Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Nov 15, 2006 01:55am | #1

   Depending upon where you live,  You'll be blowing a lot of heat or AC outside.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

2. 
   DonC | Nov 15, 2006 02:16am | #2

   I suggest you buy an aftermarket ulta-fine micron replacement filter bag.

3. 
   JohnWW | Nov 15, 2006 09:14pm | #3

   It would be simpler to place the entire DC outside, moving the dust and the noise out with no major reengineering of the DC.

   John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

1. 
   joepez | Nov 16, 2006 07:54am | #8

   John,

   I am concerned about putting the whole machine outside. I am below grade and I really don't want to put a shelter over a whole machine. It would be better for my situation to just put the filter bag out. The run to the outside would bel less than four feet.

   Thanks

   Joe P

1. 
   user-211435 | Nov 16, 2006 08:02am | #11

   Your best bet would be to take John's advice.  You will need to build a shelter for the filter anyway, just make it taller.

   Or get a better filter.  Or a better dust collector.

   Hal

   http://www.rivercitywoodworks.com

    

2. 
   JohnWW | Nov 16, 2006 04:53pm | #13

   Possibly even simpler: enclose the DC in an airtight closet and vent the closet to the outdoors.

   John W.

1. 
   joepez | Nov 17, 2006 06:40pm | #14

   John,

   Thats it. Perfect solution. Ill put a 4" pvc vent to the outside. I allready have a closet I converted to house the DC with 3 layers of sheetrock to quell the decible level.

   Thanks for the tip.

   Thanks to all the posters that chipped in. I appreciate the help very much.

   Joe P

    

1. 
   JohnWW | Nov 17, 2006 08:01pm | #15

   Glad I could help. 

   If it isn't a lot of extra work, consider going to a 6" vent.  A 4" pipe will add some restriction to the system and might cut airflow.  If your DC is a typical 1 1/2 or 2 HP unit they need all the help they can get to keep air moving adequately.

   John W.

2. 
   BruceS | Nov 18, 2006 04:08am | #16

   Venting that dust collector closet, as John says it will take more than a 4" duct and I suspect well more than 6" with out creating a pressurized closet.   First I would make a U tube water manometer and insert it through the closet wall.  Then make a temporary closet door and put a six inch hole in the door then start up the system and and check to see if I had less than 1/2" water column.  Then keep making the hole larger till there was basically no movement in the manometer and the water levels are even.  Then you will know for sure that you aren't't restricting air flow and maximizing the units capacity.   Then calculate in Sq. In.  of the test hole and make that your exit size to the outside.Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

3. 
   joepez | Nov 18, 2006 06:29pm | #17

   Bruce,

   I never gave that a thought. Thanks very much. And thanks for explaining how to use/make a manometer.

   Sounds like I may be in for a much larger hole than I want to go through the concrete wall with . I will do the test and see.

   What do you think if instead of venting outside, I made the door to the closet a stile and rail, and used good furnace filters for the panels (so to speak). Be interested to hear your thoughts on that?

   Thanks, Joe P

4. 
   BruceS | Nov 19, 2006 01:43am | #18

   Joe,  I did a little research on filters today.  A Jet air cleaner AFS 1000 cleanes 1040 CFM on high speed.  The inner 1 micron pleated bag filter measures     12" X 24".   Which would be just under adequate for a 1200 CFM dust collector and would probably be restrictive after short usage and dust build up.   I believe if you set up 2 prefilters and two 1 micron filters you would be in good shape.  That would be a 24" X 24" opening in that closet door.  The Jet part number for the 1 Micron pleated bag filter is  708733.  Forgot to get the prefilter number, sorry!Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

5. 
   joepez | Nov 20, 2006 06:58pm | #19

   Bruce,

   thanks for all the help. I did the test and you were definetly right on about the pressure in the closet.

   After the test, I made a closet door and cut out top and bottom panels and fitted with 2 furnace filters.(18x24 each)  Now all I need to do is upgrade the top bag.

   Ill know in a week or two how much better it is when I have a chance to make some dust.

   Thanks again for your help. Joe P

6. 
   BruceS | Nov 21, 2006 01:41am | #20

   My pleasure !Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

4. 
   Piccioni | Nov 15, 2006 09:40pm | #4

   If the DC is working properly, there is a good chance more dust is uncollected at the source than escaping out the filter.

   Are you sure the problem isn't with the filter?

   I was having a problem with 'escaped' dust which never got to the DC. I designed and made an improved snorfle (the technical name for a hood) for my unisaw and it made a huge difference.

1. 
   nazard | Nov 15, 2006 09:52pm | #5

   "I was having a problem with 'escaped' dust which never got to the DC. I designed and made an improved snorfle (the technical name for a hood) for my unisaw and it made a huge difference."

    

   Do you have pics/drawing that you would be willing to share?

   Thanks!

   -Jerry

1. 
   Piccioni | Nov 15, 2006 09:56pm | #6

   I don't have one handy, but I'd sure be willing to share. I'll see if I can find the time on the weeked to take a couple picts.

   The workmanship is a little bit of an embarrasment as I had to learn sheet metal bending and MiG welding to do it.

   But I'll try post it this weekend.

2. 
   joepez | Nov 16, 2006 07:57am | #9

   Piccioni,

   I have read Pentz article about the dust hazard. I believe no matter how good the filter and or bag filter is, it still blows dust under 1 micron back into the room. This is the stuff I am trying to alleviate. I am not worried about the dust I can see, its the stuff I cant see that floats in the air.

   Thanks

   Joe P

1. 
   Piccioni | Nov 16, 2006 04:25pm | #12

   I know. This comes up all the time. Terror over the 0.1% of dust you can't see, but ignoring the dust pouring out of your tools at high speed. Dust collectors do not ever collect 100% of the dust at the tool. What happens to the dust that is collected depends on a variety of factors, in particular the dust collector.

   But the dust that comes off the blade of your table saw, or out the various holes in the cabinet, or off your router or sander, and so on, is dust all the same, and there is an awful lot of it and you breath it all the same. Whether or not your DC properly filters the 98% of the dust it sucks up, your biggest problem is the dust that isn't collected.

   This is, above all a religous debate, so I'll slink into the corner now. I was just trying to help.

   Edited 11/16/2006 8:26 am ET by Piccioni

5. 
   xmike | Nov 16, 2006 02:38am | #7

   I've been wondering how to do the same thing.  How do you plan to "core" an 8" hole in the concrete basement wall?  Mine's 55 years old and as concrete continues to harden forever, mine's truly hard.

   Mike D

1. 
   joepez | Nov 16, 2006 08:01am | #10

   Mike,

   Call a concrete saw cutting company. It'll  take the guy but 20 mins and less than $100.00 bucks. Nice clean cut.

   I had a guy do a 6 ft section of my basement wall, and the first thing he did was to core a hole 4" to put a chain through and give the wall a tug over.  That whole job was $400.00.

   Joe P