Replies

1. 
   user-7630268 | Jul 12, 2021 08:56pm | #1

   My experience from an earlier life in a heavy industrial setting tells me you need an opening or access to a bit of outside air to your building. I'm doing about what you are doing but with a smaller collector but a smaller building. But your building is "pretty" much air tight and that is your problem.

2. 
   _mj_ | Jul 12, 2021 09:01pm | #2

   If the shop is airtight the collector in the other room is just depressurizing the shop. You need a vent to provide make up air. The function of the collector should even improve with better airflow. A sound baffled port between the collector room and the shop would be my choice.

3. 
   elmaduro | Jul 12, 2021 09:30pm | #3

   I would trim an inch or two off the bottom of the shop door.

4. 
   beasleysevin | Jul 12, 2021 09:51pm | #4

   A vent somewhere will solve your problem. Either to the outside or the DC room. A dryer vent that opens and closes with airflow would work if you mounted it backwards.

5. 
   gulfstar | Jul 12, 2021 10:30pm | #5

   If you think the dust collection is good, wait until you return the clean air drawn by the dust collector into your shop! You cannot pull all that volume of air without making it up, either by having the collector inside the shop or having a equivalent fan bringing air inside the shop. It’s called air make-up and is key to dust collection. The vacuum you are creating is limiting your dust collection air flow, you would have 5 hp and draw no more, you have to bring in the same amount of air than you draw.

6. 
   rob_ss | Jul 13, 2021 02:52am | #6

   Wow. You have excellent insulation too! No draughts. I'm jealous - my shop is in an old tractor shed...

   As others have said, you need a return path for the air. I suggest that you should create a small pathway from the sucker room to your shop. This will transmit some noise, but will remove the problem. As little as a 2 inch pipe should be enough and will not let too much noise back in. you could consider a baffled 4 inch pipe if you really want max power.
   This will markedly improve the suction you get too as the negative pressure in the shop will oppose the suction somewhat.
   It is far better to link the shop and sucker room than to vent to the outside as this will not compromise your insulation so much.

7. 
   mikeinohio | Jul 13, 2021 06:50am | #7

   Do you have a combustion appliance in your shop such as a furnace, water heater or wood stove?

   If so, you should shut it down until the air flow problem is fixed.

8. 
   wil_d | Jul 13, 2021 01:12pm | #8

   Thanks so much for the input and this makes perfect sense. In essence I've created a form of vacuum in the shop by the collector pulling out air. No combustion devices in the shop. Heating and cooling are done via a mini-split. Sounds like the best approach is to place some form of vent or duct between the shop space and the collector room. They share a wall so should be pretty straight forward. In the meantime I will open a window to address. Thanks again.

9. 
   rich_hedman | Feb 22, 2023 08:35pm | #9

   I just took delivery of a PFlux III and I am planning on doing the same thing you did - enclose the collector in a separate room and pipe in from there to my machines, for the same reason - noise abatement. My shop is only 20'x 20' so I am very interested in any replies.
   I do have an unrelated question: I just unpacked my machine and have not yet started to put it together. I noticed the top of the HEPA filter is not circular like the bottom end (and I thought it should be) - it's oblong (see photos). I get it that the rubber gasket is a bit bent and I'll need to use a hair dryer to make it pliable for installation. But the actual shape of the top of the HEPA filter concerns me - makes me think it was damaged prior to shipping because the packaging was undamaged upon receipt. And of course, Laguna hasn't returned my calls or e-mails. Any advice/insight?

   
1. 
   wil_d | May 17, 2023 10:47am | #10

   Rich, so sorry for the delayed response. My Laguna dust collector is not a HEPA unit so can't really respond to your question, but it sure seems like it yours should be round at both ends. I am surprised Laguna has not been responsive. My unit would not work with the remote and I contacted them and got good service. They sent me a replacement remote within days and it now works like a champ. Hope you have this resolved now, but if I can provide any info, let me know. Cheers.

1. 
   rich_hedman | May 17, 2023 04:53pm | #13

   Thanks Wil_d. Appreciate your comments. Turns out that I was able to use a parallel clamp to get the top back in round and install the filter. Works fantastic. Laguna did finally come through, albeit with no communication at all. One day a truck showed up and delivered a brand new filter. No email, no phone call. The filter just showed up. IF Laguna would have contacted me I would have told them I had the issue resolved. So as it stands I have a ~$600 replacement filter for when I need it years from now. Haven’t even opened the box.

10. 
    DRBWWing | May 17, 2023 11:03am | #11

    You should have a way for make up air, shouldn't you?

1. 
   rich_hedman | May 17, 2023 04:56pm | #14

   Thanks DRWWing. You and dustindawind are absolutely correct! That thing really does work well. I do typically crack a window open when I use it and that seems to work well. I will do a new shop tour video soon and throw the link here in the comments.

11. 
    dustindawind | May 17, 2023 02:10pm | #12

    Dude, add a cat door for makeup air. Don't let your DC suck out all your oxygen.