Dust Collector Question

Replace the unit with 2X the horsepower or better--30 feet is a lot of travel. Plus if you have overhead tubing you'll need additional pressure to lift chips. Flex tubing creates turbulence, so these should be kept as short as possible.

In message , Dr. Deb writes

One thing to watch for is that if you do not have matching vacuum from both machines and they are connected to the same pipe-work, you may cause one to work against the other.

You might be better to split your system, so you have half the volume and use one on each. Also the more tube that is not in use becomes dead vacuum , I.e. you pull it down in pressure which detracts from the path you really want the vacuum. I am assuming the blast gates are at the equipment end, not where they split from the main pipe.

Any flexible pipes may add turbulence to your airflow, but the collisions of debris to the walls of the flexible tube probably causes more

One thing I found on my own dust/chip extractor is that they have a spider web before the impeller to protect from accidental; large objects. Unfortunately this is probably the most inconvenient location to get to if it need unblocking, which if I pick up long shavings doesn't take long. What I would suggest is to install a fan grill, as used in computer PSU's equipment side of the blast gate, just needs 4 slots in the solid tube then RTV or Epoxy to secure in place.

Just a few thoughts though its been 20 years since I worked in a barometric lab, so that's my excuse if I don't remember correctly

John, I have a question for you. Are you saying the blast gates are to be as close to the eqipment as possible, or that the should be placed so that the maximum amount of dust collector piping is shut off when the blast gate is off? Right now I'm set up with my blast gates close to the machine, but as small as my shop is and as low as the basemeny ceiling is, it would a,most be as convenient for my to place the gates next to the main branch where each machine Y's off. Thanks

I think that his point was that if you had a long run between the Y and the blast gate, you had a "dead vacuum" area or something..

I've always been told to limit the length of runs as much as possible and close off as much of the unused system as you can, so I'd think that your idea of moving them to the Y's would be better..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

In message , Carl & Ann McCarty writes

The way its normally set up is for convenience of the equipment i.e. close to the machine in use. But for best operation it would be better to have where the pipe splits 'Y' (Maximum piping closed off). The problem is with this concept is that they are usually not as accessible , maybe on high ceiling or machinery that is more difficult to move.

Another thing to consider is too much vacuum can be a bad thing. Assume your machine has a 2 inch outlet but your main pipe is 4 inch, unless there is enough ventilation to the machine it will not be able to replace the evacuated air. An example may be a Jointer only small openings in the area of the rotating blade. With too much vacuum you can cause strain on the motor, and flexible pipework to contract, if you find this its worth partially opening a blast gate elsewhere to allow more air into the system

Think of how a vacuum cleaner works you have a 'valve' which you can open to allow air into the pipe for when the vacuum is too great for the attachment tool being used. You can usually tell by the sound the motor makes as it objects.

Thanks to all.

Deb