Dust Collection Systems

[Brian]

I'm looking for some recommendations on dust collection systems.  I usually do most cutting/sanding outside but it's too cold for that now.  Any thoughts?

[ray vile]

WOW Al thats quite impressive
Al Barale said:

Brian
For any work with powered hand tools, like sanding etc I use a shop vac hooked up to a mini cyclone.

For my larger machines like Planner, Jointer, Table saw etc I use my larger dust extraction cyclone unit.

Here is a link where you will find some great information regarding dust collection, http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm

[Al Barale]

Thanks Brian,

Yes the mini cyclone is home made. Downloaded the plans from Bill Pentz's site.

 

Here are some more pics of the mini cyclone.

Brian said:

WOW!  That's a nice setup.  Anymore pics of the mini cyclone?  Is that self made or store bought?

[Al Barale]

Thanks Ray.

[justin waldron]

I also have the HF dust collector.

[will delaney]

HI everyone I am also starting to reserch setting up a dust collection system. The FH looks great with 2hp and with the coupon in Wood magazine (Dec/Jan) for $140 it looks even better.  I also picked up a book with lots of info Woodwhop Dust Control by Sandor Nagyszalnczy. This book is  giving me the infomation i need to make the right decisions. The Forum is always another  great help. Thanks  

[Hal Schmidt "Woodmeister"]

Hi Kenny,  I live in Oklahoma and it gets hotter than hell and we have blizzards and tornados but I love it here. The room the equipment is in has no heat but it is dry and well vented.  Everything functions well in winter and summer.  My shop is heated and cooled.  I also have a Craftsman air filter.  Do not worry about keeping your stuff warm or cool, just keep yourself comfortable.  I have pictures if you want.  Hal

kenny from Sundre said:

Hello Hal; I thought of putting my dust colletion system( when I get one) and my compessor in a small addition as you have done. My concern is how to keep these units warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I do not know where you live and maybe temperature is not a problem for you. If you have a problem with maintaining an acceptable operating temp, I would like to hear how you have dealt with it.

kenny 

Hal Schmidt said:

I built a small enclosure on the side of my shop and put a compressor, the shop vac and dust collector in it.  I made connections by cutting holes the wall.  I put switched plugs in the room so I can control them from the shop. This keeps the noise down and dust out.  I also have a Harbor Freight collector which was cheap.

 

Jess the cyclone attachment looks interesting, How does it work?

[Brian]

I found something similar today at oneida air.  Looks promising.

[kenny from Sundre]

Hal Schmidt said:

Hi Kenny,  I live in Oklahoma and it gets hotter than hell and we have blizzards and tornados but I love it here. The room the equipment is in has no heat but it is dry and well vented.  Everything functions well in winter and summer.  My shop is heated and cooled.  I also have a Craftsman air filter.  Do not worry about keeping your stuff warm or cool, just keep yourself comfortable.  I have pictures if you want.  Hal

kenny from Sundre said:

Hello Hal; I thought of putting my dust colletion system( when I get one) and my compessor in a small addition as you have done. My concern is how to keep these units warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I do not know where you live and maybe temperature is not a problem for you. If you have a problem with maintaining an acceptable operating temp, I would like to hear how you have dealt with it.

kenny 

Hal Schmidt said:

I built a small enclosure on the side of my shop and put a compressor, the shop vac and dust collector in it.  I made connections by cutting holes the wall.  I put switched plugs in the room so I can control them from the shop. This keeps the noise down and dust out.  I also have a Harbor Freight collector which was cheap.

 

Jess the cyclone attachment looks interesting, How does it work?

