Thread: I'm planning to build a Thien seperator

Hi Beetle

Here is a link to a thread with some pics of the two Thien seperators I built. They both still work a treat.

Thanks for that.

Why have you got the clear tub inside the white one?

Did you consider making a side inlet?

Do you know if running 4" fittings on this smaller device would still work?

What diameter is the small clear tub?

What is the spring loaded valve for? I've seen it on a few Thiens.

I'm looking forward to making this device, but I think finding a bucket/tub suitable will be the hardest part. Thanks

I've just found this device by accident at Garry Pye and overseas. It does appear to be a little similar, but it doesn't have the baffle that the Thien does?

Has anyone tried this and have a view of one versus the other?

100 litre drums are the smallest you can use with 100mm plumbing fittings. See this thread for where I went looking for suitable drums. I also made a 20L version for using with the vacuum cleaner https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/a...13/#post758467

I think there is also a thread somewhere about cutting down 44gal drums to save weight and height, but that may have just been for use as an under cyclone dust collection bucket.

Beetle

Originally Posted by Green Beetle

Thanks for that.

Why have you got the clear tub inside the white one?
The white bucket is screwed to the trailer and the clear Triton bucket sits inside it. Just for stability of the triton bucket and ease of removal when emptying it.

Did you consider making a side inlet?
No. I Just followed the Thien plan. Works very well as is. The 44 gallon drum separator and the DC7 do a great job on bigger stuff and the Triton bucket is great for sanding (lathe and power) , routing or with the jigsaw on a Triton router table. To catch as much dust as possible when using the Triton WC2000, I hook the DC7 up to the dust box I made for it and the bucket and Makita vac goes on the blade guard. NO dust gets away.

Do you know if running 4" fittings on this smaller device would still work?
No idea. Space could be an issue.

What diameter is the small clear tub?
It's a standard Triton dust collector bucket, they are about a foot in diameter.

What is the spring loaded valve for? I've seen it on a few Thiens.
It's a pressure relief valve, in case the line gets blocked. I destroyed a standard Triton dust bucket set up with the Makita vac when the line blocked with shavings. Didn't put one on the 44, seems to be enough airspace in the lines/44/DC7 to give you time to shut things down, plus I doubt the DC7 could collapse the 44 with vacuum

I'm looking forward to making this device, but I think finding a bucket/tub suitable will be the hardest part. Thanks
Any 20 ish litre bucket and vacuum could be used if making a smaller set up

I got a drum and other bits from Bunnings to build a separator for my dustie. I decided against the Thein style for this - it does a good job just like it is, and is much easier to handle than a 44 gallon drum. Not the prettiest thing you ever saw, but it serves its purpose.

I did build a Thein style separator for my shopvac and it does a great job too. It's just a plastic garbage bin from Bunnings with a bit of plywood inside, with 50 mm (I think) plumbing fittings that match the hose on my shopvac. I use this with the sanders and the domino.

ajw

I built a Thien separator for use with a 2HP extractor. As can be seen from the photos, I used a blue drum with a clamp-on lid. I cut the bottom section because (a) that gave me a slightly straighter section into which to fit the Thien unit, and (b) the cut-off piece makes a very useful container. I made the separator unit as pictured: I have made three previous smaller units, and have found that approximate measurements work fine: i.e. everything does not have to be exact. The separator sits on a platform which is attached to the extractor, and moves with it to whatever machine I want to use it with. That includes a table saw, bench saw, band saw, router table and thicknesser. It works very effectively with all of them. The thicknesser in particular produces a lot of waste, and to date no waste has ever reached the bottom bag of the extractor. The bin is easy to empty, certainly much easier than the extractor bag. One of the smaller units I made is attached permanently to a linisher, and powered by an old vacuum cleaner: Another is attached to a Shopmate vacuum which is used for general cleaning of the shed. After two years of use, there is no waste in the Shopmate bag, and the pleated filter therein has only the slightest mark on it. Needless to say, I am a fan of the Thien system.
Attachment 155913

Attachment 155914

Attachment 155915

Attachment 155916

Attachment 155917

Attachment 155918

Attachment 155919

Correction to the above: the shed vacuum is a Shop-Vac Pro 2, not a Shopmate. Attached are photos of the bag (which is the original, and still empty), and of the pleated filter. The small separator attached to this vacuum has been emptied probably thirty times over the past two years.Attachment 155930Attachment 155931
Other photos are of the extraction system permanently attached to the linisher: When I start the linisher, I step on the appropriate button to start the vacuum cleaner. Most of the very fine dust generated by the linisher ends up in the separator.
Attachment 155932Attachment 155933

I all so built a thien seperator, very similar to all the others. Its all mounted on the lid. Only this week a friend wanted some sawdust so I emptied the drum. It was about 60% full and the dust extractor was less than 10% maybe even 5%. Works well for me.

Cheers Jerryj

I built one like this with 4 inch ports and a 1hp dusty on top, Does the job and easy to empty.


Trash Can Topper Project with 6" Ports

Barry

Originally Posted by ajw

I got a drum and other bits from Bunnings to build a separator for my dustie. I decided against the Thein style for this - it does a good job just like it is, and is much easier to handle than a 44 gallon drum. Not the prettiest thing you ever saw, but it serves its purpose.

ajw

Thanks for the images. It looks nice and simple, and I can buy everything from Bunnings as you did. It seems the only diff is the absence of the baffle. All I've read and been told is to keep the rise and bend of the piping very gradual. Your good results seem to defy this with really tight bends etc. No issues?

Originally Posted by Bazza

I built one like this with 4 inch ports and a 1hp dusty on top, Does the job and easy to empty.


Trash Can Topper Project with 6" Ports

Barry

Thanks for that. I followed the lead and it's a very impressive job. What drum did you use? It seems to me that the key is getting a device that's easy to lift off the drum and resecure. I'm keen on the side tangential entry rather than a top one. It also seems to create lest twist in the piping.

Originally Posted by Green Beetle

Thanks for the images. It looks nice and simple, and I can buy everything from Bunnings as you did. It seems the only diff is the absence of the baffle. All I've read and been told is to keep the rise and bend of the piping very gradual. Your good results seem to defy this with really tight bends etc. No issues?

My main concern was stopping bigger bits from reaching the impeller blades. You'll see other threads on here that show what can happen when something other than shavings finds its way into the pipework and hits the fan. The only problem I have is when I'm doing heaps of work on the thicknesser, and I forget to check the height in the bin. If it overfills, it simply starts going into the dust extractor. No big deal, but emptying the bin is much simpler that changing the bag.

My dusty has the pleated cartridge on the top which seems to stop pretty well all of the fine dust particles that don't get trapped in the separator bin. The Thein style baffle would do a much better job of stopping those particles reaching the dusty, but for me, I'm happy with the system I've got.

I don't have any trouble with the suction on the system with the 90 degree bends etc. My longest run of pipework is probably about 9 metres. I use gates on the different machines, and only run one at once.

You could always try this design, and add the baffle plate later if you're not happy with its performance.

A few $$ at Bunnings and a couple of hours work is all you need.

ajw

Should probably point out that I've used some stick-on foam draught prevention tape around the perimeter of the lid, to help get a good seal. Worked OK without it, but better with it.