Vortex Dust Separator

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:38 am

JPG, there are no elbows. Just the two straight connectors. I don't know if elbows would help or hurt, but they would reduce the capacity of the trash can.

Ron309753 · Post by **Ron309753** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:47 am

JPG40504 wrote:Elbows?????

Evidently it's called the Lower Chip Separator port.

Sincerely,

Ron309753

soggysawdust · Post by **soggysawdust** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:11 pm

I bought the lid from Grizzly that fits on a small galvanized trash can. I did place some foam weather stripping around the inside of the lid to prevent air loss. I also bungee the lid to the can to prevent loss of suction. I have emptied the metal can 3 times now and still have no need to empty the DC bag.

Phil

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:33 pm

So WHY is the vortex installed?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:35 pm

Ron309753 wrote:Evidently it's called the Lower Chip Separator port.

Sincerely,

Ron309753

Looks like an 'elbow'!

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All this noise has me pondering getting the defunct(motor shot and broken casters) shop vac out and making one of these varmits. It already has a half a$$ elbow in it and I can make a 'port' where the motor used to be. I think I can improve the cyclone action by modifying the intake elbow.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:53 pm

pennview wrote:JPG, there are no elbows. Just the two straight connectors. I don't know if elbows would help or hurt, but they would reduce the capacity of the trash can.

The elbows direct the debris in a circular path around the outside of the container(also slightly down needed IMHO). This cyclonic motion causes the heavier particles to stay near the outer portion of the air path and the lighter debris free air towards the center. Yes the lighter dust will also drift there. A true cyclonic separator has the air output in the center below the top. The vortex has compromised to allow either port to be either intake or output.

Consider a typical shop vac - elbow on intake directing the debris around the sides and slightly down, and the filter is in a cage just below the top of the container.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:01 pm

JPG40504 wrote:The elbows direct the debris in a circular path around the outside of the container(also slightly down needed IMHO). This cyclonic motion causes the heavier particles to stay near the outer portion of the air path and the lighter debris free air towards the center. Yes the lighter dust will also drift there. A true cyclonic separator has the air output in the center below the top. The vortex has compromised to allow either port to be either intake or output.

Consider a typical shop vac - elbow on intake directing the debris around the sides and slightly down, and the filter is in a cage just below the top of the container.

Do I have the elbow in my ShopVac pointed in the wrong direction? It is pointed straight down.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:37 pm

I haven't used the trash can separator I made in years, not since I got the HF dust collector and Wynn filter. With it I use a 5" hose to the tool and then neck it down to 4" or 2 1/4" as needed. The 5" hose proves more effective than running a 4" hose from the dust collector itself, so the trash can was set aside. But, as I recall, the separator worked just fine without any elbows, with the dust/chips ending in the trash can until it got full. I'm sure that some got through to the dust collector, but not that much. I don't think you need the elbows, but if you have them on hand, you could test the set up with or without.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:52 pm

dusty wrote:Do I have the elbow in my ShopVac pointed in the wrong direction? It is pointed straight down.

That is different from the few that I have seen. I am sure different models(sizes) vary. I currently can look at both a 16 gal and a 5 gal version and they both point sideways and slightly down. Not a real good elbow in either, but the intent is apparent.

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:38 pm

Jpg..

If your shopvac isn't too old, you can email them via their website and tell them that the motor is shot or similar and they're pretty good about free replacements. I told them our not too old ShopVac had a faulty power switch that would not keep the power on and they sent me a brand-new replacement motor/switch since it's a single unit. Go figure.. Didn't cost me any $$..