Dust Collector??

Status
Not open for further replies.
David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
Hi Guys,

I sure need to install a dust collector in my shop. After I finish a knife or sword the entire shop is covered in dust, some metal, some wood, some just plain ole whatever. It's almost as if I need a dust collection system that would work throughout the shop. I don't forge in the shop, it's always outside. I'm thinking of enclosing a corner, say 6'x5' or so, just for grinding. What is a good but economical system I could use? I'd like to vent it outside, maybe into a metal container of some type. I would appreciate your advice.
 
Many just use the fan portion and shoot everything outside. You can get a big metal garbage can to collect everything into. or just use as a standard collector with bags. I have a $500 canister collector I have yet to even open and its been about a year now! My main reason for it was for handle work as the wood and micarta dust is just horrible. I just need to dedicate a weekend to hook it all up!
 
You should check out Mr. Patrices thread on the subject "Dust collection addiction" He's got a nice setup, some put a bucket of water under their grinders that seems to work... or you can take my route and go all hand tools lol broom and dust pan is very easy for that... but seriously check that link out Patrice says it's not that pricey...
 
I just used the blower system from Harbor Freight, with the ducting and gates they sell. I don't use the filter bag I can blow out doors and it works really well. Had it about 3 years without trouble, I do not run metal grinding through it, I plan on seperate system using the water catch bucket for that.
 
Thanks Guys, I saw Patrice's thread, but in looking at his picture all I see is a bunch of flexible piping. I don't understand exactly how it works. If it's vented outside am I to install a fan in the wall which pulls the air out? Is a hood installed over the grinder sufficient to pick up steel shaving coming off the grinder? I guess I just need to understand how the system works before I can begin to figure out how to install one. (when I think of an exhaust system I think of a kitchen exhaust. A simple fan which pulls the air out. Isn't a shop system the same, only you have various ports/hoses going to specific pieces of equipment? Or am I vastly understating the issue?).
 
i collect dust with a heavy duty shop vac with a hepa filter on it. i used drywall dust bags in it too to save filter life. i took a five gal bucket, cut a hole in the side and ran the vacume hose to it. i also fill the bottom of the bucket with about an inch of water. dont get the water too full or the vac will pull it up the side of the bucket and into the system. i hang the bucket directly under the grinder. the combination of grinder blowing everything down, the suction from the vac, and the water does a pretty good job of capturing dust. i have a very long hose because i get worried about sucking up hot sparks and catching it on fire. sometimes i sit the vac outside over nite just to be sure nothing was smouldering. but you could just run a second hose from the output in the vac, run it without a filter and daylight the hose outside if you wanted.
 
I want Patrick's system in my garage but, truthfully I'm hesitant to punch the holes in my brick walls. I may have to replace a glass block window to do this right.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAargh

Syn
 
I like the ability to keep heat indoors and not vent outside

Have a look at the Thein DIY cyclone, attaches to a shop vac, or a blower

It reduces the load of dust that goes to a filter bag and allows you to use it as a spark/water trap.
 
Don't forget the box fan with 20" X 20" furnace filter! These work well for catching stray dust in the air.
 
Hey, Count, what's that DIY cyclone? I can't vent outside and need that badly if you say it works. Thanks much ! Frank
 
Frank, have you looked at the Cincinnati brand of metal dust collectors. I think Nick Wheeler posted a pic of one a little way back. Not cheap but would definitely be perfect for you.
 
Sam, for me, keeping heat inside is a minor drawback of venting outside.
Plus it sounds worst than it is, my shop never becomes very cold (not at all actually) and I can't say that my heating bill suffers much from it.

On the plus side, it takes a lot less space in the shop than having to have the container/cyclone/spark arrestor in there.

And it evacuates the fumes that would get through the bag of a dust collector.
Very helpful when quenching

Also, as far as air flow is concerned, the less you restrict the intake and outtake the better it is.

One of the main reason I made a 5” intake to replace the 4” one. For the outtake I could not do it since the casing was formed that way (4”). But I still could see the blower “breathing” better resulting in a higher flow.

A dust bag would also restrict the outtake some.

Not saying that an enclosed system won't work but if you can do both I would think that venting outside is the best option.
 
Thanks everyone,

You've given me good info to get started with; I'm going to take a look at what Harbor Freight has. But, other than the good ole slag bucket, which I hate as it's always in the way, is there a way to collect the shavings coming off the grinder?
 
Last edited:
Well, the dust/shavings from the grinder are the main source of my problem. Steel dust gets blown around, covers everything. In fact, other than wood dust when I use my grinder to shape handles, the grinder produces more dust than any other machine I own. I keep a slag bucket under the grinder, and it helps, but it just gets in the way when I need to use the wheel. I have my grinder mounted on a table I can roll around, and in good wheather I take it ourside. But in winter, well, it's all indoors. Still, judging by all the makers who depend on slag buckets, that may be the only way to go. Any ideas?
 
Sorry, I did not understand that you were asking about alternatives to the dust extractor.
My setup gets rid of almost all of the dust and shavings too. As well as most anything that comes close to the collector like a belt you are changing. :o
A little dusting on parts of the grinder itself is all you have to deal with.
 
David,

A slack bucket will catch a small percentage of the heavier metal dust, but not the lighter stuff, or the stuff caught in the abrasive that comes off the belt when it's at every point of it's rotation.

An actual vacuum system is needed to contain the dust, especially wood dust. If you don't have allergies now from the wood dust you "could" develop them. Same thing with epoxies.

A cyclone system as mentioned can be done in the $600 range, more or less depending on your scrounging skills and fabricating skills. Lighter metal is easier to form for the cyclone but resonates louder typically.

The other popular option is a spark/dust trap, use a 30 gallon metal barrel with a hose to a shop vac, inside the barrel you add water and run a 3" hose from under your grinder into the bottom of the barrel. Your outflow to the shop vac is above the water and it acts like a Rainbow brand water vacuum to eliminate larger amounts of dust, and provides spark protection.

Then, some guys put a 20" box fan with a 20"x20" furnace filter taped to it behind their grinder. They then place the back of the grinder in front of a window and blow the fan outside with the garage door "slightly" raised.

Me, I have a slack bucket and too much dust like you.

I'm working on a dust control like Patrice's to start. Simply a blower in the middle with several intakes. Vents fumes and dust outside. Easy as pie.


***** if you let the water evaporate in the barrel the steel dust will catch on fire!!!*****
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top