Dust extractor tubing on the cheap?

[Matt Bach]

Hey guys

I've recently purchased a dust extractor (a 2 port 2hp from hare and forbes) that I'm wanting to hook up to a few machines.

Is there a cheap alternative to the tubing from Carbatec? I'm happy to pay for the reducers and mouths, I just though there might be a thrifty alternative to the actual hose? It'll be only for wood so it doesn't need to be the heavy duty stuff.

Also, I'm wondering if smaller diameter (the ports are 4" on the extractor) tubing will prove more effective for extraction? IE for my scroll saw, which has a really small dust port, would it be better to run the small diameter all the way to the extractor (as opposed to using an adapter at the saw and having a large 4" run all the way to the extractor)?

Sorry if this seems like a basic question, I'm hoping you guys can do the thinking for me haha.

[DarwinStrings]

G,day Matt and welcome if you have not been welcomed yet. I use 90mm storm water pipe which cost about $10 for 6m at Bunnings that I earth in case of static sparks, the elbows cost almost as much as the 6m length of pipe though. I make my own butterfly valves to isolate each machine as I use it. I think it is best to use the lager pipe for as far as you can then reduce at the machine if you need to.

Jim

[vandenboom]

Carbatec have kits with bends, gates, clamps etc which I considered good value when I started.
I read somewhere that reducing has the opposite effect to what you would think would happen, you don't actually get greater suction. Don't really know why - haven't thought it through. But it is best to keep the pipe diameter at a maximum, and reduce at the machine where it requires it.
Frank

[J.F. Custom]

Hi Matt.

Jim and Frank are on the money. If you have nothing at all, the kits from c-tec are good value - when compared to buying individual items. The downside being of course you will undoubtedly have items you don't need. However if you tally up the items you do require in the kit, you are still likely to find you save overall. The regular PVC storm pipe Jim mentioned is the cheapest option for sure - just remember as he did, to ground the system. It may only be a 'theoretical' risk, but you don't want to be the first to find out it is not...

Also, they are quite correct with respect to hose diameter. Keep it as large as possible (4" in your case), only reducing as close as possible to the point of the machine outlet as required. A dust extractor is designed for "High Volume, Low Velocity" use. A good example of its ability is on a thicknesser which produces copious amounts of shavings. A Vacuum cleaner or workshop vac on the other hand is designed for "High Velocity, Low Volume". These are best on power tools such as an orbital sander for example. Of course they can cross over a bit but there will be compromise both ways. If you were to reduce the aperture of your dust extractor at the start, you would effectively be choking its potential and have far less suction as a result.

Hope it helps.

Jeremy.

[Matt Bach]

Thanks guys!

Looks like I'm off to Carbatec, I have been eyeing the starter kit for a while anyway. But every time I step foot in that shop I somehow end up spending hundreds so I was hoping there was an alternative haha.

[Taffy Evans]

Hi Matt You just beat me to it. I was just wondering what to post, and thought I would do one on my dust extraction system, as I have just, as after many years got it completed. It works on 5 of my machines.
I'll to do the tonight, hardly used any flexible stuff at all.

[Matt Bach]

I'd love to see some pics! I was considering using all flex so I could move things around; but I just found a bunch of large diameter "free" galvanized stuff from some down pipes at my workplace which I'm thinking I could misappropriate.

If I use galvanized drain pipe instead of PVC, would I need to ground it (surely no static from it)? If I do need to ground, is the metal chassis of the extractor good enough?

Once again thanks for the replies.

[Taffy Evans]

I tried to post the pics but had trouble, so cancelled the post, sorry.

[Dominic]

Hey, you are better off not reducing at all if possible. The best option is to enlarge you outlets at the machine. A simple thing like this can have huge benefits as far as dust collection goes. I use 6 inch main lines and on my big machines like my table saw I cut off the 4 inch outlet and opened it up to 6 inches.
Dom

[Kim]

I worked in a shop that ran 12" galv through a 3ph 5hp blower as the main arterial back to a 3 m3 cyclonic hopper. You could operate 3 or 4 BIG machines simultaneously on that system with no problems whatsoever. Sometimes I use to work on my own projects during lunch... had to be very careful where I put down my half eaten sandwiches, turn my back for a second and the buggers would be gone without a trace..strange things can happen in big wood machining shops...I think that's where aliens hide out when they're not zipping around in silver cylindrical spacecrafts abducting people and reprogramming their brains to make them buy Suzanne Boyle music

Cheers

Kim

[liam_fnq]

If I use galvanized drain pipe instead of PVC, would I need to ground it (surely no static from it)? If I do need to ground, is the metal chassis of the extractor good enough?

Once again thanks for the replies.

I'd be earthing all exposed metal in the shed if I were you. Woodworking shed + sawdust + expensive timber + expensive machines + spark = . As to whether the dust extractor chassis is good enough. If the chassis is earthed it is good enough, If the chassis is not earthed it's not good enough. So is the machine earthed? Just because the plug has an earth pin doesn't mean its earthed.

Assumptions are the mother of all f*%k ups.

[liam_fnq]

I worked in a shop that ran 12" galv through a 3ph 5hp blower as the main arterial back to a 3 m3 cyclonic hopper. You could operate 3 or 4 BIG machines simultaneously on that system with no problems whatsoever. Sometimes I use to work on my own projects during lunch... had to be very careful where I put down my half eaten sandwiches, turn my back for a second and the buggers would be gone without a trace..strange things can happen in big wood machining shops...I think that's where aliens hide out when they're not zipping around in silver cylindrical spacecrafts abducting people and reprogramming their brains to make them buy Suzanne Boyle music

Cheers

Kim

A plan is forming for me here Kim. Ok, Suzanne Boyle is clearly the alien mother, so perhaps we can lure her close enough to one of those 12 inch intakes and have her sucked into the nether nether. but what bait??????? AAHHH half eaten sandwiches. If we work together we can rid the world of this foul beast.