Open garage door dust collection venting

theslyprofessor | Posted in General Discussion on September 17, 2020 08:15am

Hello,
I have a really large garage that I can keep open while working. In hearing about the costs associated with filtration and the benefits of outdoor venting, I was wondering if there’s any disadvantage to this setup:

I would get a 1250 CFM DustRight. Instead of using the bag, I’d send the dust into a long flex hose to be routed to a bush outside of my garage. When I’m done working, I‘d bring the flex hose bag into my garage and I’d close my garage door.

I know that the length of the flex hose connecting the appliances to the dust collector needs to be regulated in order not to lose CFM. However, does the length of the outbound flex hose which takes the dust out of the garage in my case affect the pressure of the system at all? Also, would this setup make the air quality noticeably poorer outside?

Thanks,
Nakul

Replies

john_c2 | Sep 17, 2020 08:32am | #1
Yes. A really long run is going to reduce pressure at the source. And you'd make a mess, a lot of noise, and irritate your neighbors.

The system works best as it was designed.
theslyprofessor | Sep 17, 2020 08:50am | #2
Thanks for your response. A lot of people seem to work with their garage door open, so I don’t see how my proposed setup would be different from a noise standpoint. As far as the mess, my mom actually wants wood chippings so to mulch the garden so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone (Although, the fine dust might be more than what she bargained for). Out of the things you brought up, the loss in suction is what worries me the most.
_mj_ | Sep 17, 2020 08:54am | #3
Any length of run on the system will reduce flow. Flexhose is worse because of the ribs. Nobody talks about the effect of hose beyond the fan because it is never an issue. Without considering the neighbors, putting the collector right next to a window for a shorter run would make your plan work better. A blast gate through the garage wall would be a home run.

If that's the plan you could buy a used craigslist dust collector and harvest the blower. $600 to buy the Rockler blower is pretty steep.
user-7734117 | Sep 17, 2020 09:02am | #4
I use an inexpensive Wen 660CFM dust collector and due to the noise of this and my pancake compressor, I built a tall cabinet for them outside the back of my garage shop. I control them through a 15A remote control (Ground fault) I do have a cyclone adapted metal trash can outside as well, I simply vent the very fine dust through a standard dryer vent exhaust panel. I do live in a rural area with plenty of woods between it and the closest neighbor. I connect it to the inside through a wall through 4" adapter and use the Rockler quick connect adapter at each tool location, it works great!

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gulfstar | Sep 17, 2020 09:07am | #5
You are trading the losses of the filter with the losses of a longer hose, you would have to try it to find out which is the lesser of the two. As the bag fills, fine dust increase the suction losses in your actual system, I often clean the bag before it fills to regain the lost cfm’s. You are definitely are going to create a mess outside, I know I would as I empty one 5 gallon bag per week on the average.
john_c2 | Sep 17, 2020 10:10am | #6
I don't use dustbag products for mulch, so i dont keep track. But some types of wood produce sawdust that is toxic to plants, and others that are toxic to certain animals. Find out which is which before you go spreading it about.