Dust Collectors

Leu Custom

Leu Custom

Joined
Jun 2, 2007
Messages
1,354
Can someone point me in the right direction as far as obtaining a dust collector that will work well for a 2 car garage ? How many CFM or whatever terminology do i need? Are dust collectors generally pretty loud? Louder than a shop vac? Can I use a shop vac with some sort of fittings? Can I obtain a good one for less than $300-400 bucks? Anything you cans can let me know would be very appreciated! Thanks!
 
What kind of machines and materials are you using and objective air quality are you looking for?

Dust collectors are pretty loud, but not that annoying, it's more of a low sound, compared to the 2-stroke annoyance of a shop vac.

You can use a shop vac as a dust collector but it'll only be good for 'nuisance' dust.
 
They are a bit loud but not "annoying loud" compared to a shop vac. Google dust collectors and there are several good sites for info which help you determine your needs.
 
I got mine from Grizzly. I figure to move it outside the shop at some point. Need a small addition for it and the compressor. Jim
 
Use caution, and think about what your going to be sucking up with a dust collector before you purchase/install one. At one time I installed a dust collector, and nearly burned down the shop. It never occurred to me that most dust collector systems are geared towards ONLY wood dust. I was grinding titanium, and a Ti spark made its way to the dust collector. Bad news! I removed what was left of the dust collector, and built a box in the middle of the shop ceiling which houses an old furnace blower, with filters on each side to gather up the small stuff that flies around. 5 gallon buckets with soapy water reside under each grinder now, and they catch about 75% of the swarf. Most of the folks that I know, who installed commercial type dust collectors in a knife shop now have nothing left except the duct work, which they spent a great deal of time, money and effort to install, only to realize that the hazards where not worth the money and effort.

I'm gona part from the norm and recommend a couple of 5 gallon buckets under your grinder(s), and if you feel like you must purchase something, buy one of the self contained dust collectors, with replacable filters. that you can hang from the ceiling to catch the stuff that flies around. In my experience a dust collector like you would find in a woodworking shop is a waste for a knifemaking shop.
 
Something to consider. It's a lot easier to pull dust down rather than up.
I've yet to hook up my old dust sucker since moving the shop from one building to another. In hte old shop, I had tin ductwork channeled to each grinder then running intothe sucker. From there it vented into a water-filled bucket outside. Just a short run, mebbe 5 foot to the wall. Still kept the 5 gal buckets underneath the grinders.
It worked well enuff that when some debris collected on the outside bucket,sparks caught it afire and burnt up a couple dozen tomato stakes I had stacked nearby. I was in a marathon grinding session and never knew it till I walked around the building.
Safety First!!!!! Bruce
 
The size of the collector depends on the number, and size of the ports you want to pull from.
I set up a central dust collection system at work last winter (25 horsepower, 120 gallon for a cabinet shop). The manufacturer did all the engineering, I just had to do the layout and double check capacities and install it, but as I remember they figured each 3" port as needing 325 cfm.
Most home shop sized dust collectors in the 1 to 1-1/2 horsepower range seem to pull between 600-700 cfm, and would be good for feeding 2-3" ports or 1-4" port.
That doesn't mean you can't hook up more equipment, you just need to use blast gates to close off the things you aren't using.

You also want to give some thought to fire prevention and try to keep the collector itself away from sparks.
 
I just want something basically to um clean out the air in the garage. Everytime I walk in it feels as I'm working in a dusty garage!
 
This is the one I use http://www.grizzly.com/products/G9956 be sure to get x-tra filters!! It does a great job for me.. I also have a "Rigid" stainless steel shop vac with metal ducting mounted under my grinder.. It catches 80% of the debris and won't catch fire (I keep 2-3 inches of water in it at all times just in case)...
 
Leu Custom said:
I just want something basically to um clean out the air in the garage. Everytime I walk in it feels as I'm working in a dusty garage!
Click to expand...

You might be best served with installing a 'whole house' type fan that just vents to the outside then, still not sure what kind of materials/machines you're talking about. I'd aim for a cfm rating that replaces the air of your shop a few times an hour.
 
Just trying to filter/clean out the air from grinding blades (primarily A2) in the annealed and hardened states. Just seems like Iron in the garage all the time!
 
I just recently set up a dust collector under my grinder, and it's making a big difference. I got a $110 dust collector from Harbor Freight, and one of those cyclone lids for a 5 gal. bucket. I put a wide-mouthed collector under my grinder.

The machine isn't too loud--certainly a lot quieter than my grinder.

It seems to have reduced the dust floating around my shop by about 90 percent. Just as an experiment, I've been grinding and sanding without a respirator for the last couple of days, and I have had no dust in my nostrils afterward. Previously I would have had tons of black gunk in my nose.

I will still probably wear a respirator most of the time, just to be safe. But this setup gets a big thumbs up from me. :)

Josh
 
I have a Jet dust collector and it is great. I put it outside my shop so I don't have to listen to it. I then wired the plug in to two three way switches so when i walk in my grinding room I flip the switch and it comes on outside. I don't have to hear anything but the air sucking.

As far as the sparks go they make lids for garbage cans with a baffle in the middle. You fill the can about half full with water. The air sucks in one side of the lid and out the other. The baffle in the middle makes the air travel around it forcing the heavy steel sparks to fall in the water. Works great.

You won't catch it all though because some of the dust travels around on the belt and comes off in other places except for straight down. You should put in a air circulator with a filter for that extra dust. I just haven't done it yet, but I will.

If you figure the cubic feet in your room, for example 500, and its rated at 1500cfm, it means that machine will dump all the air out of that room three times in one minute. Giddy UP. :) Mine empties my room about 8 times per minute, or so.

I have all my two belt grinders, two discs, buffer, and a few other things all gated so I can concentrate my airflow more efficiently.

I usually crack a window on the opposite side of my shop so it's pulling air across my shop, there for not allowing the dust to spread in an unwanted direction.
 
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