New Dust Catcher Finally Built!

jhiggins · Feb 7, 2004

Hi folks! This thread is in reference to the thread started by Guy Thomas a couple days ago: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=291268

I mentioned in the thread that I was working on a dust catcher "funnel" to co with my vacuum for the grinder. Here is some pics.

This first one just shows the whole setup. I have an 8x8" funnel, 6" deep that rounds out into a 2" dia round. Just right for the vac hose. I have a foot switch attached to the vacuum too. Makes for a quick getaway from the grinder! Best part is I tend to not leave the bloody vac running too much.

Here's the mechanism. Its a bunch of set collar and 5/8" rod. Toss in some 3/4" and some 1" square tubing and some angle iron and POOF! instant dust catcher!

Closeup of the swiveling part:

And finally here's a shot of some steel being ground, and the sparks. The vac is shut off when I do this, and when I'm done, I just turn on the vac and it sucks up all the mess. Thanks for viewing! I hope this gives some of you some good ideas!

John Andrews · Feb 7, 2004

Jeff,pretty neat! Is that a wet/dry vac there,too? If so,maybe a little water in the vac to capture 99% of everything? Good workmanship and pictures,too.

jhiggins · Feb 7, 2004

Originally posted by John Andrews
Jeff,pretty neat! Is that a wet/dry vac there,too?

Yes that wet/dry was rescued from the dumpster at work. I refurbished the motor and decided to use it for my grinder. The decision for that was made because the casters were beat all to heck, so I removed them and decided to make it stationary.

John, do you think that by putting an inch or two of water in the bottom of the cannister that it would give protection from sparks? I didn't think that woudl work because I was using it for shaping handles too.

Guy Thomas · Feb 7, 2004

Thanks for that picture and the ideas Jeff! It looks like the vast majority of the grinding mess goes straight down the tube. I like the idea of just turning on the shop vac occasionally. Mine does tend to get a bit warm especailly since I put some better filters in it and also a bag designed for picking up sheet rock dust.

Nathan House · Feb 7, 2004

Jeff
Cool set up,looks straight forward and to the point,I really enjoy seeing other peoples shops and set ups.I was thinking about
doing one like that, now that I seen the set up,I can do it.
Thanks for shairing,lets see some knives.

jhiggins · Feb 9, 2004

Oh I forgot to add that if you look on the second pic, you can see the 5/8" rod that the whole thing rides on. Does the carriage look reversed to you? Well that's because its built so it can raise all the way up to the draw bar of the Bader. This works especially well if I'm shaping a handle using a small-diameter wheel.

Alarion · Feb 9, 2004

Be vareful with that!
From what I see from the pics your dust goes directly from grinder to vac.
I had bad experiences with that.
You grind some wood and then you grind steel and suddenly your vac starts smoking badly....
Luckily I had a fire extinguisher at hand...

Sweany · Feb 9, 2004

Jeff, if you put a 5 gallon bucket with a lid on it, inline with the vac hose, add a little water to the bottom. You got your water trap.
when you switch from steel to handles swap out the bucket.
my .02

jhiggins · Feb 9, 2004

Marco: I haven't had any problems...yet. Right now when I grinde steel, I leave the vac off. I turn it on to suck up the crud when I'm done grinding, or when I start grinding handles. I might try Sweany's idea though. Would be nice to have it running all the time.

Sweany: I'll try that idea. Do you have a similar setup, and if so, would you elaborate on it some? Thanks!

Alarion · Feb 9, 2004

That's a good idea, having a funnel like that.
Doesn't your grinder rise a lot of dust when grinding with fine belts (say 400 grit and over)?
Mine does, unless I leave the vac on.

jhiggins · Feb 9, 2004

Originally posted by Alarion
Doesn't your grinder rise a lot of dust when grinding with fine belts (say 400 grit and over)? Mine does, unless I leave the vac on.

It does, I just deal with it. I try to grind quickly anyway, and I always use a respirator.