Dust collector for belt sander

[woods12]

Hi!

I'm going to use my Record Power BDS150 belt sander in my basement workshop (40m3) during winter. I do a lot of sanding using this small stationary 4 in. belt/disc sander and I'm in the market for a dust collector. I have no idea where to start because I don't know how powerful a dust collector should be for this type of machine. The machine have small dust port but I'm already modified the dust port to accommodate a 4 in. hose.

I've been looking at Record Power RSDE2 HPLV or a 1 HP or a 2 HP HVLP with a filter canister.

I always use respirator, and I will later add an air filter in the ceiling to get rid of the fine airborne dust.

I need advice please. Thanks!

 

[PAC1]

I would think one from that range would be good my old extractor is the original of the startrite. It was good with fairly well contained fine dust

 

[woods12]

Thanks! From what I've read it requires high air flow to capture fine dust at source. I was initially going for the RSDE2 but is the airflow on that machine high enough?

Any of the HVLP machines has at least twice the air flow rating at the same price but requires a better filter to match the filtering of a vacuum extractors.

 

[PAC1]

With conventional dust extractors (LPHV) they work on high volume but have very low pressure and in that situation you need a very high volume (say 700 to 1000cfm) to suck up all the fine dust. However because of the low pressure you then need large diameter pipes say 150mm or 200mm in order to get the volume. They are just large fans set to blow the air from your machine to the collection bag. The machines you refer to use High pressure (HPLV) but relatively very low volumes (say 100 to 200cfm). They are just like vacuum cleaners and suck the air under pressure. If the dust is contained the high pressure works well. I once tried attaching my HPLV to a downdraft table, it was hopeless, but attach it to a small say 50mm dia pipe to a router or sander it will suck so hard I have burst the collection bag and the filter. If the dust can spray everywhere then they are not much use and a Low Pressure system is better. However you then need to match the filter. If you are collecting sander dust a 18mu filter is a waste of effort as all the fine dust will come back out. You will need 1 or 0.3mu filters. This then impacts the volume and price. The other factor if you go for (LPHV) you will be recycling the room volume air 15 to 20 times per hour.
It is not an easy choice

 

[woods12]

Thank you PAC1. You're right, I'ts not an easy choice...

I've come up with another idea, but I'm not sure it's adequate. How about HPLV extractor and combine that with a air filter like Microclene MC420 hanging directly over the machine.

I also have the ability to the put a LPHV dust extractor in a separate room (6m2) right next to my workshop room. If i go that route I've been looking at a small HEPA H13 air cleaner with evacuation port to place in the room. This way I can clean evacuate air back to the workshop to reduce heat loss.

 

[PAC1]

I adopted the latter strategy this year and built an outside well vented cupboard to house my extractor. It has the advantage that the air is not recycled along with particles not caught by the filter so you are permanently receiving clean fresh air. This creates negative pressure and draws the dust into the system better. I now have the cleanest machine room I have ever known (but come the winter it will also be the coldest). It also means you do not needs as good a filter on the system. The downsides are heat loss, ensuring a flow of air to replace the extracted air upto 20x the room volume per hour and the careful design of duct systems (avoid tight bends and junctions). It cost me £1k for a very simple 150mm ducted system and extractor capable of 900cfm. I dismantled the extractor and hung the fan and motor upside down from the roof in line with my duct and then the waste drops down into a bag.
My advice is that if you can extract to outside do it or even a separate room as long as the used air cannot get back to you. Fit the biggest you can afford in terms of extraction power and duct. You need to design and size everything to work together. For instance if you want 450cfm it is no good looking at 100mm duct it will never do it. If you see a manufacturer's quoted cfm check the duct size and location of that alleged volume and with most take it with a large pinch of salt. Poorly constructed ducts, bends and flexi pipe eat volume. Start with your biggest machine requirement (usually spindle or planer) and work back to the size of fan.
The thing I under appreciated was that Low Pressure systems really are low pressure and as soon as you put the slightest constriction in the system the cfm falls off a cliff.

Microlene are good for background cleaning but in the first instance put the price of the microlene into a better extractor. you may find you do not need the microlene. Also watch the spec on them I do not think they catch the very fine killer dust.

 

[woods12]

Right now I'm thinking about placing a HVLP in a separate room with 5 in. duct and using a HEPA H13 air cleaner in the workshop. I don't want to vent outside because of the heat loss.

 

[PAC1]

My concerns would be:
125mm duct is unlikely to get you the large cfm needed for fine dust removal
You need to balance the cost of the HEPA with just putting a bigger unit and a 0.3mu filter on the extractor and a then worry less about the filter back into the room or vice versa and having a big blower unit with a bag filter and then a Hepa filter on your return air.
It also depends how many hours per day you are running the system. I am trying to have machining days (no heat) and bench days (woodturner lit).

Have a look at Felder they have some reasonably priced (Don't tell Felder I said that) extraction units

 

[woods12]

Thanks, a 6" duct is probably better. It's also better to invest in a better filter, but fine dust will escape my dust collector and those also needs to be collected hence the air cleaner.

Do you know where I can source 0.5 or 0.3 micron filter cartridge for common HVLP dust collectors?

A fine filter will clog quickly right, Should I get a cyclone?

 

[PAC1]

I decided to start again and bought the Jet with the cone with 1mu filter. £450 rather than new filters and cyclone then fad trying to make it work
If you can afford it buy clip on duct. If not get purpose made clip on slow 90 degree bends with adaptors to suit

 

[woods12]

What's the efficiency rate of the cyclone on the jet? Good enough for fine dust?

PAC1, I've just sent you an pm.