Dust collection for Desktop

[Brad Walker]

I am a new ShopBot owner (Desktop ordered, not yet received) and am wanting to better understand my dust collection possibilities. I know that the Desktop can work with a regular ShopVac, but would like something a bit quieter and more permanent. The Delta 50-850 dust collector on the Shopbot site seems like overkill for my situation, but would like to know what other options are possible.

Also, for the most part I will not be working with wood. Instead, I will work with several refractory materials that (unlike wood) can withstand firing to 1500F in a kiln. These materials machine well with a CNC Router but do require a HEPA filter or the ability to filter 1 micron or less.

Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks in advance.

[jerry_stanek]

I had the 1hp dust collector from Harbor Freight that worked very good on my old PR It wasn't as loud as the 50-850

[Brad Walker]

Thanks, Jerry. The Harbor Freight units only filter 5 microns. Is there another filter you can get to replace the HF one and do a better job? Or another option?

[Bob Eustace]

Brad you could try locating the DC outside the workshop. That could solve your 1 micron problem. As your dust could be abrasive it could pay you to get high flow to keep as much of it away from the Desktop workings as possible.

[Max Girouard]

I currently have my Desktop hooked up to a large cyclone (as well as every other machine in my shop) that I purchased from Grizzly. Very loud. I am going to be moving my desktop to a dedicated room off our barn that is insulated and heated, and will be using a Ridgid shop vac with one of those Onieda Dust Deputy units in line. This way most dust never reaches the vac itself. I used to have one of the Delta 50-850 units and the newer Ridgid shop vacs are much quieter than the Delta dust collectors. You can get a HEPA filter for it, but I found it only filters down to 3 microns. I would look into the Fein Turbo units as they have a filter you can add that filters down to 1 micron. If the Rigid ever kicks it, I'll be going that route myself.

[genek]

Mr. Walker check out wood craft at www.woodcraft.com

they have some nice dust collection systems.

if it is recommenced that you use a 1 micron filter, suggest you get a cyclone

[scottp55]

Brad, just a comment. Only got Desktop recently(You'll LOVE it) but my shopvac is dying so used an old 3/4 hp Delta 750cfm as it's here. I've got a 15' run with the metal can dust deputy(2 cups mdf dust in deputy, less than 1/2 teaspoon in my scrubbed clean vac). I've got the shopbot spoilboard right now and when the dustfoot is onX or Y 0 Axis the dustfoot is 1/2 off the surface and suction is lost. 750 cfm doesn't cut it and chips fall off and build up on edges of 3/4" stock and onto desktop surface and fall through X 0 side of table. My new jig will take that into account, but wish I had more cfm. If you've been using the Vectric demo may want to change your home Z to 1" as default is 4" and you'll top out if you're measuring to top of surface,Don't ask how I know.

[scottp55]

Max,which Ridgid are you using now, my old sear isn't quite dead but close, and a Fein right now is out of my range at moment.

[Max Girouard]

I'm using the 6.0 peak horse power 14 gallon model. I also have an Oneida Dust Deputy in front of it that catches almost everything before it gets to the vacuum. This set up is better than any of the dust collectors I've hooked up to it. The way it was explained to me is that a dust collector is good at moving large amounts of air slowly through the duct work. As you reduce down to the 2 inch port on the desktop dust foot, you loose a lot of air movement which results in less than ideal dust collection. Vacuums move small amounts of air very fast and that works much better through the Desktop's small hose. I didn't find this out until my 2HP Grizzly Cyclone bag blew up and I had to use the vacuum as back up. The Ridgid vacuum works way better at collecting the dust and chips than the huge cyclone in this application. I'm sure if I could hook up a 4 inch hose to the foot, the cyclone would work better but that isn't possible at the moment. Oh and the vacuum is much more quiet than any dust collector I've been around. The newer Ridgid vacuums are also much more quiet than my old Ridgid shop vac.

[scottp55]

Good to know when the screaming Craftsman dies. I shouldn't complain, If I'd been abused like it I'd scream too. Heating season coming and I have no idea what the cloth bag for the delta filters but it's not much and have been venting into the woods. If anyone has used a good bag for a 4" outlet let me know, not having much luck. Thanks