Thread: mini cyclone and vacuum help

Originally Posted by westcoast

Firstly I assume the more suction the better. Therefore, given that I will have to buy a vacuum cleaner to go with the device would I be better off buying the cheapest most powerful cyclonic vacuum I can find, some of which claim to suck at 20 -25 kpa or would a shop vac which might only be about 15 kpa.

I use the cheapest vacuum you can buy for mine, mainly ordinary household discards picked up from the hard rubbish collections and they work fine, sure a better one may be better but the cost of a cyclonic vacuum is wasted on these systems.

Originally Posted by westcoast

Secondly having read sturdee's instructions I notice that 20mm pvc pibe is used. It would be possible to use a larger diameter pipe and I wondered whether a larger diameter (with a powerful vacuum) would improve performanc, particularly the saw and it might stretch to the thicknesser??

Yes, you can use a larger pvc pipe, mine was originally based around the needs of using a Triton's dust bucket, but even a larger pipe will not work with a thicknessser.

The mini cyclone is designed for sucking dust not wood shavings and chips coming of a thicknesser. For a thicknesser you will need a DC or full size cyclone.


Peter.

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Yes, you can use a larger pvc pipe, mine was originally based around the needs of using a Triton's dust bucket, but even a larger pipe will not work with a thicknessser.

The mini cyclone is designed for sucking dust not wood shavings and chips coming of a thicknesser. For a thicknesser you will need a DC or full size cyclone.


Peter.

Actualy I've hooked my vac, a reco'd ducted vacuum unit, up to my 12.5in Delta portable thicknesser and it collects more than %95 of the waste. Used 50mm pipe which the vac us designed to use, increasing to 4in right at the machine.

As for the mini cyc handling the thicknesser output perhaps the mini cyc could handle all the volume the vac could drawer and as the two are matched should work OK?

Thanks very much for the replies. I've found an old vaccuum that works albeit only just and give it a test and see how it goes.

I wouldn't bother with a funnel. My experience with the baffle board is great and is easily scalable from small paint drum to larger dusty pre separators. The shop vac works for me although if I did it again I would consider getting a wall mounted Hoover garage vac. Although the wall mounted vac is a bit expensive it is easier to use for double duty things like cleaning the car etc.

I picked up bits and pieces of 3 old vacs at the last hard rubbish collection and now have enough hoses to mix and match with different machines. There seem to be 3 or 4 different sizes of vacuum cleaner hose.

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Thanks again for the advice and info. I ended up forking out for a new shop vac from bunnings for $90 and made a baffle for a paint tin in the thein style as suggested. I've used it to vaccuum up dust and also connected it to the scms and belt sander. It works a treat with next to nothing making it into the vacuum bag. Cheers.

just as a point of interest has anybody tried one of these contraptions with very fine dust such as plasterboard flushing dust?