Portable dust collector on blast cabinet

[Jeep51]

I have a small Delta portable dust collector that I don't really use much. Can I use it as my primary vac on my HF blast cabinet? Would it be overkill? Any issues that anyone can think of? Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[James E]

Since no one has chimed in, I'll at my two cents.

I think your answer depends on how the dust collector draws air and what the filtration is like. The particulates that blasting puts in the air are minute and really, really abrasive. If you put your shop vac on a blast cabinet, it won't take very long before the motor gives up its smoke as the media dust gets in everywhere and scours the works up.

Dedicated blast vacs are built differently and are made to separate as much of that dust from the air before the air goes past the blower motor (this is why they're usually tall and skinny). The blower motors are also better insulated from the air stream.

Not knowing how your dust extractor is built, I'd look it over to make sure that it's not built like a shop vac and more like a blast vac before I hooked it up.

Also understand that if your dust extractor has a bag and is not fully enclosed, it's going to blow particles all over the place, including into your lungs so be careful about that. No fabric bag can contain those particulates.

 

[Jeep51]

Thanks for the information! My dust collector is the bag type! upper and lower bag. 1/2 horse motor. Looks like I will be looking for a new "blast vac"!! I was really hoping I could use it. It fits perfectly in the space next to the cabinet.

 

[mayday0017]

I do want to add something interesting... Not to argue but my craftsman shop vac has lasted about 2years now of sucking up blast media, it has sucked up thousands of pounds of it. It hasn't so much as flinched at it either... now with that in mind I pull the filter off every time the vacuum is about 1/2 full and shake it out and blow air from the compressor through it and put it back on. But it has done well.... take that for what you will...

 

[Hornman]

Also understand that if your dust extractor has a bag and is not fully enclosed, it's going to blow particles all over the place, including into your lungs so be careful about that. No fabric bag can contain those particulates.

If you try to use the coarse bags that come with most dust collectors, then this is probably true. A filter bag supplier can make bags that will catch submicron particles. Of course, as you make the bags tighter, the bag surface area must increase. The filter bag supplier can do the math for you..

 

[Camper]

I use a Harbor Freight dust collector on my blast cabinet....I do have it going through a dust deputy and then it is vented outside....seems the dust deputy does most of the work...

 

[kyrbz]

As Camper mentioned, using an Oneida Dust Deputy (cyclone separator) will greatly increase the lifespan of a shop vac connected to a blast cabinet. After burning up a couple shop vacs on my blast cabinet, I picked up a dust deputy at Woodcraft, and have had no problems since. I highly recommend the dust deputy.

http://www.oneida-air.com/category.asp?Id={CC6B6F2A-E3D7-4F18-A53C-B5C357DFE131}

 

[steel 35]

As Camper mentioned, using an Oneida Dust Deputy (cyclone separator) will greatly increase the lifespan of a shop vac connected to a blast cabinet. After burning up a couple shop vacs on my blast cabinet, I picked up a dust deputy at Woodcraft, and have had no problems since. I highly recommend the dust deputy.

http://www.oneida-air.com/category.asp?Id={CC6B6F2A-E3D7-4F18-A53C-B5C357DFE131}

Thanks for sharing that!

 

[Jeep51]

Great information! I'm going to look into the Dust Deputy. I have an old shop vac that I will use until I get the proper set-up! I love all the information on this forum!