Any one tried the 2-1/2" Clear Hose Dust Collection Kit from Woodcraft

Typically 2.5" hoses are used with big shopvacs to allow bulky things to pass. Your Craftsman is not particularly big.

What is you goal here? What are you trying to collect dust from? Can't really say if it will work or not without knowing what you are trying to do.

I was planning on routing the collection system to my bandsaw, chop saw, drill press (all three have 2 1/2 " dust ports) and to my lathe (a gate at each machine), to pick up dust when I sand. I'd like to eventually route it to my table saw, but I figure this system probably won't be powerful enough with the shop vac.

Yeah, the capacity of the shop vac isn't large at all, 6 gallons, but I figured it probably has enough power, being that it's 3HP - but I really wouldn't know until I tried it.

My 2hp DC gets maybe half the debris from those tools; a shopvac would be almost useless. And I doubt 2.5" hoses would be any more effective than 1.25" hoses, as the quantity of dust isn't large.

All of the machines you've listed would require a higher volume of air flow than the shopvac can generate to be effective. A true 3 HP motor would draw about 50 amps at 110V.

I think that before you invest in the 2 1/2" stuff, you should consider either a portable DC or a real one, using4" hose..

Most of us have "been there, done that" and found that we should have spent our money on a real system..

Even the Harbor Freight 2hp DC will be much more effective and easier to use, and it's usually on sale for around $160 plus maybe $30 for a started kit with hoses and such..

I use one almost every day and it does the job for me..

mac

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Thanks for all the information. It's good to know what you're getting yourself into before you actually get yourself into it.

-S

While I'd be he first to admit that HP ratings are usually bogus, I can't see 5500 watts being required for 3 HP. With no power factor loss, one HP is about 750 watts. That'd be 2250 watts for 3 HP. In real life, I'd guess 3300 watts or so for 50 HP. That's about 30 amps.

Anyone have more info on actual average power factors?

Formula for a single phase motor:

HP = (E x I x Efficiency x Listed power factor)/746

Motor efficiency ratings can vary greatly. I'd expect the motor used on a shop vac to be on the low end on the scale.

Common power factor ratings range from .70 to .98

See:

Or a web site to that estimates the values (I have no clue what % efficiency and power factor they use): Example:

3 HP motor at 115V

Estimated Full Load Current

34A (amps)

Minimum Copper Wire Size (75°C) THW, THHN-THWN, XHHW 8 Gauge

Magnetic Breaker Trip Rating

70A (amps)

Fused Disconnect

50A (amps)

At 110V the current would be higher than at 115V.

Even at 230V the start up current for a single phase 3 HP motor would be in the area of 52 amps. The locked rotor current would be about 70 amps.

Can anyone suggest a dust collection system on a budget for the following machines:

The following with 2 1/2" dust ports on-board: Drill Press Band Saw

Less than 2 1/2" dust port: Chop Saw

No dust port: Lathe Table Saw

I was thinking of starting with the portal dust collector advertised at Harbor Freight.

Not sure of a cost effective place to get the duct work etc is.. suggestions?

A shopvac will actually work reasonably well with these. The dust is large (drill) or directed down (bandsaw). But they are not serious problems anyhow; I don't bother with my drill press, it is easier to vacuum the debris up afterwards.

Nothing short of a 2hp DC will work on these. There is a lot of dust and it is sprayed all over. Sorry, but no cheap way out. The 6a unit you refer to below won't be much better than a shop vac.

Unless you put an overhead guard on it, nothing works on a table saw. There just isn't enough air movement through the table insert to catch the dust thrown out.

Motors usually run about 1200w/hp. Some motors are more efficient, some less. Now that is when they are heavily used; a saw motor uses much less when it is not cutting.

One of my rules is, wood dust is your enemy. So, I have both a 4" portable DC (that I move from machine to machine) -and- an air-filter (I also have as face-mask, that I use for sanding and other really dusty work)

With a small baby in the house I would:

1. Move my shop outside of the house
2. Discontinue woodworking altogether for a few years
3. Spend some serious cash for a first-rate system, including an overhead unit for the really fine stuff.

It's not worth taking a chance on causing a life-long breathing condition for your child. BTW... congratulations!

Cheers! harry

I really don't think that unit will do what you need... I'd suggest spending the extra $50 or $60 and get their 2hp unit..

I use one with a shop-made cyclone type separator and a muffler from Penn State Ind. and it works for me.. I'd only get the 1 hp unit if space was at a very high premium.. It's your lungs..

I also use a ceiling air filter and a large box fan blowing out a window.. beats the hell out of dusting and vacuuming the shop all of the time..

mac

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