Dust collectors vs. dust separators?

[Rock]

Cool pressure gage BTW!

I can't use plastic for compressed air cause it gets too cold here and I would be sure to smack it with something and break it anyway.

Eric

[satch]

I found that gauge on an old boiler buried in a wall in SF when I was doing some demo. I love it, can tell my air pressure from across the garage.
I've had that pvc for the compressor for over 10 yrs and never had a problem, but here in Cali, it doesn't get that cold

[aggie79]

Cliff,

I'm in the same boat as you - not enough space in the garage. I plan to build one of these in the near future:

http://www.shopnotes.com/plans/shop-vacuum-station/

It is fairly compact. The only downside is that this setup, or any that uses a shop vacuum rather than a dust collector, is that it wont' keep up with most planers or jointers. My planer has a self-contained vacuum/blower and a hose and bag to collect the chips. I don't yet have a jointer - no room - but when I get one, I'll probably let the chips fly.

Take care,
Tom

[Wolffarmer]

Cliff

Over in Lumberjocks they have a rather high opinion of the HF 2 hp dust collector. And it usually is not to hard to find a 20% off coupon. There is more than one review of them there. This is only the lastest.

Sucking Machine


also search for a Thien separator. Here is one. There are many other posts for the beastie

Large Chunk Removal

Randy

[cuyeda]

@Tom,
Wouldn't you know it, my Shop Notes subscription started with issue 110, those plans are in issue 109. If you get the plans, PM me.

@Randy

Yes, looked at the Thien concept, and may have to go bigger with an full size dust collector. The drawback is $$ and space in the garage. I have zero room left.
****
After searching topics on dust separators, I landed on Lumberjocks tallking about cyclone systems. I spent all afternoon building one of these. After I finished it, tested it. Worked like a champ!

I read pros/cons about other cyclone (fit a lid type). Similar to the very first photo at the beginning of this thread. I could have easily built the other version, but comments from people who built the same version I did (vortex?) seemed happier.

Start with empty vacuum.



Here is my first test. I will change hose configurations later, and all I had to make the connection to a 4" hose that will be used for the table saw. Note blue pail half filled with sawdust.



After sucking up the blue pail. Voila! hardly anything in the vacuum. It looks like I cheated the vacuum is so clean. The darker spots must be the intake air cleaning the bottom. This is what it looked like when I opened the lid, honestly!



Now for the bad news. At the very end of sucking up debris from the pail, the hose hit the bottom with suction. This crushed my cone, and while diving with both hands to free the bucket my cyclone unit fell (I didn't have it secured to anything) and broke my epoxied intake from the cone. #$#$!

So IF I were to improve it, make a cart like Tom pointed out (I was going to do that after), and try and build it with a thicker gauge metal. I used the recommended HVAC duct. I don't think it will withstand my 5hp vac. if it should happen again. I was so proud of my DIY, but sad that it was broken after the first test.

Here is the link for the info I used to build it. If you have a smaller vacuum, it may work without crushing the cone, and definitely not with a a full sized dust collector. I would consider a heavier gauge, but then you will need to be good with drawing out the template to get the cone to fit easier while building it. I wrestled with it a bit, but got the job done.

http://lumberjocks.com/SimonSKL/blog/10097

[kevingb]

Wood magazine 203 March 2011 has a coupon for $139. I had to go get one, what could I loose. This was the best HF item I have purchased. If you do a simple google search on HF Dust Collector Mods you will find a gold mine.

I was like a kid on Christmas eve... Waiting for the store to open. I was planning on doing all the mods that night less the filter.

Got it home and 45 minutes later it was hooked up and I was planning wood, with my ridgid 13" there was almost no clean up. Heck why do the mods when I have a teardrop to finish. This thing works great.

I did purchase 2 of the dc hose kits, to plumb table saw, planner, and jointer. I roll the dc outside close the garage door leaving enough space for my hose bada bing my dust and cleanup issues were solved for a fraction of what most people pay.


It rocks just like it is