Grinder dust collection

[Jimbo670]

So I have been doing a bunch of research on dust collection and sparks here and still have a question. First my plan is to 5 gal water bucket directly under the grinder. I will use metal duct work to it that will end about 1' to the water. Then the elbow out the top my craftsman dust collector.

Would I be better using two collection systems one for wood grinding and one for metal. The issue I see with that is when I am grinding scales what about the spark that might be created by the "pins" or the bolsters? I am in the back half of a garage and can not vent outside.

 

[Marko3]

I don't know how others do it but when I grind steel I use a bucket with water like you said you are doing but I don't do any direct removal of hot steel ..Just right in the bucket but I do have overhead small particle venting I run all the time .. And for wood I bartered a while back for a older central vac unit that is made out of steel and have a floor vent installed by my grinder and that sucks up almost everything while I grind and a overhead vent takes small particles. I have seen some really nice dust removal set ups .. I hate lingering dust. I vacuum often I would love to hard plumb everything so I could get near 100% removal

 

[Jimbo670]

Thanks for the answer.

 

[Rick Marchand]

After spending serious time researching and experimenting with dust management systems, I believe the "vacuum powered spark arresting bucket" approach is not effective and seriously flawed in most builds. As you described it, the setup is backwards with regard to airflow. You have set yourself up for water vapor in your system and you aren't addressing the more serious issue of fine dust particles that get caught up and thrown out by the airflow of the belt grinder itself. Here are my thoughts on what components an effective dust management system should consist of...

- A full, open bucket of water to catch hot sparks. Most of the debris coming off the business end of your grinder is heavy enough for gravity to do it's thing. A bucket with guards to catch grindings takes care of the bulk.(IMO, this is the least of your worries)

- A shroud around your grinder is a MUST. This doesn't have to be too close fitting(you can make it large enough to still be able to remove belts.) but should house the belt and wheels of the grinder. The stuff to be afraid of is the fine dust that hangs in the air, get's drawn in with every unfiltered breath and eventually settles on your benches, tools and bacon sammiches.

- A method to collect and get rid of the dust captured in the shroud. My preferred method is to vent it directly outside to a catch barrel. I constructede a semi-enclosed loop that exhausts out of the rear top of my shroud and has a fresh/outside air intake at the rear bottom of the shroud. (see drawing). You can also use a conventional collection system at this point as any(if at all) sparks will be too weak to worry about if there is a long enough run in the duct work.

Mine happens to be a vertical oriented grinder but the system can be configured for a KMG type as well.