Don't forget to clean those DC filters, too!

[atgcpaul]

My mom was babysitting today so I got some shop time. Anyway, last time I
used my DC, I noticed the suction was low. I have a Wynn filter on top of a
HF DC. Other than banging on the filter, I haven't taken it apart since I bought
it over 4 years ago. With dust mask on, I took it apart and saw that all the
pleats were caked with dust. I have a drum sander so that's probably where
most of it came from.

I spent half hour shaking loose and blowing out the pleats. Finally, I sucked
them clean with my shopvac. Ironic that the shopvac had to rescue the DC.

When all was said and done, there was over 10lbs of dust caked in there!
After I clean and before I start the nexr project, I think I need to invest
some time in making a Thein baffle.

[jussi]

As I understand it you need some of that cake dust because it helps the filter do it's job.

[JR]

I don't know if you tried blowing out the pleats from the outside. I have discovered that is the best technique for reviving a sluggish DC.

If you use a slow painter's motion, moving horizontally across the pleats, you'll clear about six vertical inches per pass. It takes just five minutes to completely revive the old dog into a frisky young pup, and can be done without all the mess you must have encountered today.

JR

[atgcpaul]

Next time I fire up the drum sander, I'm sure the filter
will be plenty seasoned in no time.

I did try to blow out the pleats but only after I had removed it.
It was morbid curiosity that had me take it apart to take a
peak. My little 2hp compressor was having trouble keeping up.
I'll just be more diligent in the future and do the air sweep
WITH the bottom bag on next time.

Paul

[dbhost]

I have to correct here. DO NOT BLOW FROM THE INSIDE. That will only drive the dust deeper into the material of the filter. Blow from the outside to drive it back into the DC... And watch that pressure, you do NOT want to blow a hole in your filter...

And yes, you need to build a Thien separator for that thing....

I have I guess a year and a half on mine, and the filter still looks brand spanking new. Now no drum sander, but more than enough use picking up the fines...

I merely tap it down after each use...

[LCHIEN]

As I understand it you need some of that cake dust because it helps the filter do it's job.

i think that's only true for the fabric bags. The pleated paper filters don't need that cake. OP said he has a Wynn pleated paper filter.

And blow the filter from the outside as the others have pointed out.

[atgcpaul]

i think that's only true for the fabric bags. The pleated paper filters don't need that cake. OP said he has a Wynn pleated paper filter.

And blow the filter from the outside as the others have pointed out.

Yes, Wynn filter but not the paper one, the washable one. And yes, I was blowing from the outside in. I considered washing it but it seemed like that would make a bigger mess although there would have been no cloud.

[JimD]

I got tired of needing to clean my Wynn filter so I made the flapper cleaner according to the instructions on the Wynn website. I had to order a few of the parts from McMaster Carr but it was pretty inexpensive. It also seems to work well. I am about to fill the bottom bag for the second time without needing to do anything other than rotate the flapper piece every once in awhile.

Jim

[Whaler]

My Jet has the flapper cleaner and a couple turns of it and all is clean.

[LCHIEN]

i put a 20" grizzly H5783 canister on a HF 2HP DC and it has a flapper too. Seems to work well.
See black handle below:

[dbhost]

i put a 20" grizzly H5783 canister on a HF 2HP DC and it has a flapper too. Seems to work well.
See black handle below:

I gotta see a picture of that installation! You got one?

[atgcpaul]

I saw that a few people had put the Thein baffle in their DC instead of having a
separator can. I have a separator can but before I started modifying it, I figured
making the in-DC baffle would be easier for starters. It was really easy except
for installing it because I couldn't look from the top to screw it to the standoffs.

I want to eliminate the separate can for floor space.

Anyway, it's installed and it doesn't seem to be hurting suction. However, I'm
not really sure if it's working better. Wouldn't the fines still look for the path of
least resistance (up to the filter) rather than down and into the bag? The dust
that hits the bag is still spiraling in rather than just falling in which is how most
successful Thein installs are described.

Am I missing something? Maybe it's not supposed to work this although many
people are doing it this way.

[JimD]

I put a baffle at the inlet to the bag too but I am not sure how much it does. My filter still certainly gets dirty. I think the separator going into the fan will work better. It is on my project list, it just hasn't gone to the top yet.

Jim

[LCHIEN]

I gotta see a picture of that installation! You got one?

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?p=482288&posted=1#post482288