Dust Collector for a KMG???

Troop

Troop

Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
2,898
Hey, Guys, Happy New Year. I just got this Delta dust collector a couple of days ago...nice unit, 1 HP motor. Looks like it was designed for saw dust; with a vinyl covered 4" hose and dust collection bags made out of some type of material (polyester?). Anyways, I was thinking about using it for my KMG, by making a series of "spark arrestors"...first of all by placing some screening near the top of a 5-gal bucket, then cutting a 3" hole near the bottom of said bucket. (I have the 5-gal. bucket under my KMG catching the sparks right now.) Through the hole, I was thinking about putting a 3" connector, another piece of screening across the mouth of a piece of flex pipe, then into the 4" tube of the dust collector.
Do you think that this will cool the sparks off enough so that I don't burn down my dust collector? Any suggestions? Thanks.
- Mitch
 
I think that they will cool soon after they hit the bucket, unless they big.
 
i have heard the stuff can catch and burn, kinda like steel wool on a battery. personally, if it doesnt collect in the bucket due to density like keith said, and it collects nicely, i would take my chances. i always have various means of fire extinguishing ready. a little fire keeps things interesting :) but i would guess things would be cool enough with that set up.
-Lou
 
Thanks, guys, for the replies. You guys are the best.:thumbup:
- Mitch
 
WhitleyStu said:
Here is a link to a lid that might save you some time...
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was initially trying to create....some type of baffle system inside the bucket that would swirl the dust around a little before getting sucked into the vacuum bags, giving the hot sparks a chance to cool.
 
Keith_H said:
Interesting, seems easy to make- jigsaw, some fittings and some sealant. But I'm concerned that metal dust would collect inside due to its density.
Click to expand...
That's O.K., as long as it collects anywhere but all over my workshop.:)
- Mitch
 
I would make something like this: http://www.cgallery.com/jpthien/cy.htm

cypro3.jpg


I don't think screens are a good idea, just another thing to get clogged.

With these designs(wanna-be cyclones) the dust is supposed to swirl around the outside of the trash can and slow down, then fall to the bottom, so most of the dust ends up in the trash can instead of the filters. Get a dry powder class-D extinguisher handy and don't mix wood and metal.
 
The issue I am seeing with these cyclone collectors is that the cyclone idea is great, the plastic construction is asking for fire. I have had the ABS plastic dust collection stuff catch fire from spark buildup before, build yourself one out of good old fashioned steel to go on a metal trashcan and your're probably good to go, oh, yes, use metal plumbing between the grinder and your cyclone.

Fire extinguishers are a good investment anyway. Haven't needed one yet as the slack bucket generally works on anything that has sparked so far, but, ABC class extinguishers are something no shop should be without

-Page
 
O.K., I went to the local Tru-Value and got a 10-gal metal garbage can to catch the sparks, to be positioned right under the belt of my KMG, and a 20-gal one for the "cyclone chamber". Both have lids that fit surprisingly snug.
I'm going to bore a 4" diameter hole in the spark catcher and two in the chamber. A 4" diameter aluminum flex-pipe is going to connect the two. I picked up a couple of 4" diameter hard plastic right angle fittings from the plumbing dept. One is going to be the "intake" to the cyclone chamber (pointed so it blows around and down), and the other one ("exhaust") is going to be higher up. The exhaust fitting is then going to be connected to the vinyl coated dust collector hose via another piece of flex pipe.
I don't think that the spark catcher or the cyclone chamber (garbage cans) will get hot enough from the sparks to cause a release of any toxic gases from the galvanization. And, I'm just hoping that the fittings don't catch on fire; they look like they're made out of some tough stuff. Hopefully, the hot sparks will just be "passing through" fast enough to not heat up the plastic fittings.
I guess we'll see how it works; oh yeah....the fire extinguisher is on "stand by".:)
- Mitch
 
Sorry if it was mentioned earlier, but you could try a few inches of water in the bottom of your cyclone to try and hold more of grit in the can.

Best of luck, Craig
 
cden said:
Sorry if it was mentioned earlier, but you could try a few inches of water in the bottom of your cyclone to try and hold more of grit in the can.

Best of luck, Craig
Click to expand...

Oh....yeah. I forgot about that. Thanks, Craig. The only thing, do you think that maybe the water might get sucked up into the dust collector?
- Mitch
 
Hi Mitch, works with drywall dust collectors, but I'd test before just running it. I'm planning on going the water at the bottom of the cyclone route when I get a round tuit. The muckier the water gets, the better it's working I think. By the way, I wouldn't trust the woodworking dust bag to catch the real fine stuff that makes it down stream.

Best of luck, Craig
 
Please post pictures after you build it, I will be moving into my new shop soon and dust is on the top of my list.

"I wouldn't trust the woodworking dust bag to catch the real fine stuff that makes it down stream."

I am considering setting the dust collector outside.
 
O.K., I got this thing built last night. Please forgive the sloppy appearance of my workshop...it'll get organized (someday). The lid on the "cyclone chamber" (bigger garbage can) stays on air tight, so that when it's running, the lid won't come off when you try and lift it off...you wind up picking up the whole chamber. I sealed around the fittings with Gorilla tape. No air leaks. It seems like the thing might actually work.:) I put a "spark arrestor" between the aluminum flex pipe and the vinyl coated pipe of the dust collector.
Haven't used it yet...I'll let you guys know how it works when I can get some grinding time in.
- Mitch
 
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