On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:06:38 -0500, Robatoy
wrote:

The pleated-paper canister filter on my 2HP DC is just overwhelmed.
Better than the old bag. A bag is good for 1 hour.... I really need to
do something.
I figure that if I were to upgrade to a double canister 3-4 HP set-up,
all it would do would buy a little time between dumping.

So, I'm told that a cyclone is the way to go. What do we know about
those things?

r

Just a bit of personal experience and my basic cheapness:

I built a "cyclone" system 5 or 6 years ago out of a fiber 50 gallon drum and
it's fantastic..

The drum was free
I made a plywood lid for the drum (good excuse to build a quick & dirty circle
jig for the router)
Cut two 4" holes in the lid, one in the center and one near an edge..
Put a straight DC hose connecter in the middle hole,
A DC elbow in the hole on the edge.. (should say the one closer to the rim, I
guess)

I connected the hose from the tools to the elbow and the DC hose to the middle
hole.. Middle hole works a little better if you have a bit of lift straight up
before directing it to the DC...

All I get in the DC lower bag now is fine dust.. All the heavier stuff
accumulates in the barrel..
I used to have to empty the bag every month.....
Now, I empty the barrel frequently, which is easier and a lot less mess, and
haven't had to empty the DC bag more than once a year or so... YMWV

That said, I use the DC for the lathe and band saw, so different tools would
have different results..
I use to use the separator/cyclone on the router table and saw and it worked
fine, but the really messy stuff is outside now and the DC isn't connected to
them..


mac

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