[kenny from Sundre]

Hello Hal; Thanks for the reply. I am sometimes working in my shop when the temp. outside is - 25C and that is pretty cold to expect a comopressor to work in, even an oiless one. I guess maybe I will have to get a smaller compressor and find room for everything inside. Thanks Hal.

kenny

kenny from Sundre said:

Hal Schmidt said:

Hi Kenny,  I live in Oklahoma and it gets hotter than hell and we have blizzards and tornados but I love it here. The room the equipment is in has no heat but it is dry and well vented.  Everything functions well in winter and summer.  My shop is heated and cooled.  I also have a Craftsman air filter.  Do not worry about keeping your stuff warm or cool, just keep yourself comfortable.  I have pictures if you want.  Hal

kenny from Sundre said:

Hello Hal; I thought of putting my dust colletion system( when I get one) and my compessor in a small addition as you have done. My concern is how to keep these units warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I do not know where you live and maybe temperature is not a problem for you. If you have a problem with maintaining an acceptable operating temp, I would like to hear how you have dealt with it.

kenny 

Hal Schmidt said:

I built a small enclosure on the side of my shop and put a compressor, the shop vac and dust collector in it.  I made connections by cutting holes the wall.  I put switched plugs in the room so I can control them from the shop. This keeps the noise down and dust out.  I also have a Harbor Freight collector which was cheap.

 

Jess the cyclone attachment looks interesting, How does it work?

[Hal Schmidt "Woodmeister"]

Kenny, Man -25 that is cold, how do you get your car to start? Where do you live?  I think I would add an extra switched plug and a small electric heater that you could turn on when you needed it.  If you can get one with a freezing thermostat in it and left it on when you were going to use the shop it would keep the oil in the compressor warm enough.  I looked at my compressors manual and it had no temperature advisory.  I used to just leave it on and one time it developed a leak and burned itself out.  I was lucky and the warranty replaced it. Now I have it on switch and shut the air off when I am not using it.

kenny from Sundre said:

Hello Hal; Thanks for the reply. I am sometimes working in my shop when the temp. outside is - 25C and that is pretty cold to expect a comopressor to work in, even an oiless one. I guess maybe I will have to get a smaller compressor and find room for everything inside. Thanks Hal.

kenny

kenny from Sundre said:

Hal Schmidt said:

Hi Kenny,  I live in Oklahoma and it gets hotter than hell and we have blizzards and tornados but I love it here. The room the equipment is in has no heat but it is dry and well vented.  Everything functions well in winter and summer.  My shop is heated and cooled.  I also have a Craftsman air filter.  Do not worry about keeping your stuff warm or cool, just keep yourself comfortable.  I have pictures if you want.  Hal

kenny from Sundre said:

Hello Hal; I thought of putting my dust colletion system( when I get one) and my compessor in a small addition as you have done. My concern is how to keep these units warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I do not know where you live and maybe temperature is not a problem for you. If you have a problem with maintaining an acceptable operating temp, I would like to hear how you have dealt with it.

kenny 

Hal Schmidt said:

I built a small enclosure on the side of my shop and put a compressor, the shop vac and dust collector in it.  I made connections by cutting holes the wall.  I put switched plugs in the room so I can control them from the shop. This keeps the noise down and dust out.  I also have a Harbor Freight collector which was cheap.

 

Jess the cyclone attachment looks interesting, How does it work?

[ray vile]

Jens, thanks for your insight I was shoping at sams cub the other day and there was a wood magazine deal there, I bought it and they also had a coupon for the dust collecor for 139.00 good until 3/31/11. After the holidays are over you can bet that that baby will be in my basement..I'm hoping it will save me so much greif from when I come up from the shop covered in saw dust

Jens Jensen said:

You might check in a Wood magazine for discount coupon I paid 139.00 for the  dust collector

Brian said:

There's a Harbor Freight close to me.  I'll have to check out the dust collector.  I like that you have a dedicated space for woodworking.  Thanks for the pictures of the shop.

[Mike McMillan]

I store other things in my shop area..Harley, Mowers, etc... So like you I cann't stand all the dust on my things..Not to mention not being able to sand while I have a "wet paint" project going too.  I went with the Grizzley collector and the sanding table...Am very happy with my choose.