Contributor
generally you will still be better off with a 6" horizonal and 4 or 5" verticals. The restriction right at the inlet is still better than the restriction of 5" pipe all the way. velocity of the main is your concern but a little slower flow on the horizontal is preferable to reducing velocity at the machine port. Just don't use a 6" vertical. DaveOriginally Posted by Joe Montague
Contributor
When I had mine, I replaced the side piece of the DC with a piece of plywood and a 6" inlet. It seemed to work far better and was easier to find 6" parts.
The biggest problem with the HF DC is that it's impeller is too small and it really isn't 2 HP. More like 1.5HP.
The good news is that the price is a steal.
Last edited by Alan Lightstone; 05-24-2012 at 7:45 PM.
- After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
- It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.
Member
Throw the 2-4 adapter in the trash!
Member
As mentioned, just remove the 5" takeoff from the DC housing and make one that is 6". I used a piece of 1/4" melamine, and a 6" duct takeoff that came from Lowes, I used the adhesive type, and backed up the adhesive with screws. I think I ended up using new bolts to attach it to the DC housing, as I seem to remember the originals being too short using the 1/4" melamine. Just be sure not to use bolts that are too long, they won't hit the impeller, but would likely cause turbulence and impede material flow. A separator is also something you will want to think about. It will removed the chips and the majority of the dust before it gets to filter, there by keeping the filter clean and allowing maximum flow. Also, fine dust smaller than the micron rating of the filter that doesn't reach the filter won't get through it. I built a "top hat" design that sit atop a trash can, and dump it instead of the collection bag. My collection bag barely gets the slightest bit of dust in it.
As Alan stated the impeller is smaller than most, measuring 9.75", but the 12" impeller from a Rikon 60-200 DC is a perfect and easy direct fit replacement. It was $60 + shipping when I got mine.
Contributor
I ran with the stock Y-branch 4" pipes in 2 directions. My DC is the 1 1/2HP Delta with canister filter on top. The longest run is about 25 feet from the branch feeding the TS. The short side goes straight to the jointer/planer. Blast gates in either direction which can be closed off easily to the branch not in use. I went this way as the Delta is not the most powerful and most info that I have read shows this to be the best arrangement for a unit with limited CFM and not a cyclone.
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Joe, I ran two 4" ducts from my 1.5HP Jet (in the interest of time and money) but am planning to upgrade to 6" to get better flow. I would have been better off to have done 6" from the start like you are considering and others are suggesting above. If you can upsize your machine ports, you will realize the full benefit of the 6" duct, otherwise you take a big hit on that restriction.
Adding a pre-separator will help get the heavy dusts out, but it will also cost you on flow at the hood. The separator has a pressure drop associated with it and will therefore reduce the fan volume. You will get less CFM with the separator than you would without it. Since your impellor is small already, I would not opt for the separator to get more CFM at the hoods. A 6" 90 elbow is only about a 1/4" of loss at 750 CFM. If the separator is only 1" of pressure drop (probably more), then it would be like adding (4) 6" 90s to the system. If you have to reduce down to 4" at the separator, then you have even more loss.
Mike
Contributor
Michael, don't you think the bag restriction is at play here. The new impeller can only push so much air through the bag. I'm assuming no flex is attached to the inlet so pipe restrictions are not an issue. Have you ever seen an impeller run as a forward curve in a DC? Dave
Member
Good point, the system resistance overall will increase with the increase in flow (SP increases with the square of the flow change). I have never seen an FI wheel on a DC. In larger systems, you would see a radial or radial tip in this application due to the fan being on the dirty side of the collector. Usually BIs are only used after fabric filters. Radials and radial tip wheels are still used after cyclones. This looks more like a radial tip. I think its a mistake on HF's part or a QC problem. We are talking about HF, you can't expect 100% QC compliance and Cadillac quality at those prices. I would suspect that the likelyhood of them putting the wrong wheel on the wrong fan is highly possible/probable, but who knows.
Mike
Member
I guess you missed my ealier post......
[OP]
Member
Kevin, actually I DID read it. The funny part is, I thought I had read it somewhere else, and couldn't remember where I had seen it! I should've reread my own thread first! Thanks for that!
Last edited by Joe Montague; 05-30-2012 at 10:56 AM.
Member
Joe and Kevin: Linked to this thread from a thread in Lumberjocks. It is interesting stuff. I am interested in how your dust collectors are performing now, about a year after you posted about upgrading your impellers to the Rikon. Are you getting all the results you hoped for, none of them or beyond your wildest expectations? Would you do it again?
Member
I did something similiar on my Grizzly, except I bought a 6" inlet from one of the big box stores and used a metal cutting blade on my saber saw to cut the opening larger. Used foam tape and sheet metal screws to attach the inlet to the plate and then remounted the plate on the DC. I then made sure the impeller didn't hit anything and then powered it up. All my main ductwork now starts at 6 inches and gets reduced from there.
Wood'N'Scout
Member
One 6" duct will have lower pressure drop per foot of duct than two 4" ducts. The small part is because the 6" has more cross-sectional area than the two 4" ducts combined but mainly because there's less pipe surface area to develop the friction. Make the Y as close to the tool as is feasible.
Just my opinion.. YMMV.
Jim
One can never have too many planes and chisels... or so I'm learning!!
Contributor
Here's a picture of mine (boy, had to dig to find the picture of it):
HF DC 6in outlet modification.jpg
- After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
- It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.
[OP]
Member
Great ideas, guys! I think I'm going to enlarge the hole on my DC to accomodate a 6" inlet. Does anyone know of a larger impeller that is a drop-in replacement for the stock impeller?
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