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Dust Collector "Size"

2K views 37 replies 10 participants last post by  farmfromkansas 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey all,
Getting a shop together and working on dust collection. Would prefer a cyclone type unit to keep from having to doing constant maintenance and for ease of cleanup. I plan to have a Table Saw, Router Table, Jointer, and Planer connected to it (plus a floor sweep). Also plan on plumbing up those tools permanently and using blast gates. I'm a hobbyist/DIYer, so probably won't be running more than one machine at a time. Thoughts on what "size" I should get? 1.5HP, 2HP, 3HP? I can run 240V, so that is not an issue. Thanks in advance for the assistance.
 
#2 ·
I started with a 2hp cyclone, and when I got an edge sander found it inadequate. If you plan to really get into the shop thing start with a 3hp or larger. I found a used 3hp unit, and should have gone with the clearvue max. I also have a small widebelt sander, 15" which requires similar suction to the edge sander. For just a planer and jointer a smaller unit is fine, table saw requires more suction than the chip makers, and bandsaws more yet, and the finest sawdust requires most.
 
#5 ·
Wt 6" ductwork, it would be wise to start with the larger units, 3 HP should do well though cyclones really put some drag on the system. That's why you often see them with larger motor/impellers versus a single stage. Still, a 3 HP unit should do nicely for you.
 
#10 ·
A mistake (IMHO) that many folks make is to buy a kickass DC and then choke it by using ductwork that's way too small (the reverse is a big problem as well). I suspect that happens because the ductwork part of the system is also surprising expensive, and smaller is a little cheaper. But if you intend to go 4", you can get by with a smaller DC…..it just isn't going to move the air that a more robust unit will; and it's that air flow that catches the most fine dust.
 
#12 ·
Grizzly, Oneida, Clearvue, Mine is a DustKop, which is a commercial unit, and I bought it from a local junior college, and after getting it home, found it was unused. But had a 3 phase motor, I took it to a motor shop to see about getting a VFD installed, and the guy put a new Leeson single phase motor on it. So same as new, and it has pretty good suction.
 
#13 ·
OK, YIKES!!! Those suckers are expensive! So…rather than NO dust collection, could I buy a 2 or 3 HP smaller machine and move it from machine to machine for now, then upgrade components in the future as my needs expand? I know it'll be a pain in the behind, but can't really shell out $1200-1500 right now for dust collection.
 
#16 ·
It's interesting to note that the 2hp and 3 hp Tempest Cylones have the exact same performance curve. Upgrading to the 3hp may have benefits in terms of longevity, but that's it. So… I say go more by the fan performance chart than the h.p. rating. Fan diameter is also a good clue.

2 hp with one brand doesn't necessarily = 2 hp with another brand. RPM, fan diameter, and fan design have more to do with performance than horsepower.

I have the 2 hp Tempest and it works great, even with tools that are notably difficult to collect dust (such as a drum sander). Now, you can no longer buy a Tempest brand, but there are many full-size cyclones that look almost identical.

In short, I recommend a full-size cyclone and 6" metal ductwork.
 
#17 ·
You might take a look at YouTube and see some of the shop made DC's. They typically cost $600-$800 but require you to spend some time building them rather than buying a complete system. You can upgrade as time and $$ permits. Typical home made systems are built around a HF or Grizzly fan, and an Oneida or Clearvue cyclone.
 
#18 ·
You might take a look at YouTube and see some of the shop made DC s. They typically cost $600-$800 but require you to spend some time building them rather than buying a complete system. You can upgrade as time and $$ permits. Typical home made systems are built around a HF or Grizzly fan, and an Oneida or Clearvue cyclone.

- EarlS
Since I'll only be running one tool at a time, I would assume that perhaps a 2HP Grizzly "bag" unit would be a good starting place to get the motor, housing and components and then I could add a Wynn filter and a cyclone (plus the ducting) to get it up to snuff. Does that sound like a decent plan? Not afraid to get my hands dirty, but also don't want to invest the same amount of $$ for a "raggedy ann" type system when the same $$ could buy an off the shelf complete version. OR would you think that piecing it together might give me better performance because I can hand pick (and get the best quality) the various parts of the system?
 
#19 ·
#21 ·
I would consider the Grizzly 3hp cycone, you can start with the portable, then later when you get funds, install it fixed with piping. Problem is, the piping costs about as much as the cyclone. Of the 3 posted by Earl, the CV is about equal to the Grizzly 3hp. Grizzly has a 15" impeller, and is similar in performance to the CV with 15" impeller. The Oneida 3000 is a smaller think 14" impeller, only thing bigger than the Grizzly is a CV max, with a 16" impeller.
The descriptions I have read about the CV max, is it will suck the chrome off the bumper on your truck.
 
#22 · (Edited by Moderator)
So….if funds aren't necessarily available right now, could I get a 2 or 3HP "bag" unit, upgrade the filter now (or just buy the filter) and then add the cyclone later? Hate to piece it together, but I've already spent quite a lot on the tools I need to do the actual work (Table Saw, Fence, Router Table, Drill Press, etc (all used btw). Trying to get something that is better than no dust collection that has the potential to be proper dust collection in the (hopefully) near future. Thoughts on that? (My thoughts are as one of the above posts, that I could essentially get the best quality I can afford at the time and upgrade each component to be better quality at a later date.)

Was thinking something like this:
2HP Grizzly Bag unit, used $200
New Wynn Env MERV 15 filters for the unit $226
Cyclone, Pipe and Drum off of eBay - $225
About $650
 
#23 ·
Your approach is the way a lot of folks address DC. I would suggest deciding what specific components you want for your "final" system so you know that the pieces you get now will be usable on the final set up. You will also know how much the "final" set up will cost as well as how big the footprint will be.
 
#24 ·
Your approach is the way a lot of folks address DC. I would suggest deciding what specific components you want for your "final" system so you know that the pieces you get now will be usable on the final set up. You will also know how much the "final" set up will cost as well as how big the footprint will be.

- EarlS
Thanks. Makes sense. Just trying to upgrade from my Dad's "dust collection" which was a broom and a dust pan.
 
#25 ·
I would steer clear of the bag-solution.
If you do not have a cyclone to remove the most of the dust the bag will fill up with dust and not work.
The only time I would recommend doing a bag-only solution was if I did hand work and not had machines that produce a lot of fine dust.

You could look at a DIY cyclone, a second-hand solution and so on if tve founds are low.
 
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