Filtration/Dust collection

Re: Filtration/Dust collection

Fog Tanner

>David,

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to buy some books on dust collection and find out some of the hazards along with some of the solutions. I bought one that had sections on "shopmade" fixtures, which would save you some cash. Unfourtunately there is no cheap solution.

The cheapest is an exhaust system that will pump the dust outside. But, you need some way to replinish the air. And since you have a bsement your probably have a winter too. In Texas where I live, we only have three days of winter, so that wouldn't be a problem.

As far as collection units, you will find people with positive (and empassioned) replies about the cyclones and the bag units. I have both, and am biased towards the cyclone. They are the most expensive, but they do the best job in a closed area like yours. A bag unit would work fine, if you could locate the unit outside.

And you have a correct observation, you really need to get a good system to protect your family from "secondhand dust" from your addiction. Whatever you spend now, will be cheap down the road. It would probably pay for you to get the best system you can't afford and not settle for one because it fits in your current budget. I did that on some items and in the long run it cost me more when I had to buy the other unit anyway (i.e. bag unit and cyclone). I am looking at that now with my Powervisor. At the time I bought the Powervisor, I couldn't see paying $550 for the Airstream and spent $230 for the Powervisor. Now the Airstream is $729 and I still have the Powervisor which will really make the total cost of the Airstream close to $1000.

Good luck in yur search and you are ahead of the curve in not waiting until you have problems.

Fog

Re: Filtration/Dust collection

JL

>A quality cyclone is the best (although not the most affordable) choice. Another alternative would be a bag system (1100 CFM or so) with a felted collector bag. These will typically filter about 3 microns and will go smaller when they have a good cake of dust on them. You can also get them with a cannister which will filter down to 1-2 microns. Check around for the best price.

Re: Filtration/Dust collection

Jim Davies, Clayton, NJ

>Like you, I needed a collection system in the basement. I have no way to locate it out side so put it in its own little closet to dampen the noise.

A bag system is the least expensive way to go. You can get them for under 400 with a 1 micron filter, and many have a .5 micron filter as an option. Use a single hose and keep it as short as possible. If you install gate you will find many of them block up allowing the suction to leak by to ports you are not using. This causes less suctionwhere you need it at the time. Also, the shorter the hose the better the suction.

I looked at filtration systems and never found one I really liked. I made a 2' by 2' plywood box, bought a heavy duty exhaust fan used in greenhouse and installed it at the back of the box. Put a couple of "runners" inside the box to support the filters and use three 24 X 24 X 2" filters back to back. Set this near the headstock and you will be mazed at the dust it gathers, total cost about 60 bucks.

Jim D.

Re: Filtration/Dust collection

vicmarc.fan

>I had a wake up call last year. Had a very unplesant 6 momths trying to recover from turning spalted maple without enough protection.

Like the two posts above me say you will usually be sorry not understanding what someone here says who has wasted money trying to "get by".

I wont bore you with my mistakes because I want tell you what I have done to let my Doctor allow me to keep turning (his hobby is segmented bowls).

I built a cleaner out of ply that hangs up on rafters with 3 12" X 12"filters and a squirel cage motor which I run 24X7 and I clean these filters at least once a week, or more often if the end one looks dirty.

I don't have the headroom for a cyclone so I got a single stage 2HP 230V and replaced the 1 micron bags with a plastic bottom bag and the top pleated corrigated with the handle you turn to clean it out. The 1 micron bags that came with the unit let a lot of dust go through the bags back into my shop. A strong light behind the bags will tell you this. In use I find the canister collects dust so fine the handle is just exercise for your arm and needs to be blown out when you notice suction is down. A VERY nasty job but very little dust gets through the top bag when clean and none form the bottom bag at all. I use this all the time I turn wood, not just to sand.

I found the 3M Airmate the only unit that had a truly HEPA filter and a sensible charging system. I wouldn't attempt to blow out the canister without the Airmate on and I use all the time I turn also. The drawback to these 3 items is cost but it is how I am allowed to keep turning. Ron

Re: Filtration/Dust collection - Cyclone?

David

>I've seen cyclone discussed multiple times. Is this a brand name or a type?

Re: Filtration/Dust collection

Glenn Madsen in the SF Bay area

>Check the threads here (and in the Messages forum) in the last 30 days or so on the Oneida Dust Gorilla cyclone systems. This should put an upper bound on cost and complexity on a home shop dust collection system for shops like yours.

A canister system is not a lot cheaper.

Then decide what's right for you.