My dust evacuation system

KnuckleDownKnives

KnuckleDownKnives

Time to make the doughnuts..
Joined
Feb 12, 2015
Messages
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Got some progress made setting up my dust evacuation system. Before you comment about the flex hose, it's getting replaced with PVC and metal flex soon, I just didn't have time this weekend to go get it. I used some scrap aluminum to make a shroud for the platen. I'll devise something soon so I can use it with the other attachments I have.

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I wouldn't worry about the flex hose too much myself... My system has a 6" flex hose running from the collector to the grinder. I've been using this hose for nearly a year now without issue. A ball of grinding dust somehow got stuck on the hose (belt grease or buffing compound?) And caught fire. Even that didn't hurt it.

It seems there is so much air flowing through, that it's very difficult to actually melt through one.
 
Do you have a spark bong in the system? I love the idea of venting my air trash outside, but worry about sparks, not to mention my neighbors.
 
Nice to know, but I still would prefer to replace as much flex as I can with PVC. It's only a 1hp blower so the smother the inside is the less dust build up I'll have in the system. Just moving and mounting the blower this morning and the small amount I've used it messing around, there was a bit of metal dust buildup in the outlet line. I'd rather have as little of that as possible.

There is actually a generator under the bench my water bucket sits on as I have very limited space in the shop. It is covered with a fire proof blanket and would be virtually impossible for it to get hit with hot sparked since it's closed in on the sides and top, but a fire in the hose I'm not sure I'd much care for.

I'm contemplating purchasing a sea container and moving my shop to it since it would be actually secure and my current shop really has no security other than a hundred pound dog in the yard. I'm planning on getting some more equipment and really need to think about making it more secure and it will give me more space to store stuff like my generator in better locations. Plus If I decide to move since I rent currently all I need to do is have my friend with his semi truck and lowboy come and move it for me.

Actually really considering the sea container in the next month or two. Well that rambled on more than anticipated.
 
Brock Cutlery said:
Do you have a spark bong in the system? I love the idea of venting my air trash outside, but worry about sparks, not to mention my neighbors.
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Not yet, I'm going to ft 55 gallon drum from work this week and vent it into the drum with water in the bottom and a baffle in the middle with a top vent opposite side of the baffle of the inlet. My only neighbor is 300+' away. Not so much worried about them and dust. But yes I will have something in place to catch the dust eventually.

I did a test when I originally hooked it up and had my wife grind on a scrap piece of metal while I watched the outlet. It was an overcast night and pitch black outside and I saw now glowing sparks coming out of it.
 
The biggest concern isn't really distinct sparks coming directly from your grinder, but a bit of wool buildup that catches a spark and ignites and is evacuated. I don't know how big of a concern it would be with direct vent, but if you're catching steel dust in anyway that isn't wet, it becomes a rather big one.
 
I have one of those 1.5hp metalworking dust collectors sold by the various discount tool companies. I have it venting straight outside. As sold it blows almost everything out. Pouring a couple quarts of water in the catch tray will grab virtually everything, and greatly minimize the fire risk.
 
I use a Onieda metal cyclone. A strong vacuum cleaner is also needed. I have a very large Ridged. I believe this is a good set up for me but there are some better.Use the search here. Some makers have put up very good systems they made themselves,
 
FYI, I posted some more images at the beginning of the tread if anyone is interested in taking a look.
 
I found that most of the dust you need to worry about is thrown off AFTER the big stuff hits the floor and put into the air with the movement of the belt Grind into a piece of wood and see if you are getting the cloud. I never worry too much about the shower of heavy sparks. In my opinion, an exhausted dust evacuation system should enshroud the entire belt in a semi-closed loop with an outside air intake.

I don't want to be "that guy" but I personally think this current setup is a fire hazard. Be careful, brother.
 
Marc, I have the same setup with HF 1hp and the flex hose that came in the accessory kit and I did have a fire smoldering in the hose. Under heavy metal grinding, the sparks burned holes in the hose which cut down on the airflow where I wanted it. I replaced it with aluminum dryer venting and haven't had any problems since. I have a metal trash can to catch the heavier particles before the blower vents it outside and I also had a fire in that at one time. The way it is jammed in under the workbench, that was not a good feeling. Since then, when I am doing heavy metal grinding, I put a bucket of water directly under the grinder to catch most of the metal and open a vent hose that I have at the rear of the grinder to catch the lighter stuff that doesn't go srtright down. HVAC vent fixtures catch and direct things where they should go for for the bucket and rear collector hose.
 
I had a similar dust collector setup until it finally died.

I vented everything outdoors and never had a problem.
 
I run the same HF collector and this is what I cobbled together. I use the flex hose and vent wood and handle dust outside. The PVC at the bottom is filled with water to act as a spark bucket. I do not run the blower when grinding steel. Wood dust, fast moving air and sparks don't mix.
I don't think any dust collection set up replaces a proper respirator and use this system to help keep the shop clean, not my lungs.
I also have a piece of pegboard that I lay on top of the intake to use as a hand sanding table for handle work. Keeps the dust down.20170605_122018.jpg
 
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