Dust collction

[xtreme872]

I will be picking up a 60x96 alpha tommorow from shopbot and curious as to what types of dust collection everyone is using. I will be cutting all types of materials wood plastic aluminum hdu as it will get used mainly for signs. B

[Ajcoholic]

I will be picking up a 60x96 alpha tommorow from shopbot and curious as to what types of dust collection everyone is using. I will be cutting all types of materials wood plastic aluminum hdu as it will get used mainly for signs. B

I have a Belfab 7.5 Hp unit as my central DC in my shop. When I am runnign something on the Shopbot, I am often (or one of my guys) using a few other pcs of equipment at the same time.

I have a 4" run of flex hose running to the bot, around 10', after about a 10 to 12 foot run of steel piping. I find my dust collection very good - excellent, actually.

As a stand alone unit - based on my prior experience with several smaller systems in my old shop, I'd run a 3 HP unit if possible. All depends how clean you want to be :)

In my old shop I had a few 3 HP collectors, and one was fine to run the planer, large panel saw, shaper, etc (only one at a time, when you tried running two machines it wasnt enough to keep up).

If you can swing it, a cyclone is nice.

[xtreme872]

I will only be running the dust collection for the cnc. I want something that can handle some aluminum as well won't be running aluminum everyday but from time to time

[Justin G]

Go with an Oneida cyclone. Pretty sure they are the best there is. If you are budget restricted, grizzly makes cyclones that I hear are not too bad. I have an Oneida and it's only 2 hp and it does a pretty good job with the kent dust shoe. Agree with Andrew about multiple machines at once and needing more power. I bought mine thinking I would only run one machine at a time and now often have at least a planer running simultaneously as my bot and end up vacuuming up some debris with the shop vac afterwards. Congrats dude.

[Burkhardt]

...I want something that can handle some aluminum as well won't be running aluminum everyday but from time to time

Depending on your dust boot (and the suction power) the aluminum chips may not be sucked up at all. If you use any kind of lubricant (mist or spray) which may be necessary for many aluminum alloys to avoid bit clogging, they chips tend to clump. If you cut dry, larger chips may be thrown out under the dust skirt. You may have to live with some chip cleanup, especially for smaller/taller parts that can not be covered tightly with a dust boot. One of the reasons I avoid metal machining if I can, especially steel. My machine is a router, not a mill.

[feinddj]

I have an Onieda Cyclone and really like it. With the dust shoe it picks up most things but there is still a mess on the table after you pull your parts. I have a floor sweep that I leave open to balance the input. (you should have as much air incoming as if you had no hose on the DC at all.

One thing about cyclones that gets missed from time to time: The big chunks never go through the impeller on a cyclone, so it's quieter, more efficient, and with metal shavings not in contact with the blades, less of a fire hazard.

[xtreme872]

would a 1 1/2 or 2 hp be enough for just the cnc? Most of the aluminum I will do will be composites. is a cyclone a must or just that much better than regular?

[bleeth]

That should be fine. Shopfox has a 2HP 220 1PH single bagger that works great. Adding a separate cyclone makes life a lot easier.
They're not the only decent one but I have had good luck with mine as well as their bigger one. Steel impeller is one good reason.
If you want to come pick one up I have both for sale but local pick-up only. I'm getting out of cabinets and moving to a different job.

[jerry_stanek]

I have a 2 HP Harbor Freight unit with a Thein separator and it works good for most stuff including Komalu or Dibond

[xtreme872]

just the standard bag one not cyclone?

[tri4sale]

I have a Jet 1100, it's 1 1/2 HP, only run on the CNC machine, and does fine job picking up dust. I've cut Max-Metal (aluminum composite panel - aluminum on each side and HDPE core) and it picked up alot of the chips but not all.

A cyclone is a must, when I first set mine up and learning, I'd mess up tabs and the small pieces would get sucked up DC and BAM!!! hit the blades. I installed a garbage can cyclone lid in line and now when I make a mistake the large parts go in the garbage can and nothing hits the fan blade.

Jet has a new model (not sure if it's out yet) that has the cyclone built in.

