Thread: Question about Dust Extractor setup in double garage/shed?

BrettC,
I have a workshop set up in a double garage. It has TS250 table saw, 14 inch bandsaw, planer thicknesser, linisher, wide drum sander and 2 router tables. The dust collector is set up in one corner and then I have a 90mm stormwater run down the middle of the workshop (front to back) directly to the table saw and bandsaw and then 2 side branches to go to the machines on each side. There are 100mm to 90mm adapters, from Reece plumbing [there are 2 types with mine the 100mm flexible fits over the adapter and the 90mm goes inside it], as the large bits of equipment are on 100mm flexible pipe and also 100mm flexible from DC to cyclone bucket then flexible to start of 90mm pipe. On the side branches there are a couple of 2.5" reductions with home made blast gates for connection to router tables / hand held sander etc.

Touch wood all seems to have been running well for the last year or so. I did invest in a couple of extra bags for the DC so that I can take off the old ones and wash them from time to time. MDF dust plays merry hell with them. The suction drops rapidly when the cloth bags get clogged. My cyclone only gets 90% of the dust.

Regards

Mike

Hi Brett, welcome to the mad house. As you've been a good boy and done a search, you'll have gathered I'm also buying an Fm 300. I've been looking at all of the issues you have raised. So on with my thougts.

1. Is there any reason you can't run 125mm or even 150 mm PVC around the wall at waist height? It gives you the option of being able to "cut in" at a later date if you change your shed layout.

2. I think I'll have ago at making blast gates, failing that, I'll probably opt for the LV ones Wongo has. There are heaps of ideas, links etc here to keep me out of trouble for a while.

3. Read Bill Pentz's site, he is the guru of dust. After that if your'e game to go back in the shed, you'll probably opt for a cyclone, or achip collector and better bags, filtration setup. MAybe you can house the Dc outside in a lean to.

4. Dunno, I hope so, depends on total length of ducting, machine to which DC is hooked etc. Again read Bill's site.

Hi Brett.

here's some photos of my setup. I'm certainly no expert and got most of what i know from the guys in here but this is simple and in a garage like you have. I have to run flex hose down from the ceiling so that i can move things around like the DC itself, when i need access through the rear door. It's just the flex hose from the kit, a couple of 90 degfree elbows, a few meters of pipe in the ceiling and some duct tape. The bin as a separater helps but I think it does have an effect on the suction power. So does running it vertically from the 2 machines I have (TS and Jointer). I have 2 blast gates and only have one open at a time, depending on which machine I'm using. It's by no means perfect but for a weekend hacker like me, it works, so it'll do.

Cheers, and welcome to the forums.

Hey Gumby,

Since getting the big sucker (3100CFM DC) I've realised I was restricting the air flow to my 1200CFM DC by blocking off the other DC inlet for ALL the years I owned it.

Do yerself a favour, go & buy a 'Y' junction & convert the 2 inlets on the DC into 1! You will increase the suck yer sucker can give...

Originally Posted by MajorPanic

Hey Gumby,

Since getting the big sucker (3100CFM DC) I've realised I was restricting the air flow to my 1200CFM DC by blocking off the other DC inlet for ALL the years I owned it.

Do yerself a favour, go & buy a 'Y' junction & convert the 2 inlets on the DC into 1! You will increase the suck yer sucker can give...

Thanks Major but you've confused me a tad. The 'Y' junction is on the DC and another where I split the 2 machines. Do you mean get the one off the machine an run the hose straight in ?

Hang on I'll go & take a photo................

Back now, as you can see it's pretty simple but the results speak for themselves.

Ok, so for us poor sods without a sucker that'd pull the chrome off ya next door neighbours tow ball, you're suggesting take off the Y and go straight in.

I hope I'm getting this right but are you saying that if i get one more 'Y' and put it between the bin and the DC, run a second pipe in that to the other outlet on the 'Y' connector on the DC, it will be better.

In effect I'm doubling the hose between the bin and DC. :confused:

(sorry if this sound confused but i'm not 100% sure what you mean).

(I only have the machines to connect)

Thanks for the replies, think I can probably explore a few options here - nothin better than looking at other set-ups for inspiration.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by outback

Ok, so for us poor sods without a sucker that'd pull the chrome off ya next door neighbours tow ball, you're suggesting take off the Y and go straight in.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I hope I'm getting this right but are you saying that if i get one more 'Y' and put it between the bin and the DC, run a second pipe in that to the other outlet on the 'Y' connector on the DC, it will be better.

In effect I'm doubling the hose between the bin and DC. :confused:

(sorry if this sound confused but i'm not 100% sure what you mean).

(I only have the machines to connect)

OK guys,

I've edited the picture........ have another look

Originally Posted by MajorPanic

OK guys,

I've edited the picture........ have another look

OK, seems I had it right. Another 'Y' connector and run 2 hoses into the machine.

Thanks mate

Yeh thanks Major, I get it now. I didn't think it would make that much difference, ya live and learn.

Originally Posted by Gumby

OK, seems I had it right. Another 'Y' connector and run 2 hoses into the machine.

Thanks mate

Too the machine or the DC??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Originally Posted by outback

Yeh thanks Major, I get it now. I didn't think it would make that much difference, ya live and learn.

I only noticed when I got the big sucker, if I blocked off 2 of the 4 inlets there was scarcely any suction.
I did an experiment with the 2hp (1200CFM) machine by adding the 'Y' & it REALLY helped. To say I was browned off was an understatement, I have owned for quite a few years & I was only getting a percentage of the volume out of it!!