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Thread: mini cyclone and sand...

  1. #1
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    mini cyclone and sand...

    Does anyone think there is a possibility of the Mini Cyclone working between a sand blasting cabinet and a shop vac? I have my doubts, but thought I'd ask.

    The Hepa filter in my shop vac is stopping up pretty fast. It may be due to the sand grinding finer, I'm not sure. But it ran OK for a bit. Shipping on the special sand that I need to use is high, so I am trying to stretch the life a bit.

    I'll ask the builders if they don't respond here. I posted here in case someone might have any ideas on how to deal with the problem also.

    David

  2. #2
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    David, I was just discussing this with a glass artist friend over the week end. The problem with using a shop vac with a sandblasting cabinet is the fines clog the filter quickly AND over time the fine sand will find its way into the motor and kill it. As you know sand dust is very bad for the lungs so the HEPA filter is suggested.

    I think the mini cyclone would fix these problems for the most part. I don't see why it won't work. The only problem I see is that the sand may wear out the sides of the cyclone over time. The Clear Vue unit may last longer in this case. It may also be possible to line the unit with sand blast resist.

    Perry

  3. #3
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    Perry,

    As fast as sharp sand eats away paint and such, I figured it would be murder on the plastic. Is "sand blast resist" a compound or were you saying this generically? I was also thinking of some sort of metal deflector right at the original contact point.

    David

    Quote Originally Posted by Perry Holbrook
    David, I was just discussing this with a glass artist friend over the week end. The problem with using a shop vac with a sandblasting cabinet is the fines clog the filter quickly AND over time the fine sand will find its way into the motor and kill it. As you know sand dust is very bad for the lungs so the HEPA filter is suggested.

    I think the mini cyclone would fix these problems for the most part. I don't see why it won't work. The only problem I see is that the sand may wear out the sides of the cyclone over time. The Clear Vue unit may last longer in this case. It may also be possible to line the unit with sand blast resist.

    Perry

  4. #4
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    I would think the resist would impede the action of the cyclone. I would think maybe a sacrificial liner inside the cone of the cyclone might do the trick. When it wore thin, you could replace it.

    CPeter

  5. #5
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    Wouldn't a metal cyclone be better for this particular application???
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  6. #6
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    Jim,

    I suspect it would. Remember that this is a "shop vac" deal, at least at this point. I wonder if I should just build a "trash can deflector" kind of rig. Then again, thin sheet metal would probably dissolve if velocity is anywhere near the gun speed. But it may be slowed enough to not matter.

    I guess I should try the manufacturer, but I'll bet they've not been faced with this question/thought.

    David

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Becker
    Wouldn't a metal cyclone be better for this particular application???

  7. #7
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    A sandblast resist is a thin film of materials that the sand blast gun will not penetrate. Some have pressure sensitive backing and are a plastic like material. Other resist are fabric, rubber , etc. actually a lot of things.

    I don't know what kind of plastic Clear Vue uses, but I would not be surprised that it will resist the wear better than metal, since several plastics can be used as resist.

    Maybe I should explain what a resist is. Think of it as a stencil. Where there are cutouts the sand will "blast", where the resist is solid the sand will not hit the surface of the material you're blasting.

    As an example, when I need a hole in glass, rather than drilling, sometimes I'll make a hole in a resist material and blast thru that hole and thru the glass leaving the rest of the glass un scratched.

    I still think this will work. I'll call both companies tomorrow and discuss it.

    Perry

  8. #8
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    David - I'd Think You'd Be Best To

    ....call Ed at Clear-Vue.

    He enjoys an excellent reputation for personalized service and attention.

    Also, because ed makes his cyclones to Bill Pentz standards, why not contact Bill himself?

    HTH
    Howard
    Howard Rosenberg

  9. #9
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    David,

    Call Oneida Air and ask if the dust Deputy is up for this.
    Chuck

    When all else fails increase hammer size!
    "You can know what other people know. You can do what other people can do."-Dave Gingery

  10. #10
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    Thanks Perry,

    Let me know what you come up with.

    David

    Quote Originally Posted by Perry Holbrook
    A sandblast resist is a thin film of materials that the sand blast gun will not penetrate. Some have pressure sensitive backing and are a plastic like material. Other resist are fabric, rubber , etc. actually a lot of things.

    I don't know what kind of plastic Clear Vue uses, but I would not be surprised that it will resist the wear better than metal, since several plastics can be used as resist.

    Maybe I should explain what a resist is. Think of it as a stencil. Where there are cutouts the sand will "blast", where the resist is solid the sand will not hit the surface of the material you're blasting.

    As an example, when I need a hole in glass, rather than drilling, sometimes I'll make a hole in a resist material and blast thru that hole and thru the glass leaving the rest of the glass un scratched.

    I still think this will work. I'll call both companies tomorrow and discuss it.

    Perry

  11. #11
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    I'll email Clear View and Oneida right now. Let me know if you hear anything else. I'll let you know what they say.

    David

  12. #12
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    I am by no means and expert in this field, but I do know a thing or two about dust extraction. I work in the toner industry and we have small shop vac type vacuums in all of our labs. All of them have a small cyclone in line and it works great.

    As far as abraision is concerned, remember a cyclone spins the material where as sandblasing is generally a direct impact. Not that the former will now wear the cyclone, its just that I dont think it will eat through it that much faster.

    Let me know what you find out.
    Jason Morgan

  13. #13
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    Well... Oneida was easy to find. Clearview is not quite so. Does anyone know their addy? I've searched for nearly an hour for their site. They are still in business, aren't they?

    David

  14. #14
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    Jason,

    I have those same thoughts. Though the dust won't likely impact like a blast gun, it will still be very abrasive. Do you deal with abrasive dust?

    My mid range $100 shop vac is making "interesting" noises now. So I suspect I will either need to react fast or start over.

    David

    Quote Originally Posted by Jason Morgan
    I am by no means and expert in this field, but I do know a thing or two about dust extraction. I work in the toner industry and we have small shop vac type vacuums in all of our labs. All of them have a small cyclone in line and it works great.

    As far as abraision is concerned, remember a cyclone spins the material where as sandblasing is generally a direct impact. Not that the former will now wear the cyclone, its just that I dont think it will eat through it that much faster.

    Let me know what you find out.

  15. #15
    A shop vac will have insufficient CFM/velocity if used with a large cyclone, and a large cyclone/DC will have insufficient SP/CFM to work with a shop vac sized orifice.

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