[xtreme872]

What is this a thein separator and where do u get one. Also. How did u install the cyclone on existing one

[jerry_stanek]

Do a google search for Thein Separator and you will see how to construct one. Mine is the the kind that sits on top of a barrel I used wiggle wood to form the outer shell

[scottp55]

They go inline before your vac.
For 1-5hp vacs look at these.
I have two of their small ones for the Desktops and it keeps the vacs filter so clean that I have a very constant vac and no filter cleaning:) Love them!
http://www.oneida-air.com/inventory.asp?CatId={17F46883-40BB-471E-982F-E5F28583241B}
Need to get one of these for my Delta in garage with my larger tools.
scott

[xtreme872]

Ok excuse my questions but this whole dust collection is new to me.. Here is what I have been looking at
http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-W1823-Portable-Collector/dp/B004XLRWSK/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1463572112&sr=1-2&keywords=dust+collectors+for+woodworking&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

http://www.amazon.com/SHOP-W1687-3-Horsepower-Dust-Collector/dp/B001R23ST0/ref=sr_1_7?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1463572112&sr=1-7&keywords=dust+collectors+for+woodworking&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-DC-1100VX-CK-Collector-230-Volt-2-Micron/dp/B004T86NAK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463572161&sr=8-1&keywords=jet+vortex&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

That shop fox has alot of CFM for the money shouldI get that and add a seperator?

[bleeth]

Collector on built in cyclone model seems small to me.
Double bagger is same model I use for cnc and big slider and it could easily handle more.
Guys have discussed fine microns getting clogged easily and losing pull as a result but I have never used one.
You can add your own cyclone and have it drop into a trashcan easily. Mounted with a bracket on the wall means you just pull the can right out for quick changing and less hassle with the bags.

http://cycloneseparator.com/

[xtreme872]

If Put a cyclone on it do I need a double bagger or would this work? So if i understand correctly the cyclone helps store some of the larger pieces that go through? so say if something accidentaly got sucked up it would drop in it instead of going through impeller?

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-W1666-1550-Collector/dp/B00064NPXO/ref=sr_1_7?s=power-hand-tools&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1463576891&sr=1-7&keywords=shop+fox&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

[Kyle Stapleton]

You need the fine micron filter, if you do not have a great filter you do not have a dust collector you have a dust mover and unless you are moving it outside you are slowly killing yourself.

[gc3]

http://www.grizzly.com//dust-collectors

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/dust-collection.html

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi?Realm=All&Terms=dust+collection&submit.x=0&submit.y=0#reference

[xtreme872]

The dust collection will be outside while running.

[scottp55]

Cyclone gets a lot more than big stuff:)
IF you have a well matched cyclone and vac then you can get a HEPA or sub-micron filter without losing volume or continuously cleaning filters.
I know this is small compared to yours, but my chips are so small they're almost dust, and the Dustdeputy gets about 99% of everything.
Here's my HEPA and interior of Fein canister last year after almost a year of use, and several almost overflowing cans.
Just emptied last week and it was about the same after another year. At $70+ for a HEPA replacement, it's paid for itself in time and money several times.
That exotic wood dust is almost like flour because I'm usually using 1/8" VBits and 1/16" EM's and it got virtually all of it.
2 cents

[xtreme872]

This is the one I was leaning towards until all the cyclone post

https://www.woodstockint.com/products/W1687

It has a 2.5 upper micron filter ? Is this what will get clogeed up?

[Kyle Stapleton]

Do you heat or cool your shop? if so you will be losing all your conditioned air out side.
Also you will need to make up the air you will be removing from you shop.

[xtreme872]

Yes I heat and Cool.. I was gonna make something to keep from losing air? Honestly I dont have alot of room where I have my CNC, it is confined to one room by itself thats one reason I wanted to be able to move dust collection outside when in use

[Kyle Stapleton]

a good air filter is a must if you will be reusing your air.

[xtreme872]

I see you have a fein setup for vaccum table, do you care to share some info about that?

[scottp55]

I Think that's addressed to me?
No vac table, just a Fein HEPA TII for DC dedicated for Desktop.
Works so well we bought identical for our second Desktop.
Direct afternoon sun shows fines in the air dramatically.
Virtually nothing since we changed from a shopvac to a HEPA, and 2 people with Bad wood dust allergies have visited shop for hours with no reaction and were very surprised.
It's the stuff you Can't see that kills you.
And besides I like keeping the heat in the house:)
DC can be a real can of worms with Lots of opinions, but my heated shop is actually part of the house, and because of wheelchair, I usually leave the door open and my wheelchair doesn't even track dust into the house where it's a dark red concrete that shows dust like crazy. So I'm finickier than most:)
scott