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 Dust Collection System and Layout Click an image for a larger version |
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Dust collection is one of
the major items that went into the planning of my shop addition and
modification. After researching a wide range of systems, I decided a
mid-range cyclone would be ideal for my shop. I submitted my proposed
floor plan and, after a couple of tweaks, received a well-engineered plan
from Oneida. They agreed the 3HP Super Dust Gorilla would be more than
sufficient assuming proper duct sizing throughout. The cyclone has an
8" intake port to which an 8-7-7 wye is attached. Each of the two main
trunks of the system starts with 7" duct with the first drops a few feet
away on each run. I ran a dedicated 220VAC/20A circuit to the wall near the ceiling and to the left of the cyclone. The scary guy in the photo is included to indicate the size of the cyclone. |
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The trunk running to the
right from the cyclone has a 7-6-5 wye at the first drop, a 6-6-5 wye at the
second drop and a 6-5-4 wye at the third drop. Five inch duct
continues along the wall, over the entry door, then down the wall to a 5"
blast gate. I'll use a short section of flex hose running to a hood to
use at the lathe and sharpening systems.
The first drop goes to a 5" blast gate and a 5" to 4" reducer for use on mobile tools like the planer, jointer, etc. I also use that drop for the drill press. The second drop is dedicated to the bandsaw. The third drop goes to a floor sweep. |
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The trunk running from the
left side of the cyclone has a 7-6-4 wye a few feet from the cyclone.
The 4" side goes to a blast gate for use on mobile machines. The
remainder of the back wall is a wood storage rack.
Along the side wall, the next drop is on a 6-6-5 wye followed by a 6-5-6 wye with 6" duct running down the wall and under the tablesaw support tables. The next photos show the 6" duct continuing under the table to a 6-5-4 wye. Five inch duct continues to the tablesaw dust port; the 4" side goes toward the router table dust box and passes through a 4-4-4 wye. One side of this last wye goes directly to the router dust box; the other side is reduced to 2.5" and goes to a 2.5" blast gate. The 2.5" blast gate and connector (orange color in the bottom photo) fits a standard shop vacuum hose. It is also used with a short section of hose to provide dust pickup to the router fence.
I should throw in a comment at this point a bit about
the different duct I used. All of the larger wyes came from Oneida as
did the 7" and 6" pipe. Their price on 26ga material was reasonable
and I wanted heavier gauge on the larger items. Part of the 5" pipe
and all of the 4" came from a local distributor. Using the local guy
saved a little because I'm comfortable with lighter gauge on those
diameters. |
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Five inch duct from the wye
mentioned above continues to the tablesaw. I installed a blast gate
just before the tablesaw dust port and added a "remote control" so I don't
have to get on my knees to operate the gate. These photos show the
gate and operator control.
The tablesaw has the usual 4" dust port at the bottom
of the cabinet. I did not enlarge it but ran 5" duct to a 5" to 4"
reducer right at the port. I get good dust collection with this
configuration and will keep it as is unless I see a need to modify the saw
cabinet. |
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My bandsaw has dust ports
below the table and at the bottom of the lower chamber. I ran 5" duct
from the blast gate on the second drop on the trunk to a reducer and 4" wye
to handle both dust ports. |
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Five inch duct is run from
the wye through the blast gate and into the chamber below the miter saw.
The blast gate is mounted at the top of the upper chamber for easy access.
Dust collection from my miter saw is near perfect as evidenced by wood chips
from solid wood and plywood and the usual MDF dust cloud being drawn into
the dust collection system immediately. |
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Floor sweeps are
incorporated into the dust collection system in both rooms of my shop.
Both are on 4" duct which is sufficient to suck up anything I've thrown at
it. I added a 4" port with blast gate via a 5-4-4 wye in the old
section of the building in case I need to connect a machine in that area.
The floor sweeps may seem a bit frivolous but it helps a rapidly "maturing"
guy clean up without having to bend over so much! |
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I bought self-cleaning
blast gates from Lee Valley. They're an excellent design and saved me
the time of building mine from scratch. The gates are mounted to a
piece of 3/4" by 3/4" aluminum angle which is screwed to a piece of plywood
mounted to the wall. |