XL 4" cyclone

[katellwood]

This is my setup with one bought off ebay





its outside the main workshop in its own little room and vented outside (no filter), works great

with the barrels, I have two, so changeover is quick when they are full I bag up the contents and eventually burn them (free winter heating)

Would recommend to anyone using a traditional two bag extractor as the suction is much stronger (however if using in main workshop you will need to filter the exhaust or exhaust outside)

 

[gregmcateer]

Katellwood - That looks a neat setup.

Do you still have the details of where you bought the kikt?

TIA

Greg

 

[SammyQ]

Seconded. Looks a good bit of kit.

Sam

 

[pike]

Yeah, I have no idea why the larger cyclones are so expensive here - there's got to be a gap in the market for them, and cyclone Central aren't filling it.

Keep us posted how your cyclone turns out!

The large cyclone is due next week so I'll update when I get it running.

The regular vac size one which only cost £13 is up and running and is fantastic. You can see the dust swirling around 3-5 times before dropping down into my 26 litre metal drum. It's allowed me to start using bags in my vac as it will take some time to fill.

I look forward to having similar hopefully on my chip extractor. So I don't have to fiddle with the big plastic bag too often.

The whole setup should be healthier and more efficient.

 

[MikeJhn]

That's the one thing the cyclone's are not, and that is healthier, because you can not use a bag in them, you have to empty the dust into a bag to dispose of the very harmful dust, this concentrates the exposure whilst tipping the dust out into a bag to dispose of it, at least with a vacuum and bag system you only have to clean the filter and that can be put inside a bag and shaken out, IMO these cyclones are only to save you from cleaning your filter, they do not help you to avoid dust inhalation.

Now you have a decent HVLP system, you must have noticed the vortex inside the collection bag that you get with the unit you have, this is again only a help in avoiding the clogging up of your filter, but at least you can take the bag off and dispose of the collected waste without exposing yourself to it.

Mike

 

[pike]

Mike, yeah fair point, the cyclone itself might not be healthier but it is for me indirectly for various reasons.

I can now use a bag in the vac without it filling lots and being too expensive. I never used bags previously because of the cost and capacity. So now, as well as the pre filter and cartridge I now have the bag.

It's also better for me to carry a container with handles and a mask on when I go to empty it. Easier to tip up into a bin compared to my vac which is a larger, odd shape to empty and has a hole in the side (the outlet). I should be able to also detach and carry the HVLP container much easier than fiddling with the crappy plastic bag connection system.

I have bought the expensive filter cartridge for my chip collector which I might have just not bothered with if I thought it was going to get clogged and messed up really quickly.

My vac filter cartridge is a bit worse for wear. I would be more likely to spend the money on a new one now I know it's going to last longer.

 

[tomlt]

Ive got this for sale if anyones interested? 130quid collected from spalding or Peterborough. Includes 100L collection drum.

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk

 

[MattRoberts]

That's the one thing the cyclone's are not, and that is healthier, because you can not use a bag in them, you have to empty the dust into a bag to dispose of the very harmful dust, this concentrates the exposure whilst tipping the dust out into a bag to dispose of it, at least with a vacuum and bag system you only have to clean the filter and that can be put inside a bag and shaken out, IMO these cyclones are only to save you from cleaning your filter, they do not help you to avoid dust inhalation.

A cyclone system more than likely uses a container that has a much larger capacity than a vac bag, so you empty it far less often. And there's no difference between your method of putting a bag around a filter and shaking it, versus putting a bag around the container and emptying it.

 

[MikeJhn]

At least a vac bag seals itself and allows dust free disposal, putting a bag around a container means lifting the container to pour the contents into the bag, the larger the container the more difficult it becomes, not all the dust will make it into the bag and when the container is lifted off the bag a cloud of dust ensues, putting a bag around a vac filter and shaking it to dislodge the dust expose's the operative far less.

As someone with breathing problems I have tried all/most of these methods, my cyclone on an airtight container is relegated to the dark corner of the room.

