Dust Collector Cyclone Lids

[Stagecraft]

Wondering if anybody here has tried installing one of these cyclonic lids inline between their SB and dust collector.
ZDo they really work? Link http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...t=1,42401&ap=1

[COBOB]

I have one. It is wonderful. It takes the big chunks out that breaks impellers and pokes holes in the bag. Of course I am using this dust collector for a lot more then CNC. I hope no chunks that big come off the machine. The cyclone is collecting the bigger chips off of the CNC. That must mean my feeds and speeds are good, huh?

[Brady Watson]

Yes - they really work...and reduces the number of times you have to empty the bag(s) on the collector.

-B

[dana_swift]

I used a cyclone lid on a trash can for quite a while when my SB was new. It works well as Brady says, however the amount of dust collected is still failrly low compared to a full size cyclone dust collector. I ended up upgrading and giving away the cyclone lid and trash can to a friend for his shop.

The problem I had was- a regular trash can cannot tolerate the vacuum pressure generated by the shop-vac. So the can would collapse. I ended up making some re-inforcement rings on the SB and solved the problem. I have tried metal, plastic, heavy duty cans, etc. By the time the trash can is full sized there is so much surface area for the vacuum to act on the thing just crumples without reinforcement.

Now on the positive side watching a shop vac collapse a trash can was kind of fun to watch! It makes a good show for visitors

When you have lemons.. make lemonade!

The reinforcement rings (2 of them in the trash can) stopped the problem.

D

[dana_swift]

I have attached the Aspire file for making the trash can hoops. Note you need both an 18" ring and a 19" ring because the trash can is tapered. My trash can was a 33gallon metal one. If yours is a different size you will need to adjust the hoop sizes.

The hoops are designed as two layers of semicircles, the upper layer is rotated 90 degrees from the lower layer so they support each others joints.

The bottom semi-circles have holes for 1/4" barbed TNuts. The upper semi-circles have 1/4" bolt clearance holes. That is how the thing gets assembled. Beyond that its just press fit into the trash can.

Good luck, and with the usual lack of warranty and support-

Offered as "Beerware"..

D

[Stagecraft]

Thanks fellas'...Dana, thank-you for the file.
Hadn't even thought about the trashcan collapsing!

[backyard_cnc]

For those using a cyclone lid with a shop vac you must drill a 3/4" "bleed" hole near the inlet to the lid to prevent a complete vacuum from occuring and collapsing the can. This is outlined in the LEE VALLEY instruction sheet it is not required with dust collectors only with shop vacuums.

I use my cyclone lid currently on a very stiff barrel and don't have the bleed hole but originally I tested on a plastic Rubbermaid garbage pail which it collapsed regularly. If you plug the hose and don't have a bleed hole you can actually "invert" the lid into the can as well! It occurs with a very startling bang :-) Scared the beejeezis out of me first time it happened!

gerald

[jTr]

Although on the higher end of price scale, this should be considered to convert your double bagger - my review and photo at this site explains:

http://www.amazon.com/Cyclone-CYCLON...6085903&sr=8-4

[knight_toolworks]

investing on the cardboard cans is worthwhile the lids seal better and they don't collapse. here is another way to go.
http://www.oneida-air.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=AXD000010&CatId={428A1AFA-E859-459E-8BF9-47817428D9AF}

[Mike Windsor]

I've had the colapsing garbage cans as well . --I recently bought one of these : http://www.busybeetools.com/products...NE-ONEIDA.html --and it is far superior to the cyclone lid . -I have have on my bandsaw and no dust makes it to the vacuum now . I used to have to unplug the pleated filter on the shopvac once a day before I installed this .