I've lost count of how many DC changes we've done over the years, but now I think I found the One True Solution (tm).
I'm in the process of building an outdoor mini shed for the cyclone and motor/blower. The enclosure is 2' x 5' and made from 2x4s and 23/32 ply. I'm simply housing an Oneida steel cyclone with a 17 gallon container and a 3HP motor with a 12" blower. I could have made it smaller if I let the tubing protrude or used sharp bends. But being able to make gentle bends, keep the tubing protected, and have quick-disconnect capability for emptying the cyclone meant more space. I plan to leave a gap from the sides to the base for the air to flow out. I will not have any secondary filters; the cyclone is the only filter. This means new air will always be flowing down past the motor and out.
My reasonings for the design choices:
1. Reduce noise in the shop. I hate wearing PPE. I want to remove dust so I don't have to wear anything. I only wear hearing protection for the planer. The other tools aren't dangerously loud.
2. Move fresh air in. We always work with the garage door open anyway, and either a fan or swamp cooler blowing in. Might as well move in even more air. You can't really remove the cooling from a swamp cooler, it works with lots of air flow.
3. Space. The previous DC wasted a lot of space (Powermatic 3HP dual canister).
4. Filters...we don't need no steenkin' filters! And with the air never recirculating, micron thoughts are a thing of the past.
The platform is built, and the drawer for the barrel is done. Got a bunch of tubing really cheap used, already with 6" hand-made sweeps that are very smooth inside. Found an old Kufo 3HP motor with blower for $200, and the steel cyclone with barrel for $250. I sold the old DC for $500, which is what we had paid 6-7 years ago. Could have probably asked more, as it sold in less then 48 hours.
I'm in the process of building an outdoor mini shed for the cyclone and motor/blower. The enclosure is 2' x 5' and made from 2x4s and 23/32 ply. I'm simply housing an Oneida steel cyclone with a 17 gallon container and a 3HP motor with a 12" blower. I could have made it smaller if I let the tubing protrude or used sharp bends. But being able to make gentle bends, keep the tubing protected, and have quick-disconnect capability for emptying the cyclone meant more space. I plan to leave a gap from the sides to the base for the air to flow out. I will not have any secondary filters; the cyclone is the only filter. This means new air will always be flowing down past the motor and out.
My reasonings for the design choices:
1. Reduce noise in the shop. I hate wearing PPE. I want to remove dust so I don't have to wear anything. I only wear hearing protection for the planer. The other tools aren't dangerously loud.
2. Move fresh air in. We always work with the garage door open anyway, and either a fan or swamp cooler blowing in. Might as well move in even more air. You can't really remove the cooling from a swamp cooler, it works with lots of air flow.
3. Space. The previous DC wasted a lot of space (Powermatic 3HP dual canister).
4. Filters...we don't need no steenkin' filters! And with the air never recirculating, micron thoughts are a thing of the past.
The platform is built, and the drawer for the barrel is done. Got a bunch of tubing really cheap used, already with 6" hand-made sweeps that are very smooth inside. Found an old Kufo 3HP motor with blower for $200, and the steel cyclone with barrel for $250. I sold the old DC for $500, which is what we had paid 6-7 years ago. Could have probably asked more, as it sold in less then 48 hours.
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