Dust Collector advise

[gran]

Dust Collector advice

I am looking to buy a dust collector. I am looking at the 2 HP versions at Grizzly and Penn State Industries. I am planning on using one of the garbage can adaptors and venting the unit outside. Both of these companies have the cyclone units for several hundred dollars more. Are the cyclones that much better? Will 1500 cfm be enough to get good capture on the lathe? It should be plenty for the rest of my equipment. Any other suggestions for dust collection?

 

[Tom Hintz]

I have a review of the 1200cfm, 1 micron filtering Delta Dc (50-760) at the link below. I am impressed every time I turn it on...

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/d50-760rvu.html

 

[dkulze]

Hi, Gran.

If you're using the cyclone garbage hood, that will take care of most of the bits and pieces, especially any metal or gravel that would damage your impeller blades. On another thread, one person said that it drops his need to empty the collector bag to a couple of times a year (though he keeps several garbage cans handy to change out for the hood).

If you're venting outside, that pretty much eliminates the need for expensive filter bags.

The cyclone systems are really nice but, under the circumstances you are describing, not necessary for your needs. Still, if you want one and can afford it, why not?

1500ccm should be fine for a medium sized shop. Consider that the intake at the lathe will not be pulling in lots of shavings (they tend to fly at you and I'm assuming you don't want to mount the intake on your chest) so you don't need any humongous level of vaccum and you'll still need to shovel up afterwards or put in a floor intake and sweep the shavings into it (personal opinion, shovel away and sweep up the dust and bits into the intake).

One exception to this situation. A friend built a system from a commercial impeller venting to a trailer outside his shop. It would pull shavings from several feet away and he would simply sweep piles towards it and stand back. Of course, you had to wear ear protection when it was running, you'd do well not to stand to near it, and I think it grabbed a couple of brooms out of his hands.

Dietrich

 

[gran]

I think that your friends set up is a little more than I need. 😀 I'm afraid it might suck up the kids. Still, it sure would be nice not to have to clean up the shavings. I may have to try the floor intake right behind the lathe and see if I can save some effort there.

 

[Steve Worcester]

Both of these companies have the cyclone units for several hundred dollars more. Are the cyclones that much better? Will 1500 cfm be enough to get good capture on the lathe?

Don't worry about shaving capture, it is most likely futile. What you need to concern yourself with is dust capture for sanding. 1500 CFM, as they rate it, is real good. The ratings are generally a bit optimistic.
You said you are venting outside, does that mean you will have the collector outside? If not, a cylcone is definately the way to go as they are that much quieter. I went from a small Dc to a larger DC like you are talking about, then to a cyclone so that I could do the whole shop and the cyclone is SO much quieter and has less pressure drop. Filters are easier to clean and replace than cleaning out the bag.

 

[Bill Hunt]

I've got the Grizzly 2HP and it does a very good job. I've also got a large squirll cage blower set up outside the shop with a 4" hose that I attach to my PM3520 guard (that's always in the up position) and place it right at the bowl that's being sanded. Picks up the fine dust real well. BTW,I attached a table saw dust collection plate to one side of the blower and left the other side open. Cheap set up but works great.

Bill

 

[gran]

Does anyone have experience with the Penn State Industries line of cyclones? They are significantly cheaper than the others I've seen at Grizzley or Onieda. I realize that cheaper isn't always better. It is hard to make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Are there any other brands that I ought to be looking at?

 

[PapaDoc]

As always when dust collection is the issue, I refer folks to the best website on dc: www.billpentz.com. Steve is right when he pushes the real question, that is, the collection of the finest particles of dust. Most dc systems do not get the real culprits which are the particles less than 1 micron.
You'll find more information than you need at Bill's site, something he set up after he reaped the whirlwind of his lack of dust collection.
David Galloway

 

[Rick-U]

Collect at the source and put the noise outside

Gran,

PapaDoc is absolutely right about www.billpentz.com. If you read everything there you will be well equipped to make a good choice. You will find that dust collection effectiveness is related more to how much air you move (CFM) and not how much vacuum you can generate. Also, collection at the source is important so you don't breath some of it on it's way to whatever air cleaner you have mounted elsewhere.

I have the 2HP Oneida system (located in the shop) with external filters. I plan to eventually move it outside and provide for filtered return air in the winter. (The noise does wear on me.) I also have a couple of home made air cleaners that change the air in about 6 minutes when they're on high. I made them to accept double or furnace filters available in a variety of filter grades.)

Hope this helps.

 

[gran]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think that I'm going to get the biggest cyclone that I can afford to try and capture at source. Right now I'm looking at the 3 hp model from Penn State . Also I think I'll try to improve my general ventalation I'll put some fans to blow fresh air in. Lucky for me rarely is it too cold to work in shop down here and any extra ventilation is appreciated in summer.

Does anyone know of any problems with the 3 hp cyclone at Penn State? Any guess on how close its advertised flow is to actual?

 

[spinsdawood]

Wood Dust

For what it's worth,
Home Depot sells a squirrel cage fan for $199.00 that is great for moving large amounts of air. It has 3 speeds the fastest of them delivers @ 2500 cu ft a minute. It is portable and is only limited by your imagination. I have 2 of them in conjunction with a 1150 cfm 1 micron dust collector and a 750 cu ft a min 1/2 micron filter. I have approximately $1000.00 invested and my plan is to turn for many more yrs. I am extremely sensitive to dust and fumes from C A glue. I turn a lot of pens, bowles and hollow forms in my shop. These fans can be found in the section where they sell water vacs. I hope this info helps,
Jim 🙂

 

[gran]

Thanks, I'll look for it. I like the idea of getting rid of the bad air instead of just filtering it.

 

[Rob Capozzi]

DC info recommendation

Wood Magazine did a comparison of cyclones in December of 2003 http://www.woodmagazine.com/wood/wo...l=woodmall/toolreview/153cyclonedustcollector.

The Woodsucker and Oneida cyclones were at the top if I recall correctly. I believe PS had the same performance curves identified for the 2HP and 3HP cyclones at one time. This makes sense to me given they are both spinning the same size fans through the same sized cyclone units (bigger motor doesn't equal more air movement with all other things equal). I would be very surprised to see the Penn State produce more than 1000 or so actual CFM once you get it hooked up to any ductwork. Check out the article and read up on Bill's site.

 

[Elizabeth Woodturner]

Hey Gran,
Don't even worry about the shavings, you can invite all your friends over to haul them away for their gardens. Shavings clog up your dust system.When you turn wood small sparks can get sucked up the dust system and you don't even notice it. If you get a clog in the dust system plus a spark then you"ve got a fire which can smolder for hours. Also get the best filtering system you can afford even if it is outside because it sure is a pain always having the car covered in fine white dust, not to mention the kids playing outside. If you can stand to wear a mask while you are working with dry wood it would really help however I have found it difficult to get people to wear safety glasses let alone a mask.

 

[Jim Bremer]

Think about a ventilator belt

I have the 2 hp Grizzly dust collector you referenced, and it's a good machine. However, for turning I wear a ventilator that straps around my waist and blows air into the face shield. The ventilator filter traps the small stuff and that's what you want to be concerned with. I bought mine at Craft Supply.