I've been reading through Bill's Cyclone dust collector site, (http://cnets.net/~eclectic/woodworki...lone/index.cfm) and he maintains that using 6" pipe with an adequately powered cyclone is critical in controlling very fine dust (~1 micron and less).
Had I found this site before buying my collector, I would have probably opted for a cyclone. Instead, I've got the Delta 50-850 1.5 hp single stage unit, and I use a Jet separator lid on a trashcan to separate chips before they hit the Delta unit. I've also got an American Fabric Filter oversized 1-micron top bag (36" wide, 48" high), and the standard plastic bottom bag. But while the pipe between the impeller and the bags is 6", the Y-connector for the machine attachments is 4".
Is it a waste of effort to run 6" main pipes only to throttle them down to 4" at the dust collector and/or the machines? I realize that my demands on the system aren't too high, and each machine gets enough suction, but the point made on the site above is that larger main pipes, as long as they're supported by the DC and the machines, will help better collect the very fine dust (any my apologies if I misread his site).
If that's a waste of time, can I replace the Y-connector on my 50-850 with one from a larger unit in order to run 6" or 5" main pipes? I'll only be running one machine at a time, and will use blast gates, so I won't be tasking the system with long or convoluted pipe runs. It would be fairly easy to modify the port on my X5 Unisaw, and I am in the process of building better collection for my Hitachi 10" slider and the old RAS, as well as the new (Nahm-style) router table. The Delta 22-580 planer has a relatively non-negotiable 4" port, and the X5 jointer (I think) has a plastic 4" adapter plate that could be modified.
I'd hate to have to use 4" pipe, only to have to replace it all when I upgrade to a cyclone in the future.
Thanks to all for your help! BTW, after getting the feedback I did on my jigsaw question, I've ordered a Festool barrel handle model from Bob Marino, and I'm looking forward (with minor financial trepidation) to getting inexorably drawn into the Festool universe.
Thanks-
Bill Karow
Windham, ME