Work Shop dust collection advice

[ustmd]

I use the PVC in my wood shop and it works great--much cheaper and easier than the metal ducting.

In terms of the static discharge concerns, there is a lot of debate over the risk.

After reading this article:

http://store.workshopsupply.com/catalogue/pdf/DC-Myths.pdf

I decided not to worry about it.

 

[mapper]

I use the PVC in my wood shop and it works great--much cheaper and easier than the metal ducting.

In terms of the static discharge concerns, there is a lot of debate over the risk.

After reading this article:

http://store.workshopsupply.com/catalogue/pdf/DC-Myths.pdf

I decided not to worry about it.

After reading the article I conclude that the best reason for "grounding" is to prevent a unpleasant shock from the pipe, not a dust explosion. I do like the screws ever few inches rather than the internal wire, much easier!
I also concur with an earlier post about putting it under the floor if possible.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I used round HVAC ducting from a big box store, 6" for the branches with 8" for the trunk. The expensive part was the gates and the flexible hose for the last foot. I made some gates out of MDF and masonite.

 

[Billrog]

Had PVC for 3 years now no grounding and no shocks so far.

 

[Budweiser John]

Wow, thanks for all the good information to date. I m thinking now about using PVC rather than steel pipe.
I'm also thinking PVC would have less issues with Condenation.
B. John

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I wouldn't be afraid of PVC for dust collection at all...

SR

 

[dstig1]

Again, you are going to need large duct at the cyclone/dust collector or you will not get enough airflow. PVC or metal, duct sizing is the main design factor in a DC system after the blower... 6" isn't going to do it for much.

 

[Billrog]

Does larger pipe increase the air flow or just slow it down? I have 4" with a 2hp & even the 15" planer doesn't leave a crumb behind. With a 7 HP cyclone it should handle a good size pipe and be able to run more than 1 machine at a time.

 

[Handloader109]

Had a cyclone in my MS shop. I ran 8" hvac snap heating/cooling duct down center of the shop, dropped 6" to several locations, down to 3" or 4" at machines. Worked well, cheaper than pcv

 

[zmansmac]

John, I also started with a 2 HP bag collector many years ago and used 4 inch S & D pipe. In my new shop that I just finished setting up I now have a 3 HP Grizzly cyclone. Other than the metal reducer I used right at the inlet the rest of the system is mainly 6 inch and some 4 inch PVC. I'm in Lapeer County, MI and bought my 6 inch S & D fittings from Menards when they have one of their 11% off sales. They have the best price for the fittings, but not the pipe. Find a cement company that also sells excavation material. They are generally the cheapest for the pipe, but charge much more for the fittings. The best blast gates on the market are the self cleaning ones like Lee Valley sells. Turns out that a company here in Warren, MI makes them for LV, and they are a little cheaper. Check them out at blastgateco.com. They also sell a lot of various grade flex hose at reasonable prices.

As far as one poster mentioned the issue of static buildup is a very debatable issue. I was concerned when I started out many years ago, but research indicates that static charge buildup from wood dust is only a possibility in larger, industrial systems. And since most of those systems use metal pipe it is not an issue. For us hobbyists with our smaller systems it is not a problem if we use PVC pipe.