R2d2

[niki]

Good day

doesn't it looks like ?

Regards
niki


























Lately, I made some improvement...A handle with "Hammer"
Every noe and then, I "bang" a few times with the "hammer" on the "filter" and that "shakes" the "filter" and removes most of the dust that has been accumulated on the "filter".

That way, I don't have to clean or change the filter for very long time...

[Wood_workur]

looks really cool, and I bet your suction stays really good when it starts getting full.

[DUD]

Niki
That is another great idea. Bill

[niki]

Thank you

From time to time I pull R2D2 from the barrel (25 Gallons) and replace the “Filter”, I have a few filters so I wash it whenever I have the time. It dries within 15 minutes.

I use 2 layers of filter and the amount of dust that goes to the main (original) filters is so small that I don’t have to clean them but “once in a barrel” (I just vacuum them with another vac).

Because it’s on wheels, I just pull it near the TS or router and use a very short hose (about 3 feet), that gives me easy “ON-OFF” control and reducing the “duct losses” (friction and boundary layer) to minimum.

niki

[Al Garay]

hi Niki,

I enjoy reading your very practical tips. Would you say the primary benefits are the increased capacity (adding the barrel gives you additional 25 gallons) and filtering? Does the barrell give a cyclone effect to increase the suction strength?

Thanks again for sharing your creative ideas,

Al

[niki]

Thank you Al

When I made it, I had in mind:
1. To increase the container volume.
2. Less cleaning of the main filters (only very fine dust).
3. To increase the airflow (considering the same motor power).

The first two are obvious.
I increased the flow only by changing the hose (and connection) to 2” (the original is 1-1/4”)

The manufacturers want to sell a good vacuum pressure and they are reducing the hose diameter that gives strong vacuum but less airflow.
If you are vacuuming a carpet, you can hold the hose in one place for another 2~3 seconds till all the dust at that point will be removed.
In woodworking, we don’t have this option, the dust will not “wait” there, new dust is produced all the time and if it will not be removed it will accumulate and clog the hose.

In woodworking, we don’t have to vacuum coins from the floor (as shown on TV) but rather, we have to move big quantities (volume) of air. That’s the reason that we are using 4” or 6” ducts and hoses for dust producing machines.

There is some Cyclone effect by mounting the inlet duct at an angle to the barrel, but it not my intention to make a real Cyclone that is much bigger and requires stronger motor power to overcome the losses due to the “Cycloning” of the air.

IMO, cyclone does not increase the suction strength (on the contrary) unless you use stronger motor.
Cyclone, increases the separation of the dust from the air but requires stronger motor power to swirl the air.

I use the same motor power of the vac but more efficiently, instead of strong vacuum and low airflow, lower vacuum press and higher airflow.

Regards
niki

[nicer20]

Hi Niki,

Are the pics posted been removed. I don't see any.

I was really interested in finding what you have done.

I am starting into woodworking with a newly acquired BT3100. After I operated it first time last weekend, my garage is all covered with dust. My wife is completely mad at this understandably. So I am trying to find dust collection solution. Please help.

Regards,

NG

[niki]

Hi NG

Welcome to the forum

I was lucky that the post was "open" for editing so, I reloaded all the pics and another 4 from the latest improvement.

Regards
niki

[ragswl4]

Hi Niki,

Are the pics posted been removed. I don't see any.

I was really interested in finding what you have done.

I am starting into woodworking with a newly acquired BT3100. After I operated it first time last weekend, my garage is all covered with dust. My wife is completely mad at this understandably. So I am trying to find dust collection solution. Please help.

Regards,

NG

A shop vacuum attached to the outlet in the back of the BT3100 works pretty darn good. I used that for 2 years and didn't have much of a dust problem. If you want to really get the majority of the dust, you'll need a Dust collector system-more$$$ than a vacuum. I used a 5 gal Craftsman

[nicer20]

Hi Niki,

Thank you very much for the pictures. I am still trying to understand it though.

Is it that you have removed the bottom of the wet/dry vac and put it on the big blue container ? Sorry for all the questions.

NG

[nicer20]

A shop vacuum attached to the outlet in the back of the BT3100 works pretty darn good. I used that for 2 years and didn't have much of a dust problem. If you want to really get the majority of the dust, you'll need a Dust collector system-more$$$ than a vacuum. I used a 5 gal Craftsman

Hi Ragswl4,

Thank you for your response. I will try that for sure next time.

Any way, do I need anything below the saw to collect dust ? It seems the saw was throwing a lot of saw dust at the bottom as well.

It is very heartening to know there is some way out. I am using my garage as my workshop. By the time I finished my work last saturday the place was covered all over by wood dust. When my wife saw all that next day morning my prospects at continuing this hobby looked pretty bleak. But looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks to all - you all are awesome and very helpful.

NG