Dust collection from dual drum sander.

[Mike Wilkins]

What do you folks who have a dual-drum sander utilize for the dust collection arrangement from the machine? I have a less than ideal collection set-up that leaves a lot of dust on the board and the feed roller. My collector is the 1.5HP Delta w/canister filter using a 6 foot long, 4" flex pipe directly to the collector port. Appreciate any advice.

[Phil Thien]

Drum sanders are legendary for clogging canister filters.

If you have been using your DC for some time, I'd try to clean the filter (instructions for doing so safely should be available from the manufacturer).

Then reinstall it, and see if it does a better job. If yes, then you can try some of the tricks for keeping dust out of the filter (a separator).

If no, then you are looking at a DC upgrade.

Note that even the largest, most efficient cyclone separators still struggle with fine sanding dust. You may need to exhaust outside, at least when using the drum sander, in order to avoid clogging the filters in short order.

[Sam Layton]

Hi Mike,

I have a Performax 37" double drum sander. The sander came with two 4" ports on the top. I opened them up to two 6" ports. I am using a 3hp cyclone dust collector. I have two 6" lines branched off of my main line going to my dust collector. I get 100% dust collection.

How wide is your machine? One 4" port does not seem enough for a drum sander. If your machine only has one 4" port, can you add another? Run two lines from your dust collector to your sander. Drum sanders need a lot of dust collection. It also helps keep your paper clean.

Sam

[Howard Klepper]

I haven't seen a dual drum with a single 4" port. That would be inadequate no matter what you connect it to. My Powermatic 25" has two 4" ports that go via a Y to a 7" main, and that is the first machine on the line to a 3hp cyclone. But before you upgrade the collector, get a second port going.

[David Kumm]

The Performax 25x2 has a single 4" port and you are correct in that it is totally inadequate. A 25" dual should have two. Unfortunately a 1.5 hp canister DC is the wrong tool for the job. You need to vent outside or have a good pre separator which in turn means a larger impeller. If you do need to filter through a cartridge when sanding, talk to Wynn Environmental for a recommendation on an easily cleaned filter as you will be cleaning it a lot. Dave

[Clint Olver]

Mike,
First, check out this thread on hod-rodding you 1.5hp collector http://forum.canadianwoodworking.com...ication-w-pics

Run 6" to a 6-4-4 Y connected to your sander.

C

[Mike Wilkins]

My machine is a Woodtek 25" dual drum sander with 2 4" ports on top. I run an elbow from the furthest port, connecting to a T and then onto the DC hose (4"). I am beginning to think I do not have enough
muscle in my dust collector, which is a Delta 1.5 horse single stage.

[David Kumm]

My machine is a Woodtek 25" dual drum sander with 2 4" ports on top. I run an elbow from the furthest port, connecting to a T and then onto the DC hose (4"). I am beginning to think I do not have enough
muscle in my dust collector, which is a Delta 1.5 horse single stage.

Mike, you need a collector capable of a 6" main to carve out two 4" ports. You can't run two 4" into one and make it work even with a big impeller and motor. Dave

[Mike Wilkins]

Thanks David for the tip. I have some extra 4" pipe so I will give that a try.

[David Kumm]

Thanks David for the tip. I have some extra 4" pipe so I will give that a try.

Mike, avoid Ts in favor of wyes and run 6" as close as you can get to the wye. Run rigid from the wye to the two ports. If it works well you will need to clean the cartridge about once an hour. Dave

[Shelley Hennigar]

I wanted to run something by everyone. I have a General 26" dual drum sander with 2 x 4" ports. I have 2 hoses attached that go up to my 6" main that runs to my 3hp double cannister dust collector. Problem is my dust collector is at the end of the run which is about 20 feet from my dust collector, there is no option for moving it closer to the dust collector. I have my dust collector housed in a shed right behind my shop. The dust collector works great when I have taken my cannisters off for the major cleaning, but I can't do that every day. I clean them with the rotating handle regularly, but it's almost impossible to maintain proper suction at my drum sander. I have been thinking about putting in the wall mount 1hp Rikon dust collector and mounting it right beside my drum sander. The drum sander would be the only tool attached to this dust collector. My goal is for it to collect the fine dust only that a drum sander creates. After this long winded explanation, my question is, will the 1hp be enough to handle just the drum sander.

Looking forward to any advice.
Shelley

[Jim Becker]

That little collector is unlikely to keep up with a drum sander like that...it will not be able to move enough air, IMHO. You cannot go by the CFM that the manufacturer uses for marketing...it will be far lower.

[Shelley Hennigar]

That's what I figured. Trying to find a way to pre-filter just the fine dust before it gets to my dust collector cannisters.

That little collector is unlikely to keep up with a drum sander like that...it will not be able to move enough air, IMHO. You cannot go by the CFM that the manufacturer uses for marketing...it will be far lower.

[Jim Becker]

That's what I figured. Trying to find a way to pre-filter just the fine dust before it gets to my dust collector cannisters.

The best solution for that is to move to pre-separation, such as moving to a cyclone system where nearly all the dust never gets to the filters.

[Shelley Hennigar]

I have been thinking of that. I had also been thinking of adding a cyclone container beside my drum sander. I can't afford to replace my existing dust collector at the moment. So thought one of those dust deputy units might work. But I thought it was the larger particles that fell and the lighter dust was pulled through. I can build almost anything in my shop but this cyclone dust collection baffles me. From what I have read it seems that the fine dust won't fall in the container. Maybe it's just these cheap side units that won't work. Will need to make a ton of jewelry boxes to save money for a proper cyclone system lol.