Dust Collector in the house!!!

blgoode

blgoode

Joined
Oct 3, 2003
Messages
7,189
I finally have a dust collector. Its a small portable type but should make a dent in my cleaner shop!! I hope so anyway :)
 
been curious about setting one up myself.

my concern is the extra static electricity it might generate.

do you have a way around it?

I've thought about locating the unit outdoors and just the piping inside...
 
Static electricity?? No way around it but use metal ductwork I guess. I will see hoe well the bag fills up just to see how much stuff I am c\ollecting, then pipe it outside. The dust collectoe is quieter than the grinder so I dont see a need to get the unit itself outside. Thats what I had planned to do but no need I dont think.
 
I just got the small portable Craftsman dust collector. Seems to work pretty good so far :) I went ahead and got the 2 year warantee incase the dust kills it.............seems like a topic that would be ironic but true :) Dust killed my dust collector :)

Got the L4 today Peter :) :thumbup:
 
that's cool that it's relatively quiet...mine screams like a banshee...I now use it as a blower for the forge instead....:rolleyes:


The other problem is hot sparks going down the tube, but since you're using metal, that's not a problem.

If I ever get around to it, I'll do the "inline garbage can" idea. Can't seem to find a pic....but do you know what I mean?



And on the subject of pics....:D :p
 
Dan, I think the Grizzly catalog has a pic of an inline can. they sell an adapter lid to use on a standard garbage can.
Ed
 
They make a big difference in keeping the shop clean(er). A good air filtration system is a big help, too, especially when working wood. I'm not tracking junk all over the house anymore, which makes my wife very happy.
 
I can see how the filter can help. I recently used a double fan window fan blowing out of my shop window with the window screen down. I ran it for a few hours and was amazed at all the crud trapped in the window screen. Now, I am am going to filter the fan in a box in my shop and see how it does.
 
I just had a near-unpleasant experience as a result of my dust collection system.

Due to the sparks and hot metal given off by my grinder, I had set up a metal duct-work system for about 4 or 5 feet before hooking up to the vacuum unit. I liked the idea of the transparent pipe, but didn't figure it would be a good idea with the sparks.

Anyway, the system seemed to be working fine, but today I took my respirator off for a moment during a pause in grinding, and smelled smoke.

Turns out that a lot of the heavier grindings (the stuff that looks like steel wool) had been accumulating along the bottom of the length of piping, especially at the corners. Sawdust from grinding handles had also got mixed in with the accumulation.

Well, you know what happens when you put a match to fine steel wool! I had a small "stove-pipe" fire going on. Lucky I had paused and removed my respirator, as I couldn't smell it with it on. If flaming debris had made it to the vacuum system, I probably would have been getting out the fire extinguisher. As it is, I just turned off the vacuum, uncoupled the pipes, and dumped out the smouldering mess on the concrete floor. I was suprised at how much had accumulated in the pipes.

So...if you're using non-transparent pipes or ducts for a dust collection system from your grinder, be careful, and make sure you clean it out after every major grind. Maybe if I had a stronger vacuum, it wouldn't be a problem, but I suspect grindings would still accumulate at the angles.
 
Chant said:
I just had a near-unpleasant experience as a result of my dust collection system.

Due to the sparks and hot metal given off by my grinder, I had set up a metal duct-work system for about 4 or 5 feet before hooking up to the vacuum unit. I liked the idea of the transparent pipe, but didn't figure it would be a good idea with the sparks.

Anyway, the system seemed to be working fine, but today I took my respirator off for a moment during a pause in grinding, and smelled smoke.

Turns out that a lot of the heavier grindings (the stuff that looks like steel wool) had been accumulating along the bottom of the length of piping, especially at the corners. Sawdust from grinding handles had also got mixed in with the accumulation.

Well, you know what happens when you put a match to fine steel wool! I had a small "stove-pipe" fire going on. Lucky I had paused and removed my respirator, as I couldn't smell it with it on. If flaming debris had made it to the vacuum system, I probably would have been getting out the fire extinguisher. As it is, I just turned off the vacuum, uncoupled the pipes, and dumped out the smouldering mess on the concrete floor. I was suprised at how much had accumulated in the pipes.

So...if you're using non-transparent pipes or ducts for a dust collection system from your grinder, be careful, and make sure you clean it out after every major grind. Maybe if I had a stronger vacuum, it wouldn't be a problem, but I suspect grindings would still accumulate at the angles.
Click to expand...

Wait until you start grinding titanium! :eek:

I've never seen a grinding dust-collection system that touts itself as being explosion-proof or fire-proof. I certainly have never seen a system yet that I would feel fully confident in its ability to contain any minor flash-ups. Any time you combine hot sparks from grinding with a flammable organic material, you will get fire.

There are shop-built systems out there that combine vacuum over a vessel that contains some water in the bottom. The vacuum of the dust collector draws the grinding dust debris and particles from the belt grinder, and shoots it directly over a couple inches of water in the bottom of a steel container. The reamaining air volume is then evacuated, leaving the bad stuff behind in the bad stuff behind in the water. I have tried this. Its messy, and it needs daily attention (for peace of mind), always insuring the water level is where it should be.

The best thing I have is a setup which incorporates a booth that my grinders reside. There is a large 18" industrial wall fan, drawing all airborne dusts to the outside. The booth is set as part of my shop, and does pull a lot of heat out of the shop during the winter, but it keeps the rest of the shop clean, and all heavy particles of dust fall into a water tub beneath the grinders. This is the only way I have been able to sleep at night, knowing that nothing is going to burn down.
 
jhiggins said:
The best thing I have is a setup which incorporates a booth that my grinders reside. There is a large 18" industrial wall fan, drawing all airborne dusts to the outside. The booth is set as part of my shop, and does pull a lot of heat out of the shop during the winter, but it keeps the rest of the shop clean, and all heavy particles of dust fall into a water tub beneath the grinders. This is the only way I have been able to sleep at night, knowing that nothing is going to burn down.
Click to expand...

Hopefully, I'll have a setup like that someday. In the meantime, I think I'll just have to disassemble and clean the pipes, and clean out the vacuum at the end of each day (and before leaving the house if I run out for supplies).
 
what model number is it and how much (if you don't mind me asking) did you have to give for it?

Many thanks,
Dana Hackney
Monument, CO
 
Funny you guys are talking about this now. I recently finished three knives with desert ironwood on them. I always wear a good respirator but two weeks and a visit to the doctor my chest still hurts. I have been wanting to get a dust system built for years but have always been afraid of the threat of fire, especially when grinding titanium. I guess I will have to build it as fireproof as possible and check it often. Good luck with yours. In the future any information to help prevent fires would be appreciated. Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top