Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 5 of 5
-
6th December 2013, 02:56 PM #1SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2013
- Location
- Altona North, Melbourne VIC
- Posts
- 223
Shop Vac + Cyclone - Does size of Shop Vac unit matter
Hi Everyone,
I'm just getting into Woodworking and setting up my workshop.
I don't have the $$$ to get a fullblown $2k dust extraction system, but was thinking of starting with a Shop Vac + Cyclone type separator to start with ( probably home made Cyclone something like Build this Sawdust Collection System - YouTube )
My question is, does the size of the actual VAC matter as much as the power of it. Example, there many Shop Vacs that are 20L, 30L, 40L and all have a 1400W or 1500W motor, so if I get a 20L unit with 1400W motor and connect it to a Cyclone, and I get a 40L unit with 1400W motor and connect it to a Cyclone I should get the same suction and performance? with the only difference being that I'll need to empty the Shop Vac on the smaller unit more often?
Or am I completely wasting my time and do I really need to get this $290 unit which is 2HP and 1200CFM at a minimum:
I only have a Table Saw & Router at the moment. I also don't have a whole heap of room, so thats why i was thinking of the Shop Vac + Cyclone + Dust mask/respirator might get me 80 - 90% of the way to somewhere decent dust extraction.
keen to hear others thoughts.
Seb
-
6th December 2013 02:56 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
7th December 2013, 05:52 PM #2
Hi Seb,
The size of the collector on the vacuum will not make a lot of difference. The cyclone should capture the bulk of the material and very little should end up in the cannister on the vacuum itself. To maintain suction it is good practice to clean the filter on the vacuum every time you empty the cyclone's collector bin.
Having said that, you will be far better off if you get the 2hp H&F dusty you pictured and look for the thread by BobL on optimizing it. I have two of those units, one of which goes on top of a homemade cyclone made from 2 x 44 gallon drums.
THere are those who will tell you that this is inadequate and they are correct, but if it is all that you have th resources to obtain and run, its far better than nothing.
Cheers
DougI got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.
-
7th December 2013, 08:25 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Brisbane (Macleay Is)
- Posts
- 271
Hi Sebastiaan76
A shop vac like a home vacuum cleaner produces high vacuum but relatively low air flow. In contrast a Dust collector such as the H&F moves much greater amounts of air at relatively low pressure.
For sawdust collection from Table Saws etc the higher flow of a Dust collector is required. The shop vac really suits portable tools like orbital sanders etc. With a DC the size of the filters is important. Small filters clog quickly and drastically reduce air flow. Even with a small cyclone significant dust will pass the cyclone and be caught by the filters
Cheers
Ron
-
8th December 2013, 09:32 AM #4
As others have mentioned, shop vacs aren't suited to machinery (ideal for hand held power tools with some drop saws being an exception). Here's some pics of a separator I knocked up for my vac. Works a treat. I just need to get some more hose so it's all uniform and then should be even more efficient.
IMAG0092.jpg IMAG0094.jpg IMAG0095.jpg IMAG0096.jpg IMAG0097.jpgCraig
Expert /Ex-Spurt/ -n. An "Ex" is something that has been or was. A "Spurt" is a drip under pressure.
-
8th December 2013, 11:04 AM #5... and this too shall pass away ...
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Brisbane (Chermside)
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 2,084
We all start somewhere.
Used with care, a decent shop vac and a 2 HP dusty (preferable optimised as per BobL's post on The Generic 2 HP Dusty) will do a reasonable job.
Strongly recommend you read BobL's post on optimising a 2 HP Dusty. https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/g...47/index5.html
As for the shop vac, these things tend to produce more fine dust than they remove, as they mince up the larger particles, and it is the fine dust that damages our health. There are several solutions. I parked mine outside under a hood and ran 50 mm PVC pipe into the shop. The filters were removed to improve suction, but be careful with that, some vacs can draw too many amps and overheat if the filters are removed. Tested my amps with the filters out, and it was fine. Also my unit has an overload/overheat cut-off switch.
Here is the vac under its hood.
IMAG0318[1].jpg
Similar Threads
-
Grinders - does size matter?
By Bagmann in forum WOODTURNING - GENERALReplies: 24Last Post: 16th June 2009, 05:07 PM -
A matter of Size!
By gawdelpus in forum WOODTURNING - PEN TURNINGReplies: 8Last Post: 25th September 2008, 10:52 AM -
Shop vac vs mini cyclone
By planetjag in forum DUST EXTRACTIONReplies: 28Last Post: 3rd May 2008, 01:07 PM -
Shop-made edge sander, Shop Notes #37 article
By Jonthechippy in forum Links to: BOOKS, VIDEOS & PLANSReplies: 3Last Post: 14th June 2006, 05:10 AM -
size does matter!
By goodwoody in forum HAND TOOLS - POWEREDReplies: 5Last Post: 7th April 2004, 08:46 PM