I have been using a fan to blow dust away from inhalation, which I thought worked fine as I would only make 1 pen at a time. The more I learn the more fun this hobby presents. I made 32 pens a couple of weeks ago and have been coughing ever since. The cough has now subsided and I hopefull will be ready to go next week. (The CA has a sting)
I read a bunch of Bills stuff on dust collectors and have decided to mount mine outside.
Here is what I plan to do, and I am asking for input, cause the last system I bought was a waste of $$$$.
1. I am looking at the HF 3 hp cyclone, which will be mounted outside, about 4 feet from my lathe and Scroll saw, and sanders.
2. I am planning on running 6 inch PVC through the wall
3. I have not figured yet how to connect the 6 inch to the lathe to get maximum suction at that point.
Roy
Having been in the field of health investigation for many of the better insurance providers I have long preached about the disadvantages of inadequate dust collection in wood working shops that I will not get back on my soapbox and begin preaching again.
Take it for what it is worth when I say GET THE BEST DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET ... and GET IT IN PLACE NOW.
The big problem with dust collection is keeping the filters clean enough and long enough to allow us to get much work accomplished. Regardless of the filtration method used, it is the fine particulate material that KILLS. Maybe not right away in most cases, but after a period of exposure to the fine material our lungs just can't handle it any longer and they begin to fail rapidly.
Find a respiratory therapist and ask them about this ... what you learn will probably change your life in the shop.
As for your cough ... sounds to me like your body is telling you something ... and you need to listen.
A 3hp dust collector should be adequate for most small shop operations. Get the collection port as close to the source of the dust and catch all that you possibly can.
I would also say that the DC bag is not the best thing to have
inside, but since you have a way to put the DC outside I wouldn't worry about that issue. The only problem I see with an outside unit is that the DC will also take out all your hear or AC along with the duct.
PVC is also not being proved to be a problem as far as static goes ... it is possible but under different conditions than a small shop.
The only 'problem' with the static I have ever witnessed, is that dust of all sorts often tends to collect on the outside of the tubing and that dust becomes another type of problem when the PVC is disturbed and the dust is knocked off.
Unless you are using materials of a highly explosive nature, I would say go ahead and use the PVC for tubing. You will end up using flexible hose to connect the PVC to the plastic device you show in your post. You just need to keep in mind that any bend in the flow of air is a restriction and thus cuts down the efficiency. A run of four feet should not be a problem unless you actually kink the hose ... that's bad.
Adapters from 6" to 4" are available ... look here for a possible source:
http://www.ptreeusa.com/dust_list.htm These folks sell to Woodcraft and Rockler and Highland in my area of GA.
If PeachTree doesn't have one, then check the heating ductwork from Home Depot for a metal reducer. Be sure ALL your joints are sealed adequately.
Got more questions be sure and post as someone here on the Forum has experienced almost any kind/type of problem anyone else should ever encounter. And we all have our favorite solutions.
BTW I use the same collector you plan on using and to mount it I took a 3 foot length of 2x4 and cut a grove along the 2" side and screwed it to the back side of my JET lathe, then slid the collector mounting lip into the grove and positioned it wherever I need it to be and screwed it in place. Also, there possibly will be a loss of travel in your tailstock so slide the collector as close as possible to the headstock. I have had no problem with my banjo at all ... just a mild shove and it fits over the lip of the collector and inside the large cavity.
Have fun and turn healthy ... your future life depends on it my friend.