Always fascinated by the vortex created inside my HVLP extractor, because of the large paper filter the instructions say you must use plastic bags for collection this allows you to see the vortex and the separation layers formed in the bag from different operations, very therapeutic.

Link to HVLP: http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... eal-717658

Mike

 

[MattRoberts]

At least a vac bag seals itself and allows dust free disposal, putting a bag around a container means lifting the container to pour the contents into the bag, the larger the container the more difficult it becomes, not all the dust will make it into the bag and when the container is lifted off the bag a cloud of dust ensues, putting a bag around a vac filter and shaking it to dislodge the dust expose's the operative far less.

We must be using different filters then. Mine expels a plume of dust if you even look at it the wrong way, let alone remove it and put it in a bag.

Either way, one should always wear a first mask when doing any maintenance like this

 

[MikeJhn]

The problem is waiting far too long to clean any filter, it seems to be a negative exercise and is put off until its absolutely necessary by which time the filter is chocked and has a lot of loose dust coating its outer face, this is what plumes out from the filter when it is disturbed, regular cleaning can minimise this.

I always wear my Trend Airshield Pro: https://www.trenddirectuk.com/air-pro-a ... 0wodfQIN7A when cutting, routing or creating/collecting dust in my workshop, even in 40 degs I find it comfortable to wear, the fresh sir forced over your face inside the helmet is quite refreshing.

Mike

 

[pike]

I've got the large cyclone. Haven't tested it yet but will empty out all the chippings in the extractor bag and suck them back up when I get a chance.

It's the cyclone with a 6" and 5" inch outlet. I got some plastic reducers but neither fit. The outer diameters on the inlet/outlet are bigger. So I've made a ply adaptor for one and just gaffer taped the other for now.

I like that if my usage increases I could quite easily get a bigger drum without much fuss. 60 litre will probably do for me.

I haven't sorted the hose route out or final positioning of everything. It occurs to me that the input of the extractor is near the ground and the port on the cyclone is quite high. I've seen some people taking the extractor apart and fixing it to the wall but I'll leave that at least for now.

Suction *feels* just as good. No obvious issues anyway. Hopefully this is going to keep the filter cartridge in good condition and reduce how often I have to remove the big plastic bag. I'm going to make a trolley or a wall fixture to hold the blue drum and cyclone.

 

[MattRoberts]

Nice one Pike. Why not cut out the middle man and mount your impeller onto the top of the cyclone? That middle grey pipe is doing nothing other than reducing power, and you'll probably find that if you remove the Y adapter, the hole is the right size for the cyclone

 

[pike]

Cheers Matt one thing leads to another. I've only just got the extractor so am not quite ready to start taking it apart and mounting elsewhere. I can see it happening though.

 

[Wizard9999]

At the very least make the hose between the impeller and the cyclone as short as possible. Looks great though.

Terry.

 

[pike]

Yep I will be doing that. This was just to see if everything fit after sorting out adaptors.

The missus can't believe I'm itching to go and hoover in the shed ;-)

 

[pike]

I've shortened the hose length as much as I can without taking apart and redesigning the extractor, which will do for now.

Also I emptied the extractor bag of about 15 litres of chippings/dust then sucked it up with the cyclone connected. It all went in the barrel and nothing but a tiny bit of dust in the bag so all good Taking the bag off the extractor is fiddly so I'm really pleased I won't be doing that too often now.

 

[MattRoberts]

Nice - glad it's working well for you. Most people tie up the bag so it's really small. You can use the space for storage until you fancy getting creative with taking it apart

 

[pike]

Thanks for the advice and ideas while I got this sorted out. Yeah I immediately thought, that bag is a waste of space now

 

[MikeJhn]

If I remember correctly when I assembled my FM300 I checked to see if the fan motor assembly would fit directly to the collector, this seemed to be possible, I should think that removing the fan assemble from the metal square tube and fitting it directly to the collector would allow lowering the whole assembly, turn the fan assembly 90degs, and put the whole thing on top of a small drop box instead of the plastic bag, just a thought.

Mike