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Finally getting ready for a dedicated shop area! I've been looking at dust collection systems. Its only a small area (14' x 27'). Would like a recommendation on a system. I looked at the Clear Vue and it looked pretty good!? I'm a newbee here! First thread!
I'm just finishing up my installation, and so far, I LOVE IT !!
It takes a fair amount of assembly, as it is sold n a sort of "kit" from, but then, I guess they all are to some extent. Assembly is pretty easy and straightforward. The manufacturer will always answer the phone and help you out with any problems/concerns you might have.
I did a highly customized installation, with the cyclone & filters in the attic of my shop, and the dust chute and duct work on the main level. I spoke with Ed a few times, just to get his "blessing" on my modifications, and he was VERY patient & helpful. I don't think you'll ever buy a piece of equipment with better customer support/care.
Bob, that sounds like an interesting instillation on your DC. I hope you're planning on sharing some pictures and descriptions. Something like that might work for me.
I just swithched to an oneida/ sort of from an old wood tek system with a Blue tornado cyclone. look under the other post I have for Oneida.
its a moodified system in that I pieced it together
Bill
Jim,
Welcome to the Creek. Looks like we have a bunch of new members sighing in. The more the merrier.
I have heard that the clear vue cyclones work well , I almost bought one insteand of the Oneida but the deal was too good to pass on.
others will comment with more experiance. I have had the Blue tornado cyclone and it served me very well for 5-6 years. the oneida seems just as good in that it seperates well.
there is one for sale in the classifieds here aat the creek under new tools?
Bill
I have ClearVue and am very happy with its perfomance.
My Shop is small and laid out in a 1919 farm house basement. I have a deep basement so clearance was not a factor.
Clearance is the only draw I have heard about, for shops that are vertically challenged.
Just be sure that the dust bin is sealed air tight to the bottom of the cyclone.
I've had mine for almost 4 years now...running for about 2 years. :rolleyes: I love it! And Bob's right, you won't find a better business owner than Ed to work with. I had a problem with my first cyclone body, didn't see the problem for a few months because of the shop remodel I was/am in the middle of. We emailed back and forth a couple times on a Sunday, even though I wasn't ecpecting a reply until Monday. He asked for my phone number so we could talk. He wanted to make sure that I was happy with his solution to the problem (he replaced the cyclone body). I was thrilled that someone wanted to take the time and money to make sure that I was properly taken care of, especially on a weekend evening. The system works as described. The customer service won't be beaten by anyone! Jim.
I have had my Clear Vue Mini Cyclone about 2 months. At 66, I have bought a lot of stuff over the years. This cyclone is one of the very few things that not only met, but exceeded my expectations. I have attached three photos. I use a 20 gal, 6.5 hp Craftsman shopvac. It will suck the crome off a trailer ball. I first bought a HD 5 gal bucket. It collapsed the sides. I went to a local chemical supply co. Bought a plastic barrel for $10, 3/16" sides. Cut the top off with a hand saw (very carefully, so as to get a good seal.) If my solid geometry is correct, it has about 11 1/2 gal capacity. I cut a round piece of 3/4" MDF, and routed a 1/2" wide by 1/2" deep circle, and put the common peel and stick weatherstripping in it.
I was having a problem with the hose that goes into the top of the unit crimping. I went to the plumbing section of HD, and got one of those 4 section swivel duct gizmos, split one end into 8 pieces, and screwed it to the top of the cyclone to support the hose.
After an hour or so with my jointer and planer, the barrel will have filled up one or two times. In the shopvac? Nothing, except maybe a very little dust on the filter.
thats one heck of a small cyclone , great job I have never seen one of those.
Bill
I posted a little earlier with some photos of my mini cyclone. I am embarrased to say that in my haste, I hooked the wrong hose up to my shop vac. So before anybody calls me stupid, I have served notice of my mistake. I heard somewhere once that a person is allowed two mistakes a year. This is my first. Unfortunately, it is early in the year.
I have a CV1400, and am very satisfied. It is sold as a hobbyist cyclone, but I used it in a commercial setting pulling shavings and dust away from a Logosol PH260. It is just barely large enough to use in this setting, but you need to keep in mind that the 260 puts out shavings equivilent to 4 or 5 lunchbox planers. I got mine before they started making the CV1800 or I would have bought one of them.
I have a Clearvue 1400 and couldn't be happier with it. I have a basement shop and it's only about 16 X 22. I purchased the 1400 model because I have low ceilings and this was the only model I could fit under my ceiling. I'm just a hobbiest but it does a great job. It really is head and shoulders above my dads single stage delta. On top of getting great dust collection, I can't give enough praise to Ed for his customer service.
For example, back in April 2007, I purchased the Clearvue CV1400 cyclone. I had just started working on my basement shop and ordered the cyclone. Well having a 4 1/2 yr old and only being a hobbiest woodworker...well one thing led to another and I didn't get around to installing it till June of 2008. Once installed, there was a problem with the motor. It had a short in it.
So, I called Ed at Clearvue to try to get some advice and after going through my wiring connections he agreed that there was a short in the motor. I was expecting at this point that I was going to have to take the motor to a local repair shop. Then Ed said he would have a new motor shipped to me the next day, and I can just send the old one back. Keep in mind the manufacture warranty on the motor was only for 1 year and I was clearly past that!!
