Cyclonic Ramblings

[Chuck Joy]

These are some of my experiences building two cyclones over the past two years. I hope somebody learns something from my many expensive mistakes.

I have followed Bill Penz's plans for a long time and he and his website is where I located all of my info. for my cyclones. Thank Bill.

My first attempt was an 18" body that I tried to solder up with a $200 600 watt American Beauty soldering iron that looked like crap after I was done. I put it in its rightful spot, a dumpster.
I also bought a Jet DC1200 for $450 to put on
this cyclone that I have never used as my workshop is too big.

Cyclone number two was a 20" built by a sheet metal worker that also looks like crap. I bought a Leeson 5hp. motor and 14" Sheldon's impeller along with Clarke Echol's blower shroud.

So far I have invested $2500 into cyclones and still don't have something I'm happy with. I have learned quite a bit about dust collection but am rather frustrated with the results.

Maybe there is a fellow woodworker who knows of a company interested in producing a top quality welded cyclone in a heavy gauge metal with a metal top, that would eliminate the MDF donut, with a metal blower shroud.

Any help or suggestions much appreciated, Chuck.

[Garrett in Victoria]

Any sheet metal shop can do it.

I posted below that Playsted in Victoria fabricated mine for a quite reasonable price ($385 + taxes), and will ship components as a flat pack. The problem with shipping the finished product is likely to be cost since it's mostly air, but I've never checked.

If you put a metal cap on it, you'd also9 have to design in a means to fasten the impeller and motor.

Cheers, Garrett

[Bob, in Lachute, Qc.]

Hi Chuck, sorry to hear about your experiences to date.

Oneida, has "passive" cyclones. These are complete cyclone bodies, cone and all, and offer these in three dimensions, for various powered blowers. You simply attach a duct, from the cyclone's top, to your blower. Prices seem pretty good too, especially considering the fact that they have up to 14 ga metal, on some of their units. I'm not certain that's the case with these particular units, but you could give them a call.

You might be able to order that right here in Canada, too, through Welbeck Sawmill. They carry Oneida.

http://www.welbecksawmill.com/products.htm

Good luck, Bob

[Bob, in Lachute, Qc.]

http://store.oneida-air.com/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=Ductwork&category%5Fname=Cyclone+Separators&Page=1

Don't just click on this link, or it won't take you right to the page. Copy and paste it to your browser.

Alternatively, go to Oneida, then "ordering","go shopping", "system components".

Hope that helps, Bob

[Allan Johanson - South Su]

Hi Chuck,

Sorry to hear of your misfortunes. I'm surprised that the sheet metal guy had problems. I would've figured that making a cylinder and a cone are pretty basic.

I'm relatively new to this whole sheet metal fabricating thing, so I made some helpers. Wooden discs to help make sure my cylinder came out round. Once it was clamped and screwed to the discs the way I liked, I fired up the welder and welded the seams.

For soldering tips, several of the guys on this forum have done it and could probably provide you with some tips if you were to try it again.

Here's a pic of my upper cylinder so you can see what I did to make it be round. It worked great and if I were to make another cyclone in the future, I'd build it the same way.

Allan



http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/chat/pics/pic128060.jpg

[Chuck Joy]

Bob,

I have seen Oneida's cyclones and I have always wanted to have a cyclone that used the Penz design for increased effiency and fine particulate filtration but really haven't had much luck coming up with something that I was satisfied with. It very well may be that I am just too much of a perfectionist or/and just lack the skill to produce what I want. A common problem of mine.

Best regards and thank for the help, Chuck.

[Rob in Ottawa]

Hi Chuck,

I don't know how much more efficient a Pentz design cyclone is than an Oneida. I own an Oneida and I have trouble getting more than a table spoon of fine dust per barrel (35 gal.).

That being said, do you really want to spend a whole lot more money? It sounds like you just need to take a little break and get your second wind. Anything that has been soldered can be un-soldered. And, metal can be shaped and re-shaped quite a bit. Slow and steady wins the race.

Good luck,
Rob