DC tubes, etc, lots of bucks

[jhart]

Got the HF dust collector set up and started planning the layout. After doing a drawing of how I wanted to set it all up, started adding up the cost of the tubing, blast gates, hangers, reducers, etc and looks like it will come to more than I paid for the dust collector. Add to that the Wynn conversion cartridge, and there's some serious money involved. Looks like I may revise the plan and do it in stages. Did the pricing off the Rockler and Woodcraft web sites. Anybody have any other suggestions of places to check out for prices??

I do think it will be worth it to keep the dust down and hopefully almost non existent.

[LarryG]

You're right, the DC unit itself is often the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Sounds like you're going to use hose, rather than hard pipe? If so, buy one (or possibly two, depending on your needs) of the DC Accessory Kits from HF; item 47911, $42.99, occasionally on sale for about ten bucks less. It includes two 10' hoses, two plastic blast gates, a wye fitting, a couple of universal hoods, and ten clamps. Even when not on sale, this kit is a bargain compared to the same array of items from other vendors, and most of the pieces are EXACTLY the same.

I bought two of these kits and in terms of making my hookups, they included everything I needed except for a 5-pack of hanger straps that I needed to hold some sections of the hose where I wanted them. I have, however, made the system more convenient to use by adding quick-disconnect fittings at most of the connection points, so I don't have to find a screwdriver and loosen a clamp every time I need to move a hose. Most of these I bought from Woodcraft, at an average of $5 a pop; by buying one or two at a time, I was able to spread out the sting of the cost so that it wasn't too bad.

I actually bought one kit first, moved its two hoses around a lot, then later bought the second kit and now move hoses much less often. With the QD fittings, and no total run of hose longer than about 12' including the length of the fittings, the system works very well.

You will indeed find the trouble and cost to be worth it. I've not yet done the Wynn conversion and with winter approaching (and no heat in the shop), I probably will let that go until next spring. With the stock HF bags I'm still getting a fine, slowly-accumulating coating of dust on everything in the shop but it's worlds better than it used to be. (I wear a dust mask most of the time, keep the doors open with a powerful fan blowing, and don't run the DC any more than necessary to minimize the amount of dust it pumps back out through the crappy stock bags.)

[Popeye]

Just went through that drill Joe. I too bought two HF hose kits, still have one hose left. I used hard pipe for most of my runs. Thin wall pvc sewer pipe, cheaper than hose. was able to use metal straping for hangers. Takes some creative work to make connections but I think that applies to most systems.
I want to get a couple of quick disconnects for my temp drops but haven't gotten them yet.
Here are some pics, might help, might not but maybe an idea or two.
http://bt3gallery.fhauto.com/view_al...umName=album15
Have fun, Pat

[don_hart]

Well if you are going to pipe the unit in I would suggest you start looking a sewer&drain pipe. 4" x 10' pices go for $5 at HD and you can get 6" from plumbing supply houses or farm stores as the same pipe is used for irrigation. This should reduce your overall costs.

[monte]

I second Don's suggestion. I ran 4" S&D and it works very well. I believe it is best to limit the use of the hose as it cuts down on your air flow. I also did the Wynn filter conversion and it seems to get rid of all the fine dust as well.

[jhart]

Posted before done - see next reply

[jhart]

Thanks for the suggestions. The S&D pipe sounds like a good idea, especially since it looks like the main run will be somewhat long. I hadn't realized that you lost that much air flow with the hoses. Had planned to go thru a wall and have the unit in another room, but looks like that will not work the way I want it to,as I would need to go thru a block support wall, so will need to do the longer run.

[sdj]

Any truth to the practice that you should run "ground wire" to prevent possible static/dust explosions. I once read what seemed to be an extremely "expert" article that concluded that it would be nearly imposssible to create the proper conditions to really create an explosion in a home workshop with dust collection machinery.

[RichG]

I just ordered the HF DC myself and will be going through a similar exercise. Before ordering the DC I played around with using my Shop Vac which worked OK on the BT3 but on my ridgid jointer that was another story (I did connect up a chip seperator between the jointer and shop vac which helped but I did have to keep clearing chip dams in the jointer). After asking here for some info on adapters and such I was directed to Gizzly on Amazon for one of the adapters I needed. In searching more for that specific part I found these guys http://www.outlettools.com/ who seem to be about 1/2 (or better) the price on blast gates and adapters compared with Rockler. I placed an order for a bunch of Woodstock International stuff which seems to be the same line that that rockler carries. Once I get the DC I'll most likely be ordering more from them.

-Rich

[JR]

Good find, RichG! Those prices are great.

JR

[messmaker]

A guy turned me on to the use of cardboard tube(inner roll on a spool of carpet). It is 4'inside and comes in 12' sections. I got them for $2 each. I have $6 in straight ductwork. It works with both dust control fittings and s&d fittings. It does not seem to have any problem with static and it seems plenty strong.

[LarryG]

Rich: Good find, indeed. Wish I knew about that vendor when I was buying all the fittings I needed.

Bruce: I've heard of that idea before ... do you foresee any problems with the tubes deteriorating from moisture in a damp, unheated shop? Are the cores just regular cardboard, or are they coated with something?

(At only two bucks per stick, it'd be worth that much just to mock-up the runs before starting to cut up the plastic pipe.)

[Tom Slick]

I can vouch for outlet tools being a honest reputable dealer. they are my local tool supply house. I'm like a kid in a candy store, the place is great!
www.airhand.com is not cheap but they do have some great info on designing a dust collection system.
I manage 175hp / 50,000 cfm of dust collection. if you thought parts for a home shop DC system is expensive you should see what I spend just to hook up an extra machine.

[LinuxRandal]

quote:Originally posted by messmaker

A guy turned me on to the use of cardboard tube(inner roll on a spool of carpet). It is 4'inside and comes in 12' sections. I got them for $2 each. I have $6 in straight ductwork. It works with both dust control fittings and s&d fittings. It does not seem to have any problem with static and it seems plenty strong.

Anyone else hear or try this? Since I work next to a carpet store.

[messmaker]

WoW Outlet tools prices look great. $1.99 for a blast gate is unbelievable.