Now that is Great Customer Service! Good luck with whatever you purchase.
Ian
I'd recommend you drive down to Pickens, SC and visit Ed and Matt at their shop. I know you'll be impressed! I made the trip from my home 20 miles north of you a year and a half ago and now own a CV1800 and a CV06 Mini. Excellent systems.
I am a hobbyist with a shop about as big as yours...
I also have asthma so I am pretty serious about the dust collection routine. I could not be more pleased with my Clear Vue. It is head and shoulders above the Delta I had (as it should be... 5 hp vs 1.5HP... hardly a fair test).
I have actually had to close the damper on the main line leading to the table saw because I have an overhead guard (shark guard... another fantastic accessory) and the suction was so great it would lift off the this strips I was cutting if I wasnt careful.
If securing to your floor joists I highly recommend rubber insulation between the pieces (and even rubber grommets for the screws). Made a big difference in sound and vibration in my house.
I never post here, but I saw this thread and just had to say something. It's midnight, and I've been trading videos, pictures and e-mails with Ed at Clearvue all night. He's been busting his hump helping me get over a little problem I'm having.
I'd buy 2 of anything the man makes.
Disclaimer: I don't own a ClearVue so I can't speak directly to it. But, it's my understanding that it's built to the Pentz design and I can speak to that. My cyclone is shop-built to the Pentz design from a Pentz kit. It is EXCELLENT! About the only time I see significant dust in the output from the cyclone is when I've been doing a lot of MDF machining. Virtually everything else goes into the chip bin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Lankford
As far as ClearVue is concerned, I've bought components from Ed and have nothing but the highest regard for him. I don't know how current prices compare between Ed's products and the others, but as far as cyclone design and service to the customer is concerned, IMO you won't be able to do better.
What sort of problems are you having, if you don't mind my asking ?? ?? ??Quote:
Originally Posted by John Coloccia
I went with Clear-Vue 1400 in 2005 when the company was getting off the ground. I posted my installation so you can search for it. I am still very happy with it. I just turn it on and smile because my shop is so clean. It does require some work but that was half the fun.
I just got mine installed and up and running about 4 weeks ago. The thing sucks! Does it ever suck! I went with CV for 2 main reasons, it has the best seperation (means not cleaning filters very often) and Ed is the only manufacturer that pays Bill Pentz royalties for all his research.
Many other smaller reason, like more filter area, acrylic lasting longer than metal under these conditions, no rust, light weight enough to lift onto the bracket, 5 HP, American made Leeson motor, steel impeller (the non-sparking thing appears to be a sales gimmick, as the heavy stuff is gone before the impeller), cost to airflow ratio, excellent filters from Wynn, etc.
As far as customer service, you'll never find anyone or any company with better or more personalized service than Ed.
GO FOR IT!
ClearVue just plain sucks
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=64272
We're having trouble actually getting the cyclone to cyclone. I have a lot of material that just spins round and round in the cone. Some goes down, but the material keeps building up. There's something wrong somewhere and we're trying to determine if I'm sealing things up improperly or if there's something subtly wrong with the cyclone itself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Wingard
I have another test to run today. I'm going to get it plumbed up to the table saw and fill the dust bin, then check how much dust I end up with in the filters.
Ed's really been great throughout the whole thing. The first one came demolished courtesy of UPS, and he sent a new one right out, along with a return sticker for the old one. Then he's spent many hours helping me figure out what's up. I'm sure it's something stupid, and once we find it we're going to slap our heads.
Success!!
Stupid Assumption: the cyclone will work properly with the intake wide open.
Before running all the piping, I figured that I'd give it a try with tossing some sawdust into the intake chute. Ed thought this would work as well.
Reality: The airflow is simply too great with 0 pipe attached. Also, the dust never really has a chance to accelerate. This causes the dust to not actually get into the bin in the first place, and then the ridiculous airflow messes up the vortex enough to not allow it to ever go down.
Ed suggested that I run a quick test with some flex hose and one of my tools. I ran my planer and thickness sander through 10' of 4" flex hose to the intake. The thing works GREAT.
Ed's filed this away in his memory banks in case another customer gets the bright idea to try something like this.
On the plus side, my garbage can sealing skills have come quite a long way, considering how many times I rebuilt the thing looking for leaks. I can get one of these things together in about 15 minutes now :)
Ed was an absolute gentleman throughout the whole thing, and I couldn't be happier with the cyclone.
The end :D
I have a 16 x 26 hobby workshop.
I purchased the ClearVue about 18 months ago. It has worked great, excellent product. The service was awesome, I would not hesitate to buy from them again.
I have mine setup with little wireless remotes, mounted around the shop, works like a charm.
-Rob
And that is the recurring sentiment from all who have delt with Ed. Me included. He WILL do what ever is necessary to make the situation right and the customer happy. Period. And the product is outstanding. Jim.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Coloccia
Another clear vue owner.
Love it. The clear plastic cyclone is a great advantage, because you can tell when the trash bin is about to fill up (the dust doesn't fall as normal).
If your cyclone get too full, I've read it's a disaster, as dust can get blown through the filters and possibly puncture them (or at bare minimum requiring a good cleaning).
I planed a bunch of basswood. I was taking aggressive cuts and getting long shavings.. They ended up clogging the bottom of the cyclone funnel, but since the cyclone was clear, I was able to see it before disaster struck.