Anyone?
I am in the process of designing a new shop and am trying to figure out best placement for the dust collector. The main question that I have is can it be completley issolate in a closet off in a corner or does it need air vents in order to be effective? Your input is much appreciated..
Thanks
Replies
how much hp are we talking? this is an indication of noise levels, and the louder it is the better it is to put it in a walled off closet.
if it's a small 1-2 hp unit, it can easily be configured to be more centralized; the less ductwork means less bends means smoother and greater transmission of dust collection.
Hi Jackplane,
Actually talking something a little heavier duty. Just picked up a Delta 4500 CFM unit, 5hp to service a 1200 sq ft shop. So rather large unit. I am just not all that familiar with what is required to make it optimal. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
You do wear hearing protection, right?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
I have a Delta 5 hp cyclone. It sits in a separate 6 x 6 room. In the bottom of the door into the room I installed an air conditioner return air grill on both sides. One is fixed (inside) and the other opens (outside). Between the two grills is a air conditioner filter. Air exhausted from the cyclone dust bag is filtered back into the shop. The noise is kept to a minimum using this technique. The room is insulated and absolutely the minimum size that will hold the cyclone, bag, and two 55 gallon drums on dollies. Make sure to use a 36" door.
Oh yes, you still need hearing protection!!!
Hope this help your decision making.
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
Edited 11/29/2004 9:42 pm ET by 81treehouse
Danny,
As a tight budget cabinetmaker, I put my rolling shop vac outside in a loosely vented box with a hole in the wall for the hose and electric to come inside. I aligned my power tools so I could use the shortest amount of hose to get to the machines (nopt more than 3 sections). I set the on/off switch in the "on" position. When I need to use it, I just plug it into an outlet in the shop. This gives me less than perfect dust control, but a lot less noise. Noise is very exhaustiong to me, so that drove my decision.
WJPowers
The air that gets sucked in has to come out somewhere. If you restrict it you will reduce the suction of the collector. In a climate that does not have weather you can exhaust it outdoors, but if your shop is heated or air conditioned, you'll waste a lot of money.
You will get some reduction in sound by walling it off in a solid room with some mass in the walls and door, even if the exhaust comes back into the shop through an exhaust port. My Oneida came with a muffler, which helped noticeably when I installed it.
You can't turn a dust collector into a quiet machine, though. Since you have to wear hearing protection with many of the tools you'll be using anyway, spending a lot to try to quiet the dust collector down may not accomplish much.
Besides sound, another consideration is how close the collector is to where you will dispose of the waste.
I suggest you talk to the folks at http://www.oneida-air.com/ to get their take on things. While the forums are interesting often the info can be good and often the info can be so off base that it's totally wrong so having other references can help sort out the good and the ugly is a big help. As a purchasing agent I prefer to see some professional credentials as opposed to the unknown cyber expert. http://www.airhand.com/designing.asp Some great info here. Can't help but be amazed how some folks will ask strangers for tech advice instead of taking advantage of knowledgable professionals. Yes it needs to be vented!
As I mentioned in another thread, I group my tools around my DC, which sits in the center of my studio. I walk around my tools, along the walls, which is backwards from most placements. But it works!
-Bob
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