New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

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ssuel
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by ssuel »

Thought I would share how I adapted my DC6000 upgrade to a 4” hose hookup as close to Shopsmith’s 2-1/2” tool side dust collection pickup point. I only pursued this because I have both a DC3300 and a DC6000. My goal for the DC6000 was to get as much air movement as close to the tool side as I could for large dust producing operations. The DC6000 upgrade kit, as supplied by ShopSmith, has a black plastic adapter the extends from the metal suction side of the blower to the standard external 3-way external hose hookups. This black adapter allows for a non-ShopSmith 4” dust collection to be used. I didn’t have many 4” dust collection hoses so I was somewhat guessing as what to buy. After my assortment of fittings arrived, I still had to doing some adaptive work to make what I bought work. On the tool side, I had to use a heat gun to expand the the adapter that attaches to the hose hose threaded end to female side of the adapter. Then when the adapter was hot, I pushed the 4” to 2-1/4” tapered hose adapter. ( really pleased with how the tapered adapter fit into ShopSmith dust pickup). Then on the dust collector side the 45-degree elbow I bought was just a little too loose, so I had some black heavy duty Gorilla duct tape and I wrapped it around the fitting overlapping it and then used a razor knife to cut through both ends and removed the end pieces for an even wrap. This made for a tight fit into the ShopSmith supplied black plastic extender. I have ripped a few test boards comparing the DC3300 and DC6000 and DC6000 left a lot less dust on the top and under on the carriage too. When setting the gap on the under table dust shoot, I set it wide and not tight to the blade. With the ShopSmith three way hose hooked removed I notice some dust was being blown out of the dust collector so I inserted the 3-way mounting screws into the large round housing and that eliminated the dust from escaping.
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dusty
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by dusty »

This looks really good. Would it have helped if you had been able to bring the 4" coupler further out (like with a 4" x 6" coupler rather than 4"x4"?

I did not convert to 4". I am still using the 3-way coupler but I tightly attached the coupler to the 3-way so as to get a good seal and sacrificed the length available where it attaches to the Fan Housing. I did not apply the foam to the coupler but rather to the inside of the Main Housing.

I also used a different kind of foam tape; a denser foam.
Per Shopsmith Instrctions for DC-6000
Per Shopsmith Instrctions for DC-6000
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Modified Application to Improve Coupling to 3-way
Modified Application to Improve Coupling to 3-way
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As for the dust that collects on the carriage (and there about), I don't believe you can prevent that with any amount of increase in CFM. Much of that dust gets expelled from leaks in the lower blade guard before the dust collector can capture it.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
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ssuel
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by ssuel »

My DC 6000 upgrade looks very much like your pictures on the inside. I used the foam tape ShopSmith supplied. One thing I think ShopSmith missed the mark on this upgrade kit is the way they fabricated the black adapter, which is cut it straight (square) end that is going through the outer barrel of the dust collector body. The original DC3300 was a more intricate wavy cut that was a better fit for the inside and outside for the front foam seal and top retaining bracket and molded cradle the blower assembly sits in on the front side.

I am looking forward to the next time I have a big table saw job to see if my original thoughts on improved dust pickup pans out. Especially this winter when the woodshop is closed up.

BTW. I don’t post that much to the forum, but wanted say a big thanks to you and others that frequently take time to share your knowledge and insights!!!
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dusty
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by dusty »

MyDC-3300 fan housing was cut that way too. But I am not sure why. That fan housing had to mate with the inside of the 3-way (manifold) which has a square cut end that mates perfectly with the 4" coupler. I failed to take a picture of that interface but a picture would show a leak free mating between the two (the way I connected it). Making that interface in accordance with the DC-6000 instructions does not provide for that nor would the curved interface.
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"Making Sawdust Safely"
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DLB
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by DLB »

DLB wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:22 pm ...
The DC-3300 cooling fan is inside the motor case, I don't recall at which end. All of the air that it pulls in through the grate must travel the full length of the motor, internal to the motor, to the exhaust ports. The exhaust ports are open to the inside of the motor housing, so exhaust air also travels the full length of the motor on the outside back to the grate. It is not as elegant as a conventional SS headstock, but empirical data seems to suggest it works. It has a defined inlet, defined cooling path, and defined outlet. As far as I know, the DC-3300 will run continuously in a reasonable environment. I've run it for hours. I've never felt the need to measure the temperature.
...
Update/Correction - I no longer think the DC-3300 cools very effectively. The motor itself, uninstalled, has a decent amount of cooling air flow through the motor as described above. Installed, it seems very different. I detect very little airflow in and out through the grate and suspect the motor is mostly recirculating ever warmer air inside the motor housing. Either there is something wrong with how I'm measuring temperature, or both the 3300 and 6000 get pretty warm. The DC-3300 reached what I think are elevated temperatures faster than the DC-6000.

- David
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by RFGuy »

DLB wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:02 am Update/Correction - I no longer think the DC-3300 cools very effectively. The motor itself, uninstalled, has a decent amount of cooling air flow through the motor as described above. Installed, it seems very different. I detect very little airflow in and out through the grate and suspect the motor is mostly recirculating ever warmer air inside the motor housing. Either there is something wrong with how I'm measuring temperature, or both the 3300 and 6000 get pretty warm. The DC-3300 reached what I think are elevated temperatures faster than the DC-6000.

- David
Thanks David. Yeah, I was curious how the DC-3300 would compare. Honestly I don't think either model was ever intended to be a continuous (always on) dust collector. JMO. I doubt your measurements are off by that much, but you can always double-check your thermocouple in boiling water. I think your measured motor temps at 20-30 min were near the temp of boiling water so it could be a good comparison to see what it reads for comparison. It would be a crude way to check your calibration of your temp measurement.
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dusty
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by dusty »

DLB wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:02 am
DLB wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:22 pm ...
The DC-3300 cooling fan is inside the motor case, I don't recall at which end. All of the air that it pulls in through the grate must travel the full length of the motor, internal to the motor, to the exhaust ports. The exhaust ports are open to the inside of the motor housing, so exhaust air also travels the full length of the motor on the outside back to the grate. It is not as elegant as a conventional SS headstock, but empirical data seems to suggest it works. It has a defined inlet, defined cooling path, and defined outlet. As far as I know, the DC-3300 will run continuously in a reasonable environment. I've run it for hours. I've never felt the need to measure the temperature.
...
Update/Correction - I no longer think the DC-3300 cools very effectively. The motor itself, uninstalled, has a decent amount of cooling air flow through the motor as described above. Installed, it seems very different. I detect very little airflow in and out through the grate and suspect the motor is mostly recirculating ever warmer air inside the motor housing. Either there is something wrong with how I'm measuring temperature, or both the 3300 and 6000 get pretty warm. The DC-3300 reached what I think are elevated temperatures faster than the DC-6000.

- David
I have used my DC-3300 dust collector now for about 25 years. It has performed well during days of very heavy use and for extended periods of time (two or three hours straight) without faltering. Was the motor hot? I don't know but it must not have been too hot; it still works.

It has been momentarily retired to the storage cabinet. I now have the DC-6000 up and running. No heavy usage yet but I did cut a large pile of fencing materials . It was on for over an hour. Only time will tell now. No visible dust in the motor housing (viewed through the grate). Exhaust air was warm but not hot.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
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dusty
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by dusty »

I have now used the DC-6000 enough to report that it works well. It works much better when utilizing only one port which is the way I most often use it. When using multiple ports is seems to be about the same as the DC-3300. I cannot and will not be able to provide a comparison to the DC-3300 because I broke the fan that I was using to measure air speed.

If faced again with a decision to invest in the DC-6000, I would.

It is appropriate for me to say that I did not assemble/install the three port manifold and 4" adapter in a manner consistent with the instructions. This thread details how I coupled the 4" adapter to the manifold.
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sharmasatbir069
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by sharmasatbir069 »

The current DC 3300 can be converted with a cartridge by using a spacer to lift the cartridge above any protruding parts and using an all thread to hold it on. It takes a little work around but it can be done.
Last edited by beeg on Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Majones1
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Re: New Shopsmith DC-6000 Dust Collector

Post by Majones1 »

If you’ve already figured out the details, I would sure love more information and photos.
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