Thread: Help with duct extraction layout

Unfortunately the CFM value for the cyclone will be without the 8" to 3 x 4" port adapter. If you run on 1 x 4" connects to all the machines that will seriously throttle the cyclone.

1) If you have the $ the time and the inclination I would remove the 3 x 4" adapters from the cyclone and run 6" pipe down both sides of the shed and out to each machine. To be really effective each machines will need to be modified to to accept 6" ducting.

2) A not as effective solution will be to run 6" up close to the machine and then run 4" flexy in to each machine and leave the 2 adjacent 4" ports open next to the machine in use. As well as helping the cyclone breath this will help collect the fog of invisible dust particles being generated around the dust making machine. This needs the use of a lot of blast gates to work.

3) You could halve the numbers of 4" take offs and swap them as required to the machine in use but that won't be as effective or as convenient as 2)

Any chance you can put the cyclone outside?

Hi BobL

Thanks for yoru quick reply. Not sure how many machines could be modified to 6 inch. I will have a look over the weekend.

Would running a 8i inch ducts as per your suggestion on each side of the workshop provide a better result? And then reduce the pipe size to 6 inch on the machines that I can modify.
My concern is I remember reading on a post that one could over size the ducts. So is 8 inches an overkill?

Wrt cyclone, unfortunately I cannot put the unit outside as there is no real space.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Stevo

Hi BobL

Thanks for yoru quick reply. Not sure how many machines could be modified to 6 inch. I will have a look over the weekend.

Yeah this is the achilles heel of most systems.

Would running a 8i inch ducts as per your suggestion on each side of the workshop provide a better result? And then reduce the pipe size to 6 inch on the machines that I can modify.
My concern is I remember reading on a post that one could over size the ducts. So is 8 inches an overkill?

8" on a 3HP DC/Cyclone is not overkill but what are you planning to use for 8" ducting
8" spiral sheet steel ducting is going to be exxy and only marginally better than 6" smooth wall PVC stormwater ducting.

Unfortunately PVC doesn't come in 8" and 9" is borderline - the linear airspeed will drop and not keep the sawdust in the air stream.

Wrt cyclone, unfortunately I cannot put the unit outside as there is no real space.

Well at least look to vent it outside.

Conduit can be had in 8" probably cost a bomb though, the 9"/225mm pvc is 210mm internally.

Thanks BobL.

I will plan to use the 6 inch duct and to modify the dust extraction ports on the machines.

Originally Posted by Stevo

Thanks BobL.

I will plan to use the 6 inch duct and to modify the dust extraction ports on the machines.

Cheers Steveo, I'll be right behind you in modifying mine as well.

Hey Stevo, if you PM me your e-mail address I can send you a set of tables in pdf format that might help.

Thanks Cliff. Have PM'd you with my email.

cheers

Originally Posted by Jas The Master

Hi Stevo

Check out this website

Bill's Cyclone & Dust Collection Research - Ducting

Rgds

If you read his first post you will see he "did that already", and says he was "none the wiser". It sounded to me like he needed interpreters.

I had a CT cyclone of an earlier type, now gone to a good home with a woodworking group and it would not support a six inch duct due to lack of fan capacity/speed. I am not saying yours is the same just that it may pay to investigate a bit more as six inch PVC is not a cheap investment as we all know. I think they intend to put a three phase motor on it and drive the fan faster with a VFD.