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Dust Collection Advice Needed

Tom Albrecht

Tom Albrecht

Joined
Feb 8, 2014
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Location
Evanston, IL USA
I spent 35 years in a dedicated separate building for my woodshop. Now we have moved and downsized, so my shop is in the basement. That's fine in many ways-- it has plenty of light and sq. ft, it's dry, I don't have to turn up the heat prior to use-- except for the dust generation part. Prior to this basement I had a ceiling hung filtration unit (still do) and just above my lathe I had a super high CFM exhaust fan directed through the exterior wall. That exhaust fan idea not going to be an option here.

So, while I have all the typical turning shop tools including a large band saw, a table saw, and a lathe, I would really like to concentrate on lathe generated dust from power sanding. I guess it would be nice to get the chips and shavings too, but I'm pretty accustomed to the broom and shovel.

I cannot say that price is no object, but I want to get this right the first time.

  • What kind of dust collection system is best for this?
  • What kind of collection device at the lathe is best?

Thanks, I plan to post this on every forum I know of, so excuse me if you see this around.

TA
 
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Tom - I was in a similar situation, yet wanted the best system I could put together for a moderate budget. Here's what I wound up with. I found a 2hp HF dust collector (I think it's possibly the best machine they offer) at a yard sale for $200. I bought the Winn Environmental cannister that meets Merv 15 standards (the nano filter that captures 99.999% of particles to 0.5 microns) it comes in at around $175. I added a 33 gal trash can and a cyclone lid to capture anything big. I sealed the thing up, and used it with 4" flex hose so I can get to all the machines.

I'm building a new shop, so I've got the opportunity to plumb in permanent runs to the various machines, but I used it successfully for many years without. With a decent fitting - kind of like a smaller big gulp, it gets virtually all the sanding dust as it's being generated.

The filter cannister is dead simple to clean - blow it out with and airgun set to about 30 psi - everything falls into the lower bag. With the cyclone separator in-line, the lower bag of the collector has not had to be emptied since I switched over about 4 years ago and then it was just to go into storage until the shop is completed.

I'm not one to sing the praises of HF tools - most are lucky to make it through the first serious job they're asked to do. Their 2hp dust collector seems to be a different animal. It actually works as advertised, and seems to have a decent service life - mine was used in a home/business cabinet shop for three years or so before I got it, it's still going strong after four years of my use. The previous owner got rid of it because he wanted better filtration than the fabric bags delivered. He bought a new jet with a cannister. I don't think he researched after-market filters.
Check out Winn Environmental - their site has lots of information about air quality, converting collectors, etc. I'm not connected in any way - just a happy customer - and they're made in the USA, too. http://wynnenv.com/products-page/woo...ilter-pricing/

Even with the above, I still wear the Trend Airshield pro when sanding...
 
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Dust Collector

Check out the Onieda web site. I have used their collectors for 20+ years. They have units you can roll to the machine in use or stationary units piped to each machine. If you tell them what your needs are they will design the unit for you.
 
Felder. The RL line.
I messed around with designing a DC for so long. I was thinking of a cyclone all the decent cyclones are too tall for my application. I'm taking delivery of an RL 160 this coming week. They put out air that is cleaner than a spring breeze.

The thing about wood dust is the silica and the thing about silica is things down around a micron. It can do serious damage to the lungs and the damage doesn't heal.
The whole RL line is equally good just different in size.

http://fpartner2009.felder-group.com/files/testreport/tsr_pdf_240_1_703.pdf
 
Raul McCai said:
Felder. The RL line.
I messed around with designing a DC for so long. I was thinking of a cyclone all the decent cyclones are too tall for my application. I'm taking delivery of an RL 160 this coming week. They put out air that is cleaner than a spring breeze.

The thing about wood dust is the silica and the thing about silica is things down around a micron. It can do serious damage to the lungs and the damage doesn't heal.
The whole RL line is equally good just different in size.

http://fpartner2009.felder-group.com/files/testreport/tsr_pdf_240_1_703.pdf
Click to expand...

The Felder looks pretty impressive. I've never heard of them before.

i have an older Onieda with an internal filter and is wall hung, but the shop does have 9' ceiling
 
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