Thread: Dust extraction in my new workshop

Andy, I have the Hafco version of your dusty and even with the pleated filter I noticed fire red dust on the surrounding walls. I eventually got moving and put it in it's own little shed, removing the escaping dust from my shed. Not perfect by any means, but with a room filter and external dusty, my shed has less dust. A more powerful unit or Cyclone may be a better option.

Originally Posted by groeneaj

What I'd like to know is:

1. If I was to purchase a pleated cartridge filter for my Carbatec unit, with the addition of the room air filter, do you think this would be a sufficient setup for an almost air tight workshop?

2. I have been looking at the 3HP Jet units with the pleated filters, how much better would this be compared to the Carbatecs 2HP extractor?

3. If anyone has built an enclosure for their dust extractors, I'd really appreciate it if you could please post some pictures. In particular how you allowed for air flow.

A generic 2HP DC will not normally be sufficient for a 43 m^2. If it is modified as per this thread and uses all 6" ducting and pleated filter a generic 2HP will generate 924 CFM but as soon as you add ducting/junctions and flexy connections it's flow will fall below this.

To be effective at the machine in a 40+ m^2 shed you need to start with at least 25-30% more air flow than the BP recommended flow rate of 1000 cfm. Then you have a chance of have decent flow in all parts of the shed. But this can only happen if 6" ducting is used and all machine ports are modified to use the 6" ducting.

RE: Jet DCs
I don't like the designs of any of the Jet DCs. ANything with a flexy or tortuous duct between the impeller and the bag housing is going to be a throttled machines.
Look for a DC that does not have these.

In terms of enclosures, one of the best I have seen on this forum was done by Zelk back in 2009 see https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/w...84/index2.html
Although he uses 4" ducting and this will be far less effective than using 6" the enclosure itself is a good one.

Thanks for the replies Pat and Bob.

Bob - do you have any recommendations for a dust extractor? I have considered a clearvue CV1800 but concerned that the price will quickly go up when I include 6" ducting etc.

I'm trying to keep all the machines that require dust extraction along the wall to minimize lengthy ducting that will reduce suction. As I said in my first post this will be about 7 metres.

And is changing the dust port on a machine a pain to do? I imagine leaving a 4" port that goes into a 6" hose will reduce suction.

Cheers

Andy,

You really must upgrade the machine ports or you will kill the airflow very badly. I dreaded upgrading my ports from 4 to 6 inch, but it turned out to be simpler than I thought. Details of my upgrades can be found here https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/m...66/index6.html

I own a Clear Vue 1800, and love it to death. It has brilliant airflow ... a small footprint ... vents to the outside without filters.

Originally Posted by John Samuel

Andy,

You really must upgrade the machine ports or you will kill the airflow very badly. I dreaded upgrading my ports from 4 to 6 inch, but it turned out to be simpler than I thought. Details of my upgrades can be found here https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/m...66/index6.html

I own a Clear Vue 1800, and love it to death. It has brilliant airflow ... a small footprint ... vents to the outside without filters.

Thanks. Just what I was looking for!

What exactly do you mean by venting to the outside?

Originally Posted by groeneaj

Bob - do you have any recommendations for a dust extractor? I have considered a clearvue CV1800 but concerned that the price will quickly go up when I include 6" ducting etc.

I generally avoid recommending specific products because no DC out of the box is itself a solution but only one of a number components each of which must be addressed to create an effective dust solution. Even the vest best DCs/Cyclones can be rendered ineffective by the use of narrow ducting and being hooked up to throttled machines.

Theoretically any DC that can generate 1000 cfm at >4000 fpm at the source of dust production is a good starting point.
Given that most manufacturers test methods are incorrect, the only DCs I am confident can do this are those I have measured myself and these are a Felder RL200 and the Carbatech CT-003VB.
From my discussions with BP I also believe the Clearvue system specs are what they say they are.
I'm not saying the others are all bad - they may be OK.

Like I said the DC is only a start. If you are not keen on keeping filters/clean then this leaves cyclones as about the only choice and from what I can see there are are a lot of poorly made cyclones out there.

And is changing the dust port on a machine a pain to do? I imagine leaving a 4" port that goes into a 6" hose will reduce suction.

Correct

Thanks Bob. I do intend to use 6" ducting and somehow modify my ports to suit.

Can anyone give me some advice on room air filters? Because I have high ceilings (almost 3 metres) would I have to build something to bring it lower to the floor?

Thanks

Andy, the box type air filters are hung from the four corners by chain. Length is up to you.

Originally Posted by groeneaj

Thanks Bob. I do intend to use 6" ducting and somehow modify my ports to suit. Thanks

If you intend to use 150mm ducting no matter what the system then you only have the cost of the CV over a less capable dust collector. The cost of the ducting will be the same for both. Buying the cyclone now will save you the cost of an upgrade later on if the DE selected is not up to the task.

I agree Chris. I have a lot of reading in regards to DE - It's a topic that I've never really closely researched.

Do you know if Clearvue will be at the Sydney wood show this year? I suppose it's a question for the new supplier but thought you may know.

Thanks

Andy

I have no idea of Stephen's plans. If you want to see one you are welcome to have a look at mine though it is only hooked up to one machine at the moment due to ongoing changes in the workshop.

Thanks Chris. I might take you up on your offer when I'm in Sydney again in 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by groeneaj

Thanks. Just what I was looking for!

What exactly do you mean by venting to the outside?

The CV cyclone is so efficient that we don't need filters, provided the exhaust is vented to the outside, as mine is. not needing to clean filters is yet another advantage of the CV.

Good Morning Andy

Wish I had done what you are planning - properly designing my workshop - rather than letting it evolve organically over 20 years! Now every little change is a major task.

Have you yet had a good look at BobL's paper on dust collection. It is the best summary I know.
http://www.fwwa.org.au/Art005_WoodDust_c1.pdf

It is also worth reading Bill Pentz's stuff - he is the acknowledged guru in this area - but there is a lot of material on his site.
Bill's Cyclone Dust Collection Research - Home

The critical issue is getting the almost invisible dust out of your workshop - that's the dangerous stuff - and not using the dusty to recycle it through your lungs.

BobL: if I should have put this in a PM rather than a public posting, I appologise in advance. How about posting your above paper as a permanent thread at the head of the Dust Extraction Forum. The issues canvassed keep coming up repeatedly; it is a solid reference.



Fair Winds

Graeme