Its been a long time coming but I finally took the last 2 days and re-did my entire dust collection system.
My old system was an oneida air 1.5hp cyclone (the old one w/out the canister filter on the end) It was 6" sprial pipe for the main line w/ drops to 4" spiral pipe to the machines. When I moved to my new shop I used the same pipe - but b/c of new machine placement (new spots and the new shop was at least 3x bigger) things were never really right. It always worked just ok - and I was getting more and more annoyed at things the way they were. Monday was pretty much the last straw - I was planing some 4/4 maple and more chips were coming back at me than what was going up the hose. I got pissed, quit for the day and started doing some research. I hit Bill Pentzs' site and pretty much read until my eyes bled. The next morning I started making calls and wednesday drove around north carolina picking up supplies.
The first change - Im now using 6" Sewer & Drain Pipe (S&D) pipe for EVERYTHING. Main Lines and every drop as well as the connections. I made all my own blast gates to help save me some $$. My buddy works in the HVAC field and got me 6" flanges at his cost so I can make new connections to my machines. Holy Snoikes what a difference. I made a new hood for my ridgid planer to fit the 6" pipe - not a speck of chips to be seen. The jointer was just a matter of replacing the existing flange w/ a home made one. The table saw normally had the dust collection on the left side - I closed that up and made a hole in the back bottom and ran the pipe right to it. The Router table I actually reduced from 6" down to 5" b/c I just happen to have some 5" flex hose that was just the right length. Thats all Ive done so far and can I tell you I am now one happy camper. That baby can move some serious air!
Other wall is being done next week - bandsaw, drill press, sander, chopsaw and lathe.
I have a ton of spiral pipe for sale if anyone is interested in it. $350 bucks for the lot include all the Wyes, Elbows, Blastgates, etc.. too much to list but its a ton!
I guess thats a bit of a neener neener for me!!
Im serious about the pipe for sale - If your interested let me know - I just out side of raleigh. Im heading off to vegas for vacation for a week - so If you email me - you most likley wont hear from me for a week.
Ill post some pics when I get back.
Yea - BTW - Thanks Bill - your website rocks!
Thanks, Rob
You can reply to me at r_b_v at v_e_r_z_e_r_a doht c_o_m (remove the _ to get the address)