Dust Collection

[John Brennaman]

All,

After 20 years of creating sawdust I'm ready for a dust collection system. Anybody have any systems that they are happy or unhappy with? I've heard the way to go is a cyclone system. True or not? Any help with models, specs, etc. would be appreciated.

John

"I cut it 3 times and it is still too short!"

[Mike Weaver]

Yes!
It's worth it.

Bill Pentz has an EXCELLENT site with more than you want to know:
http://billpentz.com//woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm

I'm constructing his unit now...

Barring that, the Dust Gorilla from Oneida Systems or the Woodsucker are rather highly regarded. Even Grizzly has entered the cyclone market.

Sorry, I have to run to a meeting...

Cheers,
-Mike

[Allan Johanson]

I bought a 1HP DC and wasn't happy.

Then I bought a 2HP system and while it was much better, I wanted more.

Then I built a Bill Pentz cyclone and I'm finally a happy guy. It's nothing short of amazing. I've also noted much cleaner air in the shop and I don't cough my guts out at night after a day of making sawdust.

Cheers,

Allan

[Chris Padilla]

John,

The search feature will yield you TONS of information. For starters, check out my little thread on how I put together a Bill Pentz DC:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=9933

[Steven Wilson]

Not knowing the specifics of what machines you want to collect from, your shop layout, how many machines will run at the same time, and proposed duct runs it's impossible to recommend a specific machine that will fit your need. Which DC to purchase is really the last decision to make.

Anyhow, my guess (odds around 90%) is that you would be well served and pleasently surprised if you picked up a Dust Gorilla (or 2hp commercial) from Oneida Systems and worked with them to design the duct work for your system. If you needed to go larger then my bet is that either the 3hp commercial Oneida system or the Felder RL160 would do nicely.

[John Brennaman]

Right now my shop is half the garage. There is no way mama's car is sitting outside. Eventually I hope to build a shop external to the house and would like the DC system I install now to be capable of keeping a larger shop dust free. I definitely do not have unlimited funds however, I'm making the DC a priority.

Another problem I see is that my ceiling in the garage is only about 7 1/2 feet high. That pushes the envelope on a lot of the systems out there.

[Andy London]

I purchased a Gorilla cyclone earlier this year, here is a webpage I put together. It will give you an overview of what I have gone through...

http://www.picframer.ca/cyclone.htm

If you go with a single stage system, my personal experience is pre seperation of some type is a must to keep your filters somewhat cleaner longer which will keep your CFM up. I ran across this unit the other day while reading a forum and feel the price is a steal.

http://www.cycloneseparator.com/201.html

You would not have to worry so much about the hright issue either. Just ensure the single stage has the CFM/Static pressure calcs to run it.

Andy

[lou sansone]

Good choice to invest in the DC. As others have said, the oneida systems are really very well made. my system is a 3 hp system and it works great. here are some posts from my shop where you can see some of my system

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=19846


regards
lou