Thien Separator For Lathe Shavings?

[crokett]

I finally got around to building a Thien separator this past weekend. I'd intended to use it for catching shavings from woodturning, except testing it with shavings from the floor, a lot of them were left between the top and the baffle. I think they are too heavy swirl and drop through the opening. My dust collector is a Powermatic, 2 bags, I am not sure of the HP. My hookup was 8' of black DC hose from the DC to the separator, then 5' of clear hose to the floor. I know I can seal it a little better with weather stripping, but I can't see that making a difference. Is there anything else I can do?

[Relative]

Sounds odd. Do you mean stuff remains between the two layers of the Thien? Sounds almost like you have the input and output reversed. Mine takes all sorts of chunks of wood that manage to fit in the hose with no problems. Best thing I ever made for convenience in the shop.

Mike

[leehljp]

I had one in Japan that worked fine, but I changed the design because to me the very thing you mentioned is what I wanted to avoid. I added a vertical separator between the input and outgo side. This causes the light weight chips to drop down below the bottom of the Thein platform - and have a chance to drop in the bottom of the can, rather than just circulate on the level above the bottom separator plate.

This is just my opinion and the way I did mine.

[Pappy]

I had one in Japan that worked fine, but I changed the design because to me the very thing you mentioned is what I wanted to avoid. I added a vertical separator between the input and outgo side. This causes the light weight chips to drop down below the bottom of the Thein platform - and have a chance to drop in the bottom of the can, rather than just circulate on the level above the bottom separator plate.

This is just my opinion and the way I did mine.

Do you have a picture of how the vertical seperator is placed?

[Bill in Buena Park]

David, can you post pix of your separator?

Like Relative, I've had no problems with having the heavy shavings drop thru the gap in the baffle into the can below. But I've also had weather stripping to seal from the start. Some things to check are correct input-output connections (dc to center fitting on baffle is the correct output). Also, correct orientation of baffle gap in relation to input elbow. Air gaps between the top and the can rim may also be defeating the airflow or cyclonic effect.

[leehljp]

Do you have a picture of how the vertical seperator is placed?

On this link:
http://www.cgallery.com/jpthien/cy.htm

(Caveat below)
On the second and third picture, I placed a vertical divider/ baffle between the in and out along the lines of where the two screws are. It went from wall to wall. It wasn't a perfect seal but enough to be "close" and force the air into the bottom chamber for the wood to drop out.

Caveat: I made the "drop through" section a little larger by about 1 inch. (first right side picture on that link)

I left that in Japan as I ran out of allotted room in my container, per LOML's instructions.

[toolguy1000]

would it be possible to get a link to the thread with the pics mentioned?

[dbhost]

Drop through the opening? It sounds like you have it plumbed backwards. The center outlet is the one that goes TO the dust collector, the side inlet goes to the ductwork / hoses...

[leehljp]

Drop through the opening? It sounds like you have it plumbed backwards. The center outlet is the one that goes TO the dust collector, the side inlet goes to the ductwork / hoses...

I don't know the correct terminology to explain it but here goes . . .

There is a horizontal baffle about 5 inches below the lid. Crokett is having problems with the sawdust gathering there and being sucked into the DC system rather than falling into the trash can below.

The baffle, in my opinion, is causing the sawdust to swirl around above it and go into the DC system. SO, what I did when I had the problem was add a vertical baffle that caused the air deliberately to flow below the horizontal baffle before it could return to the DC. It is at this point that I began to collect the saw dust in the trash can rather than have it move on to the DC.

[crokett]

I have it plumbed correctly. The DC is connected to the center outlet. The intake hose is connected to the elbow. The stuff gets sucked up, but a lot of it sits on top of the baffle right where the elbow is. As per a thread I printed a while ago that dbhost wrote directions in, the baffle is positioned so that the end of the elbow overlaps the start of the closed section by about 1". The baffle is about 3/4" below the bottom of the elbow. If it needs to be closer I can cut the PVC I am using as spacers shorter. The baffle is made of hardboard with the smooth side up. I also have some sealing up to do, so I will do that and see if it makes a difference.

[Relative]

Measurements I used:

Some time ago Phil Thien mentioned that the inlet should be 1/4 to a 1/3 of the way into the non drop slot part of the baffle. The outlet pipe from the baffle to the DC blower should stick down into the baffle at a distance of half its diameter. I also made sure the side of the elbow touched the side of the can. From Phil's pictures, he even flattened the side of the elbow to snug it up even more.

Mike

[crokett]

Hmm... well then I missed the 1/3 to 1/2 part. I don't have the directions I used in front of me but I think they said the elbow should just overlap the start of the non-drop part. That is my first problem. I will adjust it and see if that makes a difference.

[BobSch]

What diameter is the hose feeding the separator? You might not be getting enough airflow to move everything.

[crokett]

All of the hoses and fittings are 4". I have 2 separators. Performance is better (but not much) with the big one rather than the little portable.