Improved my dust collection. Pics.

[Salem Straub]

I improved my dust collection system in the grinding room. It previously consisted of an old shop vac and not much else. Thankfully, the old LOUD smelly thing finally died not long ago.

I scored a nice radial blower from a local second hand store. It puts out about 200 CFM at 2.2 p.s.i. It bends sparks right into the bucket intake.

The spark bucket is on wheels, and with the flex connection to the blower, it can be wheeled under each grinder in turn.

The spark bucket catches sparks into the water right below the intake, and then the rest of the dust is drawn out to the blower, which sends it out to a 55 gallon steel drum outside. The drum has an exhaust on the lid opposite the intake from the blower. The lid can be removed to periodically empty debris. It has a tin cap over the exhaust to prevent rain getting in.

It works really nicely and is very quiet. What a huge difference there is between a grinding room with just a spark bucket and one with a dust collection system. No filthy crap everywhere. I'd like to install some air filtration when possible.

That's what I've been up to, other than making knives and partying down for my 29th birthday.

 

[Remyrw]

Very nice. I still need to set something up and that gives me some good ideas (and hopes I can do it without spending a fortune).
But, far more importantly. What in the world did you do to that poor belt on the pheer? lol

 

[NickWheeler]

Awesome Salem! This is exactly what I've been thinking of doing. Only difference is I THINK I want to do lines to each machine with blast gates... maybe? lol

I've been holding off till I find the right blower--- a beast like the one you have. :thumbup:


Thanks for sharing Salem!

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Looking good Salem. I am happy that you did this, especially health wise. :thumbup:

Nick, why wait? I've got a 1HP blower (bargain price import type) that if gated will suck belts out of your hands. (And did )

 

[Salem Straub]

Thanks Patrice. Your dust system was my early motivation for doing this. Nick, I'd like to see some pics if you build a system with blast gates, I'm probably going to try to do that myself when the cycle of my attention returns to this system. It would be more convenient to not have to move the spark bucket. Remy, actually the belt on that Pheer grinder is my oldest 2x72 belt. It's an old zirc/ceramic 36 grit that I got used from a machinist to use when building my very first big grinder. It actually has a few bits of grit left, I think i used it to get some rusty pieces ready for welding the other day. I'd throw it away but I must be kind of sentimental about it or something.

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Good news Salem. Keep them under 30 lungs as pristine as possible! Good idea with the rolling bucket. You minimized time and materials, yet maximized coverage with that solution.

How deep is the water in the bucket and how close to its surface do the in- and out-take lines come to it? Did you put some sort of baffle between the two?

 

[nthe10ring]

Really like your set up on this, and have a question or two . I have a 1 1/2 HP dust collector set up in my little shop, with seperate gates to my band saw, spindle sander and drum sander for my bow making, no sparks so it all goes back to a baged collector. I have since built and installed a grinder for metal work and want to add it to the system. Could you not do away with the inside bucket and instead use the outside collector with water. In my case, my thought is to gate the main line and be able to use the bags when there is no chance of sparks and the outside bucket with baffles for metal. It would just seem more convenient than moving the inside bucket around since you already have it exhausted to the outside.

Jerry Fisher

 

[Frank Niro]

Hi Salem. What size of piping you are using? Thanks Frank

 

[Matthew Lomas]

Happy Bday Salem. I too just turned 29, on saturday though. Awesome setup for dust control.

 

[Salem Straub]

Thanks Matthew, happy b-day to you as well! Jerry, those are good thoughts- I'm practicing redundancy right now with keeping anything powdery and combustible wet, I'll probably re-iterate this system to some extent soon enough. One point about my current basic system is that it does not incorporate a bag or blast gates/splitters so all types of dust pass through the same plumbing. Frank, the pipe in the intake side is 3", and on the exhaust side of the fan it's 4". That's just what I had, it does seem to create good suction at the dust intake.

 

[Frank Niro]

Thanks Salem.I'm certainly wanting to make improvemrnts in my poor system. I may try one very close to yours. Frank

 

[Patrice Lemée]

I redid the intake on mine to use 5" pipe. That would be an easy upgrade Salem if you ever come by 5" piping. And I just thought I'd mention, in case somebody didn't already know, for the best airflow you have to try and minimize extremes angles where ever the piping bends. Not always possible, you do the best you can but something to keep in mind.
I am really happy that my system inspired you to do it Salem.