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2020 Dust Collection rebuild

2019 Blast gate updates.

Sometimes ya gotta suck it up

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I try to keep a tidy shop.  In the middle of a big project, it's not always possible, but having a good dust collector certainly helps to efficiently get there.  My system has gone through a number of iterations.  In the 1990's, I started out in a garage, using a shop vac - it was a small 2 gallon model.  I remember what a pain that was!  The hose would clog up often - for sure whenever I ran my little lunchbox planer.

Then, I built a cyclone from one of the old Shopnotes magazines...  To build that, I bought a bag vacuum from penn state, and used many of those parts.  It used 4" ducts, looked pretty cool, and worked ok for a number of years - it too had periodic clogging issues...

Both of those systems lacked adequate suction.

Link to free blast gate plans on bottom of page.


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Here's the old Shopnotes cyclone...


Progress leads to well, progress....

Fast forward a decade or so....

Bill Pentz has studied and written volumes on dust collection system.  His website has free plans to build a cyclone for a small shop.  Back, in 2006, I ended up getting one of the Clearvue cyclones (a Bill Pentz design) and haven't looked back ('til now ;).  My current setup is getting closer to end game, but it never seems to quite be there.

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The heart of the system is the cyclone, bin, blower, and filter that are mounted to a wall.  The chip collection bin is on casters.  With a short bit of flex hose between the cyclone and bin, it's a simple task to empty it when the time comes.

The diameter of the cyclone is 18", while the impeller is run by a 5hp 220V single phase AC motor.

The filter is built from 2 Wynn .5 micron, 300sf units that have a flange making it easy to screw together.  On the bottom of the filter there is a small clean out box with an easy to remove cover.
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The 6" blast gates that came with it aren't the best...  They work fine for awhile, but end up breaking...
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I built one of a similar design out of plywood that is still good and strong.

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NOTE:
This blast gate design has been replaced with 2019 versions.


But, an improved design became imminent, and that is what this article is really about!

The slide gate became a pivot gate operated by a couple pieces of rope - pull one to open and the other to close.  I put a little block of wood on the rope to close the gate.  It makes it easy to find, so I don't have to think too much...

These 6" gates are much nicer...

There's a link at the bottom of this page for free plans.

Ducts that don't quack

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The ducts are on the walls and ceiling. 

Wherever possible, I used 6" pcv ducts, the system still has a few 4" ducts and gates.

Notice the dust shadows around some elbows?  I was told by an unnamed source: "don't worry about sealing the joints".  Well, if someone tells you that, don't believe 'em.  As you might imagine, it's not a simple task to fix this...  Nevertheless, it is on my list...
 
If you build a similar system, tape or somehow seal the joints.

Machine hoods

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Here are some hoods I built for various machines...

This is the thickness sander and edge sander (both shop built machines)...
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Router table (rear view) and radial arm saw...
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Drill press and one of 2 general purpose hoses - both of these are on 4" ducts gates.

Free Shigshop.com blast gate plans

Blast gate plans

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  • Home
  • About
  • Buy Shigshop.com plans
  • Tools
  • Thickness sander
  • Roubo workbench
  • Upcoming projects
  • Contact me
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  • Latest Updates