Detecting leaks in DC, how-to
 

Any tips on how to detect DC leaks? I use a 1.5HP DC, a pre-DC
cyclone garbage can, corrugated 4" tubing, blast gates. I was
looking for a step-by-step DC tuneup.

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:41:20 GMT, Phisherman wrote:

Any tips on how to detect DC leaks? I use a 1.5HP DC, a pre-DC
cyclone garbage can, corrugated 4" tubing, blast gates. I was
looking for a step-by-step DC tuneup.

When my DC bag wasn't correctly sealed, there was a layer of sawdust left
upon the outside shell. Maybe you can start by looking for tell-tale signs
of sawdust from obvious leaks? Aside from that, you raise a very good
question; my installation is barely a year old, but down the road in a few
years, I can envision needing to find places where seals have started to
fail.



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Now we'll just use some glue to hold things in place until the brads dry

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Detecting leaks in D.C.? Really you have to run a tight ship to keep
people from blabbing to the press. You can narrow down where to look
somewhat by asking who had access to the leaked info. The reporter won't
be of any help, of course.

Use smoke. A smoldering piece of cotton rope will do.

As far as a tune up goes. Get rid of the 4" tuding and replace with 4" or
6" spiral or PVC pipe. That tubing is killing your performance.

Phisherman wrote:

Any tips on how to detect DC leaks? I use a 1.5HP DC, a pre-DC
cyclone garbage can, corrugated 4" tubing, blast gates. I was
looking for a step-by-step DC tuneup.

"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
Any tips on how to detect DC leaks? I use a 1.5HP DC, a pre-DC
cyclone garbage can, corrugated 4" tubing, blast gates. I was
looking for a step-by-step DC tuneup.

If you mean leaks in the ducting, just look for the big sucking wounds.
Seriously, any significant leak in ducting would be obvious. Small leaks
that would require sniffing with smoke are meaningless in such a system.
Blast gates always leak too. Concentrate on eliminating leaks around the
garbage can lid, using weatherseal for example, and get rid of as much
corrugated hose as possible. Smooth ID hose or pipe makes a big difference.

--
********
Bill Pounds
http://www.billpounds.com

Thanks, I'll check out the garbage can lid. I was thinking about
using a stick of burning incense. It is difficult to replace the
flexible corrugated hose with PVC without an overhead system (and the
1.5HP is just not enough power).

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:38:03 -0800, "Pounds on Wood"
wrote:


"Phisherman" wrote in message
.. .
Any tips on how to detect DC leaks? I use a 1.5HP DC, a pre-DC
cyclone garbage can, corrugated 4" tubing, blast gates. I was
looking for a step-by-step DC tuneup.

If you mean leaks in the ducting, just look for the big sucking wounds.
Seriously, any significant leak in ducting would be obvious. Small leaks
that would require sniffing with smoke are meaningless in such a system.
Blast gates always leak too. Concentrate on eliminating leaks around the
garbage can lid, using weatherseal for example, and get rid of as much
corrugated hose as possible. Smooth ID hose or pipe makes a big difference.

Phisherman wrote:
Thanks, I'll check out the garbage can lid. I was thinking about
using a stick of burning incense. It is difficult to replace the
flexible corrugated hose with PVC without an overhead system (and the
1.5HP is just not enough power).



Sure it is. I've got a 1.5HP Penn State collector with a trash can cyclone
connected by a Rube Goldberg collection of 4" hose, 4" PVC and various fittings
and blast gates. I should have done this long ago. Clean up these days is
minimal.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

If you mean leaks in the ducting, just look for the big sucking wounds.
Seriously, any significant leak in ducting would be obvious. Small leaks
that would require sniffing with smoke are meaningless in such a system.
Blast gates always leak too. Concentrate on eliminating leaks around the
garbage can lid, using weatherseal for example, and get rid of as much
corrugated hose as possible. Smooth ID hose or pipe makes a big difference.

I agree with starting with the big stuff, but small leaks can add up
quickly. On my system (2hp Oneida) plugging 5 small leaks (couldn't
see them, but smoke found em) increased cfm at the tablesaw from
510cfm to 680cfm (@ 7"h20). This made a noticable difference in the
amount of dust left on the saw.