Dust Collection

So I went on a little tool binge when i got my tax return.... I found a nice deal on CL for a jointer, and when I got there the guy had a bunch of other tools he wanted to get rid of and he wanted to do package deals... So I ended up coming home with a dust collector too.

Until now I've been using a shop vac, and I had tie-ins on all my machines for that. And that's been one of my biggest hassles around the workshop - moving it around from machine to machine.

I got a box o' dust collection parts with it, but it was all 2" stuff. But as I was designing the system in my head, I just couldn't resist running 4" lines to all of my machines. So I ended up raiding the HVAC and dryer hookup displays at my Home Depot. I could build the system that way for a fraction of the price that my local woodworking specialty store would have wanted to do it in plastic.

I ran a 4" trunk of round duct down the center of my workshop with Y fittings for each tool. Then I made the drops with 6' and 8' dryer vent ducts. I found that most of the metal couplings could make a nice fit with the 4" plastic tool ports; airtight in most cases.

And that's probably the biggest drawback - it was pretty leaky at first, especially at the joints. But that's why God created Duct Tape. Plus you don't need as many hose clamps that way.

It's probably a little noisier too, but its working beautifully. I have blast gates at each tool so I can collect from one tool at a time, but I think with the additional suction power I could run 2 or 3 at a time just fine.

 

So, where's the actual dust collector?
Do you feel a need to ground all that?
I really need to do the same in my shop....if I can ever find the time to even get out there.

 

It was in the second pic, tucked away in the corner. I'm not sure if grounding is even necessary, since its metal all the way back to the machine, which is itself grounded. I've been running it for about a half hour and haven't got any shocks from it like I would from the shop vac.

If you need any 2" parts, shoot me a PM - I might know a guy...

 

I think my system does a better job , better air flow, with 2 gates always open

 

Besides more power at the collector itself, you might need to enlarge the trunk to 6". For chips of any size to make the vertical trip from the tool up to the trunk line, the air has to be moving close to 4000FPM. If the trunk is the same diameter as the drops, then air in the part of the trunk serving two drops would have to be moving at 8000FPM. That isn't going to happen, though, because static pressure is very high at such speeds, and that dust collector doesn't have that kind of power.

 

Well, I can isolate it to a single tool very easily. And in my rough guesstimation based only on the sound of the airflow, I've got at least twice as much suction as I had with the shop vac, which didnt do too bad. It "sounds like" I could, anyway - we'll see.

It was picking up a lot of chips from all of my machines on the test run. It was also able to sweep my router cabinet, which the shop vac couldn't do. I didnt do any static pressure calculations but I'm quite happy with it.

 

Always best to ground the runs

 

I'm pretty sure it is already.

Exploding PVC Dust Collection Ductwork? / Rockler How-to

I did a bit of reading on the subject, and it seems it's mostly a concern for the all plastic systems. The way this is typically done is by running a wire along the run and attaching it to the metal frame of the machine. Since my system is already all metal and contacts the machine, and is also suspended by metal strap hangers, attaching additional copper wire to the thing just seems like overkill. Plenty easy to do, I'm just not sure it can be any more grounded than it is right now. If that's not the case and I'm risking an explosion, I'm certainly open to any suggestions how to go about grounding it better.

However it seems that nobody has ever actually heard of anyone blowing up an ungrounded dust collection system, plastic or otherwise. It's mostly done so you don't get an unpleasant static electric shock any time you brush up against the dust collection parts. That used to happen to me just about every time I touched my shop vac, but it seems to be a non issue in the new system. I spent several hours testing everything and patching up the air leaks and I haven't been shocked once.

 

if most of your connections are metal I would say you are grounded, well not you but your dust collection system, we all know your not

 

Wow, you have busy. Good call on rigid piping. I did the same because of the pricing and static concerns. Your system will probably be a work in progress as you find some things may work out better in different ways. I used self tap sheet metal screws and foil taped all the connections and seams on the runs. The only tool that produces anything more than saw dust is my surface planer and I direct connect that with a 4" flex line to the collector. I don't worry about material build up at the screws in the duct. I even ran a 2.5" line to my carving area so when I use my Foredom with grinder bits, the dust is collected.

This thread reminds me of three things I would like to do to my system. 1) put a stronger metal rod to support the upper collection bag. Mine did not have one, and I put up a temporary one. When the collector shuts off, the upper bag drops and whuffs out a little saw dust. 2) wye off a 2.5 " line to hang over the bench saw. When ripping boards dust and chips fly off the blades. Even if it collects the dust, the chips I can deal with. 3) make a partially enclosed collection boot off the back of the planer. I have a plastic boot at the end of the outfeed on the planer and a bit of the curls escape.

Back to our regularly scheduled program.

 

he is still young ,his eyes are not out of wack yet , but your right the more light the better