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I don't have room for a proper dust collection system around here, so I keep my dust making power tools out on my covered patio. The only one I have that really needs vacuum to draw off dust is my Performax 16/32.

I just replaced an old Genie wet/dry vac with a Rigid from Home Depot. The Genie had been dedicated to sucking off the dust from my Performax 16/32. It probably would have lasted longer, but when I first started using it with the drum sander, I neglected to put the paper sock around the foam filter that the Genie used -- ran it that way for a couple hours, and it damaged its bearings near as I can tell from the sounds it made. Put the sock on and ran it that way for two years until the motor finally burned up last week.

The new Rigid comes with a pleated canister paper filter that looks a lot like an automotive air filter. I'll give it a few minutes of operation with the Performax before that filter clogs.

I called the local Woodcraft and Rockler outlets, asking if they had any paper or cloth socks that would fit the filter. Nope. Home Depot didn't have any either that would fit it.

So, now I'm thinking about heading down to a fabric store and buying a yard of finely woven linen or silk, so I can cut out a sock and mount it on the filter. I've thought of vacuum cleaner bags, and they might work, but I'd have to find a size big enough to fit the Rigid's filter, which is about 7" in diameter and 10" long (just guestimating -- haven't actually measured it yet).

Anyway, just wondering if any of you might have some advice in this regard. As always, all comments are welcome.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

You might try a Mini Dust Collection Separator from Woodcraft.

Mini Lid

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

The Mini Lid is a great idea I think I'll get one!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Michael

Mine has a linnen bag with a paperbag over the top the paperbag is oversized and just folds over then has an elastic band round, So I guess you could use something oversize.

[QUOTE=SteveS] You might try a Mini Dust Collection Separator from Woodcraft.

Mini Lid[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I've seen this. A good idea, but I'd have to do a lot of rearranging just to fit a trash can into the cramped space I have to work within. Hence, the idea of using a bag or sock.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Ah yes space ... I had one of the garbage can lids for a while, but all the Y connectors and gates for 4 tools drove me nuts. Plus it sat beside the big double bag collector I had, with the 2hp motor beside that. I saw an article in one of the not so fine woodworking magazines that had home built separator. SO I built one. Its basically the biggest box I could make out of one sheet of plywood, rectangular, and it has three inlets up high on the one side (did away with those Y's). There is a foot deep baffle inside that sits in behind these about a foot away, with the collector motor intake mounted right behind the baffle. Now all the chips and dust that come in, hit the baffle, drop to the bottom, and the 3 micron bag on the big collector only sees the finest dust. The bottom bag on the collector now has a drum size garbage bag in it, and the separator fills at least ten times before the other bag is half full. It works amazingly well considering its rudimentary design.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I'd be surprised if the mini dust cyclone really would help the vac filter much. They really are more for large dust particles up to chips. I have a trash can cyclone and it is great for large stuff, but fines do still reach the filter.   I would think the dust of a drum sander would be very light and not stop in the trash bucket. And more importantly when you hook them up backwards they don't do a good job of stopping anything from getting to the filter, including shavings from a planer. Or so I've heard .
Mike

I'd be surprised if the mini dust cyclone really would help the vac filter much. They really are more for large dust particles up to chips. I have a trash can cyclone and it is great for large stuff, but fines do still reach the filter.   I would think the dust of a drum sander would be very light and not stop in the trash bucket. And more importantly when you hook them up backwards they don't do a good job of stopping anything from getting to the filter, including shavings from a planer. Or so I've heard .
Mike

Mine is from Lee Valley Tools, it costs a lot more but i don't have to empty my big trash can every day!

try this link Michael

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=30282&cat=1,42 401&ap=1

Hope this helps!

Serge

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Mine is from Lee Valley Tools, it costs a lot more but i don't have to empty my big trash can every day!

try this link Michael

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=30282&cat=1,42 401&ap=1

Hope this helps!

Serge[/QUOTE]


Isn't Lee Valley great

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CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Isn't Lee Valley great ??? Absolutely, I just wish they would stop taking all my money !!! Well them and the two local exotic wood shops.

Up next is the mark 2 sharpening jig, another 5 inch forrest stiffener for the niefer blade, a cranked neck chisel, 5/8, the 24 inch steel straight edge, the low angle jack, a couple more high angle blades, and then .....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Head that Tony.

Lee Valley gets entirely too much of my money, along with the two local hardwood suppliers around here

Just to give y'all an update, I solved my problem. Shoulda checked things before I made the first post, but then again, useful info has once again been shared, so I don't feel at all bad about it.

Turns out I was able to salvage the bag off my little old Genie and it barely fit over the Rigid's filter. So, problem solved. I hooked the new vac up yesterday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised that not only did it have just a whole lot more suction than that whimpy old Genie, but it was much more quiet. So, I'm a happy guy. I'll be thicknessing some tops directly.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Michael, what kind of bag are you talking about? can you fw someplace i could buy this?

Serge

Hey Serge,

It's a paper (or fiber) bag that fits over the filter and is held in place with a large rubber band. When I was transferring it to the Rigid, I noted that the bag said "Genie" on it, which I was thankful for, cuz I'm hoping it also has a model or stock number on it also.

I've been doing some internet searching to see if I can find a replacement for this bag, and I gotta tell you, so far, it doesn't look so good. So far, other than the bags that have a nozzle hole, like a bag-type vacuum, which I really don't want to use, all I've been able to find is this one, made by Shop Vac. It might work, as long as it's large enough.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Thanks Michael, i'll be looking into that!

Serge

[QUOTE=Michael McBroom]
So, now I'm thinking about heading down to a fabric store and buying a yard of finely woven linen or silk, [/QUOTE]

Michael,

I have pretty much the same set-up. I went to Ace Hardware and they had bags big enough for it. They are a different brand but they work fine. I just take them off and shake em out once then throw away the next time. Works pretty good! But I might invest in a bigger filter set up. Maybe a box with an AC filter down the middle. One side in and one side out ought to do the trick.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust