Workshop extraction.

[grim_d]

I'm putting together an extraction system for my new workshop area, this is for mainly wood chips and sanding dust, be helpful for any fumes and odours too.

I've just bought this big boy for doing the sucking. It's a paddle type fan so perfect for this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154160081152

I basically plan on buying a cyclone head from Axminster and attaching it to a sealable drum and then putting a filter on the output of the fan to collect any remaining bits and bobs that make it through.

Seems overly simple...am I missing anything?

 

[Melvyn Best]

Seems overly simple...am I missing anything?

Ear muffs! Used to work at a main dealers that had an exhaust extraction system right above my lift which drove you crazy

 

[MattF]

Ear muffs!

Something like these?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/713UxDNS2aL._AC_SR525,789_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg

 

[grim_d]

Something like these?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/713UxDNS2aL._AC_SR525,789_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg

Not sure on the colour.

 

[gaz1]

im a skin flint but if you connect these in series you could have 2 fans working on one motor

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tangenti...257934?hash=item25e73bfbce:g:fYcAAOSwLF1X46sV

 

[badabec]

I basically plan on buying a cyclone head from Axminster and attaching it to a sealable drum and then putting a filter on the output of the fan to collect any remaining bits and bobs that make it through.

Seems overly simple...am I missing anything?

The drum may need some internal support. Mine needed a plywood disc with a central hole jammed into it halfway down. Without it, the vacuum would collapse the drum

 

[grim_d]

im a skin flint but if you connect these in series you could have 2 fans working on one motor

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tangenti...257934?hash=item25e73bfbce:g:fYcAAOSwLF1X46sV

For what?

The drum may need some internal support. Mine needed a plywood disc with a central hole jammed into it halfway down. Without it, the vacuum would collapse the drum

Ah, good shout! cheers.

 

[MattF]

The drum may need some internal support. Mine needed a plywood disc with a central hole jammed into it halfway down. Without it, the vacuum would collapse the drum

Good point. I made a small unit a few years ago, running from a standard vacuum. Just that used to give the collector drum some stick.

 

[mtt.tr]

you would be better of buying a complete extractor with bags and filters,

and sanding dust really needs a completely different extractor set up all together that fine dust is rather explosive, and you don't want to be atomising it

This depends on how much you are doing mind

 

[MattF]

If he goes with a decent cyclonic setup, pretty much all dust will be contained.

 

[grim_d]

you would be better of buying a complete extractor with bags and filters,

and sanding dust really needs a completely different extractor set up all together that fine dust is rather explosive, and you don't want to be atomising it

This depends on how much you are doing mind

Can't agree, I have one of those bag type ones and they are mince, the cheaper ones without actual filters (just the bag) do an excellent job of pumping out the fine, most harmful dust, right at head height.

What kind of extraction does (normal) sanding dust need? I've never used anything other than vacuums or "normal" extractors, never seen anyone else use anything different neither. Isn't that exactly what m-class extractors are for? I'm not dealing with anything requiring a higher class of extraction.

There's no way to avoid atomising dust when sanding wether an extractor is used or not, particles and air flow of any description equals atomised dust.

The unit I've bought is paddle bladed which is exactly what you want for fine dust as it minimises buildup on the blades.

Also going to be using a cyclone so only a tiny fraction of what's extracted will hit the fan, then go straight into a HEPA filter and then be vented to outside. (So almost identical to the filtered bag style ones just on a bigger scale and significantly cheaper whilst being even safer as the exhaust air is not returned to the working environment.)

 

[mtt.tr]

Look at what industry use, the filter bags if of the correct type filter the dust from saws planers and such. Having such a vast surface area they don't block up easily

This is what is used for sanding, to do proper job does require 2 types of extraction

https://www.ducting-express.co.uk/p...I5-z5XrI6q58CR4OXmhLUTenlDfx6HsRoCebYQAvD_BwE


I assumed you were going big as you bought a rather large fan unit.

 

[Tangledfeet]

Was just about to post up and comment on the drum imploding; I've seen photos (from woodworking circles) of them collapsed. I've got an Oneida Dust Deputy on my Nilfisk wet and dry vac; whilst cyclone systems to reduce efficiency they do keep your filters considerably cleaner.

What kind of extraction does (normal) sanding dust need?

As good as you can get - I forget the numbers and rating but hardwood requires a higher spec. All wood dust is potentially carconogenic, just the degree that varies. Its the stuff you can't see that you need to think about.

 

[grim_d]

Look at what industry use, the filter bags if of the correct type filter the dust from saws planers and such. Having such a vast surface area they don't block up easily

This is what is used for sanding, to do proper job does require 2 types of extraction

https://www.ducting-express.co.uk/p...I5-z5XrI6q58CR4OXmhLUTenlDfx6HsRoCebYQAvD_BwE


I assumed you were going big as you bought a rather large fan unit.

My apologies I thought you meant these stupid things.


I don't need to worry particularly about filters blocking because the cyclone will catch most of it and I'm only 1 man, I can clean it out from time to time.

That unit is essentially what I'm building except it's five times the cost, it needs the filters it has because it exhausts back into the work environment...I'm not doing so.

As good as you can get - I forget the numbers and rating but hardwood requires a higher spec. All wood dust is potentially carconogenic, just the degree that varies. Its the stuff you can't see that you need to think about.

Which is exactly why I've just bought a 3hp unit.

 

[mtt.tr]

My apologies I thought you meant these stupid things.

View attachment 257732
I don't need to worry particularly about filters blocking because the cyclone will catch most of it and I'm only 1 man, I can clean it out from time to time.

That unit is essentially what I'm building except it's five times the cost, it needs the filters it has because it exhausts back into the work environment...I'm not doing so.



Which is exactly why I've just bought a 3hp unit.

Those filters but the industrial ones are decent and industry standard,

The hobby ones are a legal case waiting to happen

 

[Ali]

Is this for home workshop use?

The axial paddle type fans are really the only sort that are acceptable to have the filter after the fan, they’re not at all efficient but good for shavings / heavy sawdust etc. For fine dust from sanding or even a bandsaw the filter is usually upstream of a much more efficient fan on the designs I’ve seen.

I think the M in M-class stands for medium but stand to be corrected. The cartridge types are a bit better but I’d consider some secondary filtration or at least a qualitative test with a torch in the dark to see how well it’s working before you commit to operating tools on a regular basis without RPE. Something with a HEPA filter would be better kept in reserve for the fine stuff.

If it’s industry or education, whole different ballgame, suffice to say it’s expensive to be compliant - it’s commonplace for the extraction to cost more than the equipment.

 

[grim_d]

It's for business use but I am the sole worker.

I'll do a lot of stuff with heavy shavings. This is what I'm trying to capture. Sanding is just an orbital mirka, it's amazing how little dust escapes it even with modest extraction.

I wouldn't dream of operating without RPE regardless of the extraction present.

M standing for medium...makes sense since the other categories are "L" and "H"

I'm not trying to set up an industrial scale extraction system but rather have something good enough that I can mount outside of the workshop and it still have enough grunt.

 

[badabec]

My set-up. Quite small bore tube but it is mainly used for the wood worrying bandsaw, belt sander and general vacuuming. It lives on the mezzanine. I switch it on and off at the socket next to the bandsaw.

 

[Nick DV]

My set-up. Quite small bore tube but it is mainly used for the wood worrying bandsaw, belt sander and general vacuuming. It lives on the mezzanine. I switch it on and off at the socket next to the bandsaw.

View attachment 258603

Great set up, cheap and effective

 

[WorkshopChris]

Which is exactly why I've just bought a 3hp unit.

Too much suck possibly.
That might just be your biggest problem, in an old workshop, we had a basic 1 bag extractor venting to outside rather than back into the workshop, when used with the thicknesser, to save having to change the bags more often we had a simple interceptor box that took all the large chips and shavings.

It was nothing more complexed than a large plastic dustbin with an MDF lid one centre port and one elbow, this just went in line with the extraction hose when used, we got very little carry-over of larger bits just the dust carried on to the filters and bags.
However, after destroying a few bins we ended up cutting a slit down one side. in normal operation it worked as normal but if the hose became blocked the slit would open up and allow air to flow.
From memory, it was a 2hp unit. Next time I go to the workshop I will see if I can get a photo of the lid I think I know where it is.