So I’m a little confused with my research of dust collection systems.
I’d like to stick to 110v if possible, 2 hp and canister. I can do this for $300 to 400.
Now I see Grizzly has some cyclone DCs in April 1.5 hp for $750. G0443 But only 950 cfm.
I’ve seen lower priced canister systems with higher cfm for a lower price then the cyclones. What am I missing?
I need to run an overhead system approximately 20 ft and 6 ports/blast gates.
Thanks,
Martin
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Replies
The reduced volume is due to the cyclone inducing further pressure loss.
A cartridge filter works fine for lighter applications, the disadvantage over the cyclone being that all the particles have to go through the fan and it's impeller, prior to landing into the bag. With a cyclone separator the bigger particles, or small bolts etc. go directly into the removal drum without getting knocked about by the fan impeller.
It's also easier to remove, clean and replace the waste drum underneath the cyclone, compared to a bag on the cartridge unit.
I have a 2hp cartridge unit which works fine. The only times I have problems is when I suck up lots of hand plane shavings, as they block the intake to the fan, due to a triangular bar which prevents large objects entering the impeller.
Have you thought about adding one of the cyclone garbage can lid things to remove the big stuff first?
Martin
"Habitat for Humanity is a perpetual motion miracle:everyone who receives, gives - and everyone who gives, receives.If you want to live complacent and uninspired, stay away from Habitat; come close to Habitat and it will change you,and make you part of something that changes the world."(Randall Wallace, screenwriter, Braveheart)<!----><!---->
The suction pressure and according volume is more important to me than having a separator, as I run a few machines off the system at once. I really don't need a separator for the amount of work I do. Takes me a week-end to fill up the bag.
If I had a production shop running 8 hours a day, I would definitely use a cyclone system.
Where can you get a 2HP that runs on 110V? And for under $400?
Cyclones are always more expensive than canisters. But they work better, too.
Don't believe those cfm ratings - they are almost always the maximum fan output without any ducting, bags, canister, etc. Air movement is proportional to the impeller diameter and motor power. If that Grizzly cyclone actually develops 950 cfm with the bag or canister on, that is plenty of air. The canister systems that claim 1100 or 1200 cfm will not actually move that volume, more like 700 or 800 when hooked up. Each of those tees and blast gates will also reduce air flow.
I just got the PSI 2HP canister and so far, I love it. But it is 220V only. With shipping it cost me about $475.
Oh, and I don't think the garbage-can separators work very well at these flow rates. Too much suction, it will just pull everything through.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein
http://www.albionworks.net
Edited 2/23/2005 11:29 am ET by AlbionWood
Your best bet might be the Penn State (PSI) DC2V2CF. It's 1.5HP, has an 11" impeller, is designed specifically to run on 110V power. The shipping will take it up to $465, but it comes with 50' of duct hose included. (The page I linked above is a bit confusing, but the $399 model is the canister model.) A 2HP motor's going to draw a lot of amps, something to take into consideration when it's running at the same time as, say, a table saw. What do you have available from your service panel?
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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Some simple facts...
First, a real 2 hp motor (not peak 2 hp) will draw over 20 amps, and a lot more to start. That is more than allowed on a household 110 volt circuit, which is why the 220 volts requirement you normally see. Remember that even the 1 1/2 hp that can run on a household circuit cannot be running on the same circuit as a tool that produces dust. So you are into a separate circuit anyway.
Second, the garbage can separators work, but drop the pressure (and thus the flow rate) substantially. Therefore I reconfigured my system to only use the separator on the jointer/planer line.
Third, filter is the primary issue on bag or cannister systems, and none of the bag or cannister answers are simple or pleasant. I finally spent well over $100 for a huge custom bag on my 2 hp collector, and wish I had gotten a cyclone in the first place.
An overhead system with 6 branches is a pretty complex system. Don't be cheap on the ducting (4 inch mains are not enough) or the primary system. My system is marginal with only 4 drops (the next thing to be replaced is the ducting).
________________________
Charlie Plesums Austin, Texas
http://www.plesums.com/wood
Charlie is right on point. I have a 6-drop layout with an Oneida 2hp cyclone and while I can run with 2 ports open, the efficiency is dramatically reduced. My lines tapper from 7" to 6" to 5" and most of the drops and ports are 5". Oneida designed the layout and it works extremely well when run as designed. My previous system was a 1.5 bag DC with a "garbage can" seperator and I couldn't really move more than chips. The dust simply stayed around. When you remove the seperator, CFM increases and so do the jams at the impeller. If you go the bag/seperator route, Seriously consider CHarlies' recommendation to put theseperator on the line from the planer. If you use flex hose you also significantly reduce the CFM so try to keep these runs to the ridgid ducting as short as possible. You can purchase thin-wall 5 and 6" PVC that will work very well.
Doug
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