DIY Dust Extractor on a limited Budget.

[Imagineering]

Hi Guys,
I've noticed a few Dust Extraction queries in this forum, so here's the solution that I've used for my CNC Router which may give others a few ideas.

Materials are;
2 pieces of MDF $8.00
3 M8 Threaded Rod $6.00
9 M8 Nuts & Washers $2.00
20 Litre Plastic Bucket Free
Recycled Truck Air Filter Free
Recycled Extractor fan from a Computer Mainframe $25.00
100mm Flexible Ventilation Ducting $10.00
4 Castors (optional) Free

Total Cost $51.00 NZ Dollars

The photo is fairly self explanatory - The Extractor Fan sucks dust & chips from the Router Skirt and blows them into the bucket with the Air Filter allowing the Extracted Air to escape - this thing SUCKS ! !

[paulC]

Hi Murray,
Thats quite inovative. Do you have something to stop large objects getting sucked into the fan?
Would be good to have the hose pass through a large bucket first to allow heavy rubbish to drop out.
Paul

[Imagineering]

Originally Posted by paulC Hi Murray, Thats quite inovative. Do you have something to stop large objects getting sucked into the fan? Would be good to have the hose pass through a large bucket first to allow heavy rubbish to drop out. Paul

Hi Paul, as there are no objects on the table, apart from the timber being routed, I don't have a problem with things being sucked up that shouldn't be.
All the heavy rubbish drops out of the airflow into the bucket because the incoming tube is 100mm dia diverging into an area of approx 500mm dia. The airflow pressure decreases by a large amount so there is nothing to hold the rubbish against gravity. I do have a small problem with smaller floating dust particles making the Filter less effective, I solve this by giving the Filter an occasional blast from the outside with compressed air.
I've got your Email address & I'll get in touch with you someday soon.

BTW, I'm sure you're aware of 'Catman' recylers over at Seaview ?? This is where I picked up the Extractor Fan.

[paulC]

Originally Posted by Imagineering BTW, I'm sure you're aware of 'Catman' recylers over at Seaview ?? This is where I picked up the Extractor Fan.

No. Where are they in Seaview? Can't see them in the phone book.

[Parameter]

You guys should look at Bill Pent's Cyclone separator. http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyc...Conversion.cfm

With a cyclone, the dust gets settled in the barrel and the filter stays clean for months!!! I built my own this weekend. It works pretty well but it needs a hefty blower and I will replace the intake for a bigger one.

Bill has a excel template to help with calculations as it's pretty important to strike it right for excellent dust separations.

As you can see in the pics, there is a filtration box I made out of an old filtration unit which used 50$ radial filters. I now use 8$ filter with a 1$ fiberglass prefilter (16 x 20) to make sure the shop air stays clean.

Then there is my cyclone, which occupy the left side of a dual blower, the right side being plugged to a housing containing the same receipe of a prefilter and pollen sized filter. This housing filters the air from the cabinet and I can breath when I open it even after doing heavy foam cutting. The cab door stays shut with vacuum, gotta thing about intake air ports...

I'll install a grill taken from an old box fan on the intake side. See the picture from the filter I use, those are really cheap compared to radial filters but flow is more limited.

