Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jan 24, 2008 05:23pm | #1

   Not a good idea to use for a shop vac. I've sucked up a few screws by accident, and the impeller blades tend to hate that. Always makes me wince. (I've read that there is some concern that sparks from such accidents might be a fire hazzard, but that might be just hype.)

   I have a reducer coupling that allows me to hook up a hose for small power tools to the DC and that works fine.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jan 24, 2008 05:24pm | #2

   t,

   I wouldn't recommend using your DC as a shopvac:

   Metal objects flying through DC ductwork are going to cause problems with flex hose - cutting/tearing it; metal ductwork - sparks (potential fire hazard!); at the very least potential damage to impeller.  Foreign matter in sawdust/chips prevents their re-use as mulch, etc.

   As for attaching to small handheld (sanders, etc) can be done several ways: 1.  Downdraft table.  2.  Connection via a Y that has a branch size that allows connection to the handheld tool.  The issue her is that they are sometimes different sizes per tool but you can get adapters to solve this.

   I'm sure you will get other issues postedd to your question and the above would be my initial concerns.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

3. 
   blewcrowe | Jan 24, 2008 05:31pm | #3

   I've asked the same questions and always been foo-fooed on it. But my dust collector has not the power to pick up nails and screws, really. I've often fantasized about attaching a 4" port from my dust collector to my shop vac bin, and going at it. Seems to me, there ought to be a way to tie dust collection and vacuuming together.

   One of these days I'll do some experimenting.

4. 
   saschafer | Jan 24, 2008 06:16pm | #4

   You can get floor sweeps for your dust collector, so even the dust collector manufacturers think it's okay to use it as a shop vac. But you're more likely to be successful if the dust collector has a cyclone; any screws or other metal bits are then much less likely to reach the impeller.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   blewcrowe | Jan 24, 2008 08:02pm | #5

   A couple years ago I tried to talk Oneida into selling me some type of adapting unit so I could vacuum with my dust collector. They fought me tooth and nail and flat out refused.

   I'm thinking on configuring something of my own design and trying it.

5. 
   GDH2 | Jan 24, 2008 10:02pm | #6

   No experience but a couple of ideas -
   Use a pre-impeller separator like Phil Thien's - nothing hits your impeller.
   Create a floor "scoop" that you can sweep stuff into. And maybe add some rare-earth magnets to the front edge (a FWW tip).
   Keep your shop vac and use it for non-sweep clean-ups AND whenever the tool has a small dust port and requires low CFM.

6. 
   hammer1 | Jan 24, 2008 10:14pm | #7

   It depends on the collector, what you intend to vacuum as well as how you dispose of the waste. You could hook up a 2 1/2" shop vac hose to a reducer. You will probably have to leave a blast gate open or you will starve the collector for air flow. It won't have the same suction capabilities as a shop vac since collectors are designed to move large volumes of air, not give concentrated suction through a small orifice. I generate quite a few bags of sawdust. I am allowed to dump it at a sawmill but that would end if there was metal or garbage in it. I don't use a floor sweep. Considering all the smaller tools that need dust collection and only have 1 1/4" openings, a shop vac is a must have along with the dust collector. You won't get much flow through a small hose.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

7. 
   tmaxxx | Jan 25, 2008 03:02am | #8

   what about this.

   floor sweep chute with magnets on it, add cyclone lid on a garbage can before the collector then a blast gate in line with the flap replaced with 1/4 wire mesh.  then nothing but dust could get to the impeller.

   would this work?

   the main reason im wondering all this is when im sanding it dosent take long for the vac filter to get clogged.  a dust collector has a HUGE filter and should last through several hours of sanding.  vac last about 20-30 minutes.

   Tmaxxx

   Urban Workshop Ltd

   Vancouver B.C.

   cheers.  Ill buy.

1. 
   Buster2000 | Jan 25, 2008 03:21am | #10

   floor sweep chute with magnets

   I was just going to suggest that.  There was a tip in one of the magazines about two years ago.  Using rare earth magnets to pick up any metal debris.

   I wouldn't had the wire mesh.  If you do any hand planing the shavings will clog it up quick.

   I assume you're using a shop vac when sanding?  You should add the 'bag filter' to your vacuum then a hepa filter.  It shouldn't clog to quickly, and I suspect be better for your health (depending on the type of DC you have).

2. 
   hammer1 | Jan 25, 2008 06:28am | #12

   You may want to consider a pre-filter for the vac, depending on what you have. Commercial vacuum suppliers should have a nylon/teflon bag. You don't fill the bag, it just acts to keep fines from reaching the pleated filter.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

   
8. 
   handyhands | Jan 25, 2008 03:03am | #9

   I have a 1 1/2 horsepower collector and use it to vacuum all the time. No problems so far. Use a 2 1/2" hose.

1. 
   blewcrowe | Jan 25, 2008 03:36pm | #14

   You just use a typical vacuum wand? And while I'm asking, what's the length on your 2.5" extension hose?

9. 
   Wood_Jack | Jan 25, 2008 04:56am | #11

   I use a small separator on my 1HP DC that I kludged together.  I know it's crude and probably not very efficient but, it keeps everything except saw dust from going through the plastic impellers when using the 2 1/2" hose.  When a tool has a 4" port and is only generating saw dust, I move the input of the DC to a 4" hose by-passing the separator, a manual blast gate of sorts.

   Regards,
   Jack
   Perpetual Apprentice

   
   

   ---

   Edited 1/24/2008 8:58 pm by Wood Jack

   
1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jan 25, 2008 03:13pm | #13

   Jack,

   Looks like you have the 50-760 Delta, same as mine.  How do you like its performance?  Mine seems to work very well.  Will be adding a separator if it ever warms up enough!

   Also I noticed that you have the input as 5" vs the 2 4" ports that it comes with via the adapter.  I'm curious to know if that has caused the DC to collect more sawdust than gets into the separator......

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   Wood_Jack | Jan 25, 2008 07:29pm | #15

   Actually it is a single 4" input.  That's the way that mine came, no adapter.  The DC work fine for my little shop but then, I fairly new to real woodworking and it's my first DC so it may just be a case of "ignorance is bliss".  Anyway, I'm satisfied with it's performance.

   My configuration does not collect a lost of sawdust in the separator as you mentioned.  It does collect anything heavier that sawdust like nails, screws, small but important parts and the like that get sucked up accidentally keeping them out of the impellers and making them easy to recover.

   With the small size of my separator, it would fill up too quickly if it was more efficient.  I just wish it was easier to reinstall the DC bag when I have to empty it.Regards,
   Jack
   Perpetual Apprentice