Ed in Tampa wrote
I have a question if everyone is concerned about lack of air flow why not cut an opening in the shroud that goes around the motor and duct it to the the outside? It could be easily sealed as could all the other identified leaks. Then the motor fan could suck in fresh cool air through the duct and all vacuum created by the fan that sucks in air would not draw in dirt air from inside the dust collector.
I think this is a good idea, but I don't think that cooling fan would make a good, or even fair, exhaust fan. I know it feels like it would, as Dusty says, air comes out of that grill with some gusto. But current thinking is that air is also going in the grill with gusto, at the center of that fan. If I can think of an easy way to mock this up I might give it a try and see if there is robust airflow in any direction that includes cooling the motor.
I think I'm in a very small minority of folk(s?) that both have one of these and thinks there is a serious thermal problem with it. I'm reluctant to modify any parts of the kit until I get some kind of response from SS on the quality problem I pointed out on the motor housing that's causing at least a significant portion of my leak. For now if I put it back together at all it will be with temporary seals and a thermocouple.
- David
