft for my bike, from Florida, cost $21.oo US.

Someone's having a go at you by the sounds of it.
I have also bought "Whiteside" Router bits from US, and the Post was very reasonable.

Ivan in Oz

Thats what happens when the postal system is deregulated....
It depends on what postal company is used and the type of postage etc.... If getting something sent from the US it is well worth explorering all options re. postage....

Wayne

On the net I found a way of building a cyclone from a 55-gallon drum.

http://dreamingofhawaii.com/workshop/cyclone.asp

Can you have a look at it and give me your opinion as this would seem to be an easy way to incorporate a cyclone into my system.

Peter

Peter - It is a US site so they can be forgiven for the blue or maybe it is something to do with the way their gallons measure up to the rest of the worlds, but it looks like a 44 gallon drum to me. That's 200 litres in real language.

You might do even better getting one of the big plastic drums with a removable lid rather than a metal one. There is a place in White St, Braeside (or Mordialloc) at the back of what used to be the old Epsom Race Course (now a heap of new yuppie houses) that sells every size of plastic drum imaginable. Mostly second hand, all in good nick and all really cheap. You can also get the big wheelie bins as well. Don't remember their name but it has something to do with gas.

They face onto White St., but if the gates are closed you enter from the rear (McDonald St), if no one is there they are usually only a phone call away. Phone # on the back of factory. Take the mobile.

Hope this helps.

Cheers - Neil

PS I have purchased many drums and wheelie bins from them over the years and they have been really good to deal with and usually ready to talk about price.

Thanks Neil for the info - I thought 55 gallons seemed strange but hey who am I to argue with the yanks.

The reason that I am interested in this is that I already have a 44 gallon metal drum with a removeable metal lid stored away in the backshed which has never been used to store petrol.

Peter.

Are you sure it was 55 gallon - our 44 gallon drum is 50 US gallons. I think that is how we have 44 - it is a strange number otherwise.

Cheers
Geoff

Peter,

I have seen this site (and others) in the past and actually made something similar years ago using just a big rubbish bin instead. This was (like this guy) hooked up to a 1hp D/C. Now, what I found was that, yes, it helped with the big chips but the bag still got the fine dust which clogged up the bag and caused the suction to drop off rapidly. Also, putting this in-line with a 1hp D/C is asking a bit as it requires some air/suction power to run so you are reducing down the suction at the start. (Cyclones also need extra power that is why 2hp is basically a minimum). So, after trying this idea and not being impressed with the results, I decided to build a Cyclone.

Try it if you want as it is very easy to make BUT it is not a replacement for a Cyclone.

Cheers,

Thanks Wayne,

I have a 2hp dust collector with the double bags from Carbatec installed under the house adjacent to my workshop, so any dust escaping from the bags is not in my workshop and it is much quieter, however there is a height limit for any large size cyclone as I already had to excavate 2' for the dust collector.

I also already have the drum so when I get some time I'll make it and give it a try.

Peter.

I have made the basic 44 gal drum dust extractor and connected it between my 2 hp dust collector and the duct line and gave it a test run.

SET UP - By the nature of my workshop being 3 separate but connected areas under my house the main duct line is 14 metres long being mainly 4" but the last 6 metres 3". The 3" duct is connected to my Triton work centre overhead guard, Triton router table, scrollsaw and 4" band saw. The 4" duct connects to the high volume lathe, planer, drill press, sanders and mitre saw. Not all machines are yet connected but I have adequate suction at the end of the duct line for the triton wc and router table.

TEST - I empted the dust collector bag into 2 rubbish bins and fed the stuff into the end of the duct line. I had good suction and no blockages. At the end the drum was 1/3 full and the dust collector bag had about 20mm of stuff. Therefore the drum collected 94% of the stuff and must have improved the efficiency of my systemsubstantially. I think if the drum gets fuller than this level the efficiency would decrease accordingly.

COST - As I had the drum and some 4" plastic pipe I bought 3 90 degree wide angle bends, some small angle brackets and bolts cost to me $ 25.

CONCLUSION - Whilst it is not a cyclone ( I don't have the height for one) it is a definate improvement on my system and the drum is much easier to get out for emptying then the bag.

Peter.

Hi all,
After reading the replys to this post it started me wondering.
Can a cyclone be made in wood?
It would also eliminate static.
Just a thought.
Cheers, Allan