Ya Know What Really Ticks Me Off?

adammichael

adammichael

Joined
Sep 13, 2004
Messages
1,553
A dust collection system that doesnt stay where i put it.

I wanted something that could catch the sparks in a bucket when i am grinding steel and something that would suck all the grinding dust into my dust collection system when i am grinding stabilized wood and micarta.

Its not safe to suck sparks into a dust collector, is it?
I also dont want to empty a big bag of steel grit out of my dust collector.

Here is my solution to my problem. It is heavy enough that i can slide it where i want and it wont tip over because of the weight of the hose It has a removable baffle that lets the sparks through to be collected in a bucket or can be sealed off completly for suction when grinding other materials.

I think the pics show it pretty good.

Any comments are welcome.

Michael

www.AdamMichaelKnives.com
 
Michael, that's a really good idea, and good work. Hey, how about placing some magnets close to the box opening where the hose enters the box? That should catch some particles of traveling steel that gravity misses. Or, how about a magnatized course screen, too?
 
I setup a dust collecting unit in my shop and do not use it because the wood dust started smoldering and melting because on the sparks. I am lucky that the house didn't catch on fire.
 
I've lamented the whole dust-collector thing for a long time, and right now, I'm in the midst of using a pressure-blower setup to simply vent everythign right to the outside - sparks, steel dust and all. It has all-metal pipes and even if a spark ignites a little wood dust, it's going to be propelled out to the environment in a flash.

As a side note, Tru-Grit is reported to have some kind of inline spark-arrestor available, but they have nothing on their site about it, and they don't seem too eager to sell me one, i.e. they haven't returned my calls or emails. :rolleyes:
 
Nice gaget -- good thinking. I moved my water bucket up to a few inches from the bottom belt roller and from the looks of the mess when I empty it I think it works rather well. When I had the water a foot or so below the bottom roller I didn't get any where near the amount of sluge I now get. Something else that helps the water catch particals is to add a good bit of dish soap to the water so that nothing floats on top and nothing bounces off a floating partical.
 
John Andrews said:
Michael, that's a really good idea, and good work. Hey, how about placing some magnets close to the box opening where the hose enters the box? That should catch some particles of traveling steel that gravity misses. Or, how about a magnatized course screen, too?
Click to expand...


there is a step where the hole is and that should stop more
 
I'm not quite sure I understand your system here. Is there not a hose that runs to a trash can filled with water? ie: a water trap? That's how I've always heard to hook them up.

On a side note, I have spoke with Tru Grit about the "fire suppression boxes", and I AGREE, they DO NOT seem eager to sell them. Also, they are either $300 or $400!!! HECK NO.
I'm eventually going to do like Chuck Bybee, and use a regular dust collector, with an inline water trap, (trash can/bucket filled with water) to catch the sparks. Also works with micarta/wood, in that MOST of the particles get stuck in the water filled can, before they even reach the filters. Best system I've seen yet.

Hey jhiggins,
Do you "vent" your system, by cracking a door on the other side of your shop, to allow "replacement air" in???
I have heard stories of systems such as yours, sucking poisonous fumes from A/C systems (IF they are present) and also sucking cold air in your shop, in the winter, IF a theoretically NEEDED vent is used (cracking of window)
I am still trying to decide what to do myself.
As stated above, I will probably do what Chuck Bybee did. Really slick system.
 
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