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Alternative to large dust collection system

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kaymccampbell

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Feb 27, 2015
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Upstate New York
You could drag the shopvac from machine to machine. But, if you want to have something to be able to handle the load from planers, jointers and other large volume dust and chip producers a real dedicated 4inch minimum duct system and a dust collector like you mentioned are they way to go.
In my own shop most things have a dedicated branch and valve. However I also put a couple free ports so I can connect to other less used machines temporarily.
 

Nowater

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Nov 29, 2011
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Southwest Florida
Without knowing what you do in your shop, I would caution that the machine you linked to may not be powerful enough to pull in the fine woodworking dust, if that is what you do!
 

csargents1546

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Dec 20, 2009
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Westminster CO
For an effective dust collector, they can be big. The thing for dust collection is the filter surface area. If you want to keep the dust contained this is the type of unit you will need. In a previous shop I had an Oneida dust gorilla. Thing was amazing. I cut mdf without any dust floating around afterward. I had a boon about dust control in the wood shop. Very informative.
 

bullnerd

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Jersey
There is a website where the guy knows everything thing there is to know about dust collection systems......but I forget the name! Its very DIY friendly too. Its been mentioned here before so hopefully someone knows it.I made mine completely, only thing I bought was a filter bag. I'll se if I have any pics.


EDIT:theres a chance this is the guy, but warning, theres enough info here to make your head implode!
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...clone/&usg=AFQjCNEfBHBGSUeVsA9Ipp4TzX0MVDqbkw
 
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Voi

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EDIT:theres a chance this is the guy, but warning, theres enough info here to make your head implode!

Bill Pentz - that's who I was thinking of when I saw the thread title. Format for that site has changed in the past several years. Good stuff.
 

ford33

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Feb 26, 2011
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Chicago, IL. USA
Like others have said there is so much information about dust collection it will make your head spin. I suggest you take a practical approach to dust control that is acceptable to you and your family.

First you need to take responsibility for your health and accept that breathing in small wood particles is bad for your lungs. To what degree are you willing to take to reduce what you breathe into your lungs? Dust control is about keeping the shop area clean so you and others who enter the shop are in a safe and tidy environment. How important is that to you?

Maybe wearing a simple N95 mask while cutting is acceptable to you. Open a window to blow the dust away. Sweep up after you are done for the day. Use a shop vac. A giant dust system is possible. Spending thousands of dollar is easy to do.

What you show in your link is a good start but if you want something better, consider a two stage system with a cyclone and filter element. Piping a system is also important so you need to do some research on how to do that correctly. But now you are going down the path of never ending improvements to control wood dust instead of enjoying your hobby and being reasonable about dust control.

I suggest you pick a level of dust control that is acceptable to you and your family and implement that and then go enjoy making things in your shop. There are plenty of dangers in this world and just because you can spend tens of thousands of dollars to build a near perfect dust system doesn't mean you should. Accept that life has risks, make decisions, mitigate the risks and enjoy your time in the shop.
 

Boyd

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Dec 16, 2009
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Forney, TX
There is a website where the guy knows everything thing there is to know about dust collection systems......but I forget the name! Its very DIY friendly too. Its been mentioned here before so hopefully someone knows it.I made mine completely, only thing I bought was a filter bag. I'll se if I have any pics.


EDIT:theres a chance this is the guy, but warning, theres enough info here to make your head implode!
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...clone/&usg=AFQjCNEfBHBGSUeVsA9Ipp4TzX0MVDqbkw


I don't like you...I've been reading that site for the last 4 hours!
 

atthebeach

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Mar 18, 2014
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At The Beach
I have a Jet DC 1100M which pulls 1100 cfm (1 1/2 hp) compared to the 650 cfm (1 hp) unit you are considering. The foot print of both units is similar, however. I have my unit centrally located to my table saw, planer, and jointer. I have a 10' hose (4") with quick disconnect fittings that can easily be changed from one piece of equipment to another. My equipment is on wheels, so I did not want to plumb in permanent ducting. This works well for me. The 1100 cfm is plenty adequate for my planer and jointer, but none too big for my table saw. I periodically take the end of the hose to vacuum up the table saw surface. I get a lot of saw dust on the floor from other operations, so I also have a wand for vacuuming up the floor now and then.

The bag is a bit of a pain to empty, so I have a dust separator just upstream from my dust collector. Rockler offers a couple of dust separator options. My dust separator is very easy to empty and captures the majority of all the saw dust.
 
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Jon_E

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Aug 19, 2015
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Southwestern Vermont
That little JET DC is not big by any means. A big DC, to me, would be a 5- to 7-hp Oneida cyclone system with permanent spiral or snap-lock duct throughout the shop. I think that for use on a single machine at a time, and to roll it around to each machine you are using, the JET would be just adequate. You would still not collect all the fine dust.

I have a Shop Fox 1200 CFM DC, and I am building a new shop and had big dreams of putting in a monster cyclone and all this super expensive ductwork. Budget got in the way. I think what will do 95% of what I need is to replace the top bag on my DC with a Wynn canister filter, replace the bottom bag with a clear plastic bag, and install a Super Dust Deputy on a barrel in between the DC and the ductwork. I am also going to go with PVC ductwork.

I would suggest that you could do something similar and have very efficient dust collection. There are other forums that are devoted to woodworking that discuss dust collection in excruciating detail - might be worth looking into.
 
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Hornman

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May 9, 2013
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Southwest DFW
Bedn0009,
The dust collector you referenced is on the lower end of medium sized. I used one that size for several years. I would not use that one for anything larger than a 6" jointer/planer. It does not move enough air to reliably remove the chips from my 12" planer. Take a look at the cyclone style collectors from Penn State, JDS, Grizzly, Laguna. Be prepared for sticker shock, it is easy to add a decimal point to the price of the collector you referenced. That's right, $3500 for a home shop collector. The manufacturers have sizing tools, so you should size your dust (and chip) collector to your equipment. If you size your collector to the bottom edge of the range of your equipment to save money, you will be disappointed in the collector's performance.

I personnaly use the Dust Deputy mini cyclone on a five gallon bucket driven by a 20 gallon Shopvac for my 5" variable speed Porter Cable sander, with an automatic switch to turn the vacuum on when I turn the sander on. This is a very good system and works well with hand held sanders.

I use the collector you referenced to collect sawdust from my tablesaw. It does a good job, collects about 90% of the sawdust.

For the 5 HP planer or the 12" jointer, or the 5 HP shaper, or the CNC router, I hook up the 5 HP cyclone style dust collector. It moves enough air to pick up any volume of chips I create without choking. If you clog your collection line, you do not have enough airfow. Be careful though, a 5 HP collector will move enough air to pick up small children and fair sized dogs.
 

mbatarga

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Sep 14, 2005
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GA
The addition of a cyclone collector will greatly enhance the system flow and will be much easier to empty over those filter bags.
 

transplant_wi

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Jul 30, 2010
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Madison, WI
Effective dust (not just chips) removal is neither small nor cheap, unless you count the Festool line, which is just small ;)

I think you are referring to Bill Pentz (?) site, which got me started down the same road. I ended-up modding my Delta single-stage with a Thien baffle and a cartridge filter from Wynn Environmental. Very happy with it. Oh, and I got a Festool sander and vacuum too :thumbup:

My woodworking hobby has more than paid for itself, and since I was only issued one set of lungs I need to make them last, so I was happy to invest in a healthier environment. The shop is cleaner now too.
 

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dogdog

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Nov 15, 2011
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I think Oneida and Clear Vue are the two top brand on these cyclone dust collecting things down to 5 microns or something like that.... They are competitors and also some history of who is copying who and pattern infringement law suits with each others. I have the Oneida Dust Deputy, works well for small shop vac base hookup. Clear Vue also have similar versions.
 

turbowoodworker

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Mar 18, 2012
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Apex NC
Sorry for the short post above, I was on the phone and reading GJ. So I thought I'd add 2 cents.

I think Nowater asks the right question, What are you doing in your garage? And Ford33 has some very pertinent points. Look at your needs and budget and work from there.

The referenced system is acceptable for rolling from one tool to another but is really underpowered for something like a planer. But it is certainly a step up from the shop vac.
 

kv501

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Jul 14, 2010
Messages
613
A 3M 6000 series mask and filter will go a LONG ways towards keeping your lungs clean. I don't have the desire to spend multi thousands of dollars on a dust collection system so that's the way I go. Shop Vac for larger particles and just generally keeping sawdust under control, and a respirator combined with two large box fans moving air across and out of my garage. When it's too cold to open the doors I go without the fans and plastic off what I don't want to get dusty. I realize it's not the answer for a high-volume, daily use wood shop, but if you're a hobbyist a mask worn whenever you're working will keep all dust out of your lungs, not just what gets picked up by a dust collector. Even if I had a DC, I'd wear that thing at all times.
 

Enigma

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Sep 2, 2010
Messages
861
Location
Florida
Effective dust (not just chips) removal is neither small nor cheap, unless you count the Festool line, which is just small ;)

I think you are referring to Bill Pentz (?) site, which got me started down the same road. I ended-up modding my Delta single-stage with a Thien baffle and a cartridge filter from Wynn Environmental. Very happy with it. Oh, and I got a Festool sander and vacuum too :thumbup:

My woodworking hobby has more than paid for itself, and since I was only issued one set of lungs I need to make them last, so I was happy to invest in a healthier environment. The shop is cleaner now too.
I love your set up! Very inspirational. What size is the motor. Have you ever checked the CFM or the Amps it draws? Thanks!
 
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