Hot Rodding a HF Dust Collector

[Vaughn]

I had a PM asking me a question about one of the mods I made to my recently-purchased Harbor Freight 2hp DC, so I figured I'd share the story. Since I tend to use a lot of pictures and talk way too much, and didn't want to resize the pics to fit here on the forum, so I went ahead and posted a write-up on my website here:

Hot Rodding a DC

Hopefully this will help other guys as much as the other DC posts here at BT3Central have helped me.

[final_t]

Totally have to add the inside coller to mine, now. That should help a bit.

[LCHIEN]

Totally have to add the inside coller to mine, now. That should help a bit.

I have a neutral vane, similar to the one described. In fact, I have a PDF of how to make a template to cut the sheet metal if anyone needs it.

I've thought about adding an inside collar to mine, but when I go to clean the (in my case Grizzley) canister I never find anything but fine particles in mine; so I don't think the collar is necessary.

[Jes Pidlin]

Thanks for the post. I just got my HF collector up and running, next step is the pleated filter, then on to the "hotrod" plan.

I'm not sure I understand the inside collar. Looks like the incomming stuff still has to pass by the filter opening and in doing so would get pushed up into the filter. I would think the incomming chute (for lack of a better word) should be lower than the opening to the filter to assure the heavier stuff is deposited in the lower bag.

Thanks again for the post...

[LinuxRandal]

I'd be interested in seeing the results of the 8" collar (not installed, installed, and installed so the neutral vane fed directly into it).

That said HOWEVER, I am not sure I want to see it hot rodded. I am used to seeing FLAMES on a hot rod, wouldn't be good here.

[TheRic]

Thanks for the post. I just got my HF collector up and running, next step is the pleated filter, then on to the "hotrod" plan.

I'm not sure I understand the inside collar. Looks like the incomming stuff still has to pass by the filter opening and in doing so would get pushed up into the filter. I would think the incomming chute (for lack of a better word) should be lower than the opening to the filter to assure the heavier stuff is deposited in the lower bag.

Thanks again for the post...

Got to remember the pictures (with the collar and neutral vane) are upside down.

[mikel]

love the purple...

did my grizzly with the wynn filter but it looks so boring now...


flames would be an 11...


...m

[Vaughn]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

...I'm not sure I understand the inside collar. Looks like the incomming stuff still has to pass by the filter opening and in doing so would get pushed up into the filter. I would think the incomming chute (for lack of a better word) should be lower than the opening to the filter to assure the heavier stuff is deposited in the lower bag...

TheRic is spot on -- most of the pics of it show things upside down. The collar (theoretically) forces the particles down farther away from the filter before they have a chance to go up.

I'd be interested in seeing the results of the 8" collar (not installed, installed, and installed so the neutral vane fed directly into it)...

Same here. One of these days if I have time to monkey around with it, I'd like to try that. Since both the collar and vane are held only with a friction fit, they should come out (after a bit of work).

I have a neutral vane, similar to the one described. In fact, I have a PDF of how to make a template to cut the sheet metal if anyone needs it.

The night I installed mine I was trying to download your PDF and for some reason could not get it downloaded, so I decided to try doing my own pattern. I give you and bolson the bulk of the credit for the idea and execution.

[TheRic]

If you want to play with it some more....

I would like to see if it would help to make the collar slightly conical. Might help keep the larger chips in the bag more, also might help form a little bit a cyclone cloud inside which would also help.

Just thinking out loud.

[Vaughn]

If you want to play with it some more....

I would like to see if it would help to make the collar slightly conical. Might help keep the larger chips in the bag more, also might help form a little bit a cyclone cloud inside which would also help.

Just thinking out loud.

The same thought crossed my mind, too. As it is now, I do get a pretty strong cyclonic pattern inside the bag, but there's always room for improvement.

I'm also scheming of a way to replace the lower bag with some type of barrel or can. (I've already seen what happens when the plastic bag gets a small hole. Cough...cough.) I know I've seen a few variations of that idea floating around the Web...just gotta find them again and see if they'd work for my setup.

I'm the kind of guy who prefers playing with the wood more than playing with the tools for the wood, so I plan to run with it as-is for a little while before doing any more modifications. Still, I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks again -

[jj]

Can I get that pdf of the neutral vane?

I have a neutral vane, similar to the one described. In fact, I have a PDF of how to make a template to cut the sheet metal if anyone needs it.

I've thought about adding an inside collar to mine, but when I go to clean the (in my case Grizzley) canister I never find anything but fine particles in mine; so I don't think the collar is necessary.

[LCHIEN]

PM me your e-mail address

[mpauly]

Can I get that pdf of the neutral vane?

Can I get it too, please?

[LCHIEN]

Sent & sent.

[mpauly]

Sent & sent.

Got it....thanks so much. Another mini project for the week.