So I’m at the point where I feel I need a proper dust collection system for my garage.
I currently run a shop vac with a DIY cyclone separator on my Longmill setup. It has
served me well. Cons is that it dedicated pretty much 99% to my Longmill setup, although
I can detach and hook it up to my router table.
I think it’s time to move up a notch. I do not have any experience with the dedicated
bag dust collectors so be gentle on me.
Currently I have the following in the shop.
Longmill 30x30
Router Table
Mitre saw
Table saw
Thickness Planer
The Longmill, Router table and Mitre are my most heavily used with the table saw
barely used at the moment.
I’m currently looking at a 1-2hp dust collector system. Thoughts?
Will it be enough for my needs?
Are they super loud compared to my shop vac?
Max distance of runs?
Pros/cons?
I have a 3D printer and can print my own connectors if that is an cost savings option?
Anyhoo, looking for options/ideas/tips/trick and opinions (we know everyone’s got them).
@Lumpy Kris: I just know that I’m going to regret entering into this discussion. Ask 10 woodworkers about the best dust collection system and you will get 12 replies.
Anyway, here goes, FWIW.
I have an old 2hp craftex/busy bee collector. I have replaced the bottom bag with a drum and the top bag with a wynne canister filter. I have a Thien baffle to keep all but the fines out of the filter. Each of my machines has a collar on it. They are from this kit
On the DC, I have a 10’ length of flex hose. That gives me enough to reach all my machines. (They are all on wheels.)
For my Mill, I ran PVC 4" pipe horizontally from the front of my table to the left rear corner, then up vertically to about 3’ above the table. From that, I have a length of 2" flex hose that slip fits into my dust shoe.
I’m happy with this setup. Except for the Mill, I have been using it for several years. It’s not as convenient has fixed duct work and not as effective as a cyclone, but it’s cost effective.
Now that you have a fancy cnc to do lot’s of fun stuff with you should make your own dust collector.
I’ll send you down a bit of a youtube rabbit hole here with a few videos.
A really big but awesome one (link is first of a few videos):
Smaller version from the same guy:
And where he got his inspiration from (this guy has a bunch of dust collector builds each with different variations, a bunch of smaller quiet ones built for just one tool):
I’ve done a few of the bigger cyclone style ones now and they work super super well.
I currently have one sitting under my deck outside with the ducting running inside which keeps the noise way way down.
I use a shop vac, with a DIY dust collection. It is basically 2 5 gallon buckets with a couple of 3d printed parts that act as a cyclone to separate the dust before it hits the vacuum.
Works great, super simple! I don’t have pictures right now, but I can post some later if you would like. The 3d printed parts I designed in fusion 360 and printed myself.
