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9th December 2010, 08:54 PM #1Intermediate Member
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I'm planning to build a Thien seperator
Hi
I've done the reading and am planning to build a Thien style dust separator. I've considered the Dust Deputy from Carbatec, but I'm put off by the size of the piping. It forces you to drop down to about 2.5 inches I think, which is a huge reduction from my 4" 2HP extractor. I'm not concerned about the money, because the parts and time taken to build a cyclone or Thien will well outway the price. I can't get over that tiny diameter.
Are anyone here in Australia built one beyond the only link I could find to Jill's one in the forums.
There are some excellent posts in the Thien forum for fine tuning, and some really fantastic integrated designs saving room. It's this style that I'd like to build.
My new H&F DC60 is built into a sealed cabinet venting outside through a window. I don't have a lot of room, but I'll either build it below the impellar where the black column thing is, or I'll build into into an unused fire place outside of the cabinet in my shop.
Can anyone suggest a suitable bucket or drum? I've seem pics of a guy who built one using a MASSIVE cardboard tube about 400mm OD. Easy to work with, easy to cut, glue and sand. I'm not keen on metal work, but I feel a side inlet is definitely superior.
Any suggestions or experiences you'd like to share. I'm really quite surprised that there;s not more content in the foum about this design. A lot of us are talking about the clearview cyclones and importing them etc ... or even building little cyclones from plastic and sheet metal, but this Thien device seems simple and great.
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9th December 2010 08:54 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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9th December 2010, 09:42 PM #2
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.If you find you have dug yourself a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
I just finished child-proofing our house - but they still get inside.
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9th December 2010, 10:03 PM #3Intermediate Member
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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
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10th December 2010, 12:17 AM #4Intermediate Member
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10th December 2010, 04:05 AM #5
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.
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11th December 2010, 01:01 PM #6
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11th December 2010, 03:55 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
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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
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16th December 2010, 05:21 PM #8Deceased
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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.
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16th December 2010, 06:03 PM #9Deceased
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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
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16th December 2010, 06:04 PM #10
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
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17th December 2010, 09:04 AM #11Intermediate Member
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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
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17th December 2010, 09:00 PM #12Intermediate Member
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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?
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17th December 2010, 09:16 PM #13Intermediate Member
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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.
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17th December 2010, 10:29 PM #14SENIOR MEMBER
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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
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17th December 2010, 10:33 PM #15SENIOR MEMBER
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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.
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