Dust collection is one function in my small shop (12×20) in which I am painfully deficient. I have a couple of shop vacs. I was considering adding one of those small cyclones or even a trash can collector top. Like so many others, I have been investing in tools that directly contribute to building something. Even though my shop is not complete yet, I wonder if it is not time to invest in a better dust collection system.
I only operate one machine or tool at a time.
Can a shop vac provide adequate CFM/vacuum through a cyclone? It seems the pressure drop (or in this case the vacuum loss) would be too great for a shop vac.
Greg
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Exo 35:30-35
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Replies
Cincinnati,
Ya gotta do it...the time has come to invest in the DC. It will be painful: cost, space, noise. You need a 1 1/2 hp so you have the flexibility to run two lines at once..both lines servicing the TS or one fixed to the TS and the other interchangeable to other machines, the point being, flexibility in a small shop.
It would be great to get the canister top like Jet, however, the price is quite high ($650). The Steel City is on sale for $298 I think, maybe a canister can be purchased down the road a bit to fit it.
What you'll get outta this is a shop with cleaner air. To pursue the dust free shop objective you'll need a larger DC and a lot more engineering in my opinion.
I tried the shop vac with the plastic top on the ash can...it worked well on the planer, but what a pain to set up. Also, the filter on the shop vac clogs to quickly. good luck
Hi Greg,
Even though my shop is not complete yet, I wonder if it is not time to invest in a better dust collection system.
Well, as BG puts it, time to bite the bullet it seems. Yet another way of putting it might be it's time to clear the air.
My woodshop is similar to yours in that it's small and space is at a premium. I went the 1 1/2 HP route with the Delta 50-760 and it has worked very well for me. VERY seldom do I use more than one dustpig at a time so this system works well for me although I suspect it could handle more than one.
If you decide to go this route instead of a cyclone I would recommend that you keep the run(s) as short as possible. The DC, even though it's portable takes a lot of room in the woodshop and I have plans for remoting it and adding a trashcan separator.
If you ever get your shop complete I think it might be a first in the never ending woodshop adventure. :-)
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
A shop vac is fine for the small machines as they have plenty of air flow. Just a bit hard on the hearing.
Check out http://www.cgallery.com/jpthien/cy.htm for details of a unit that works.
I use one I made for all my "small" machines and it works well. Only the extreamly small stuff gets to the filter. Small machines like sanders, circular saws, pillar drill, etc.
I tried using a shop vac on the table saw, planer, etc. While it collected lots of stuff, if left lots behind and keeping the filter clean was a challenge. My wife spotted a 1hp DC by Steel City at the local Woodcraft. I'm betting more HP is better, this does a good job (much better than a shop vac)! I'm pleased with the purchase, but don't mind rolling it from place to place.
Kept the shop vac with a Dust Deputy for sanders, biscuit jointer, etc.
start checking your local Craigslist postings. I have a small shop and don't have a lot of room. Got tired of constantly cleaning the filter of the vac.
I found a slightly used Jet 650 cfm with 1hp motor for $150 bucks. I've only had it a week and while it sort of sucks to move it from machine to machine, it is still way better than the vac ever was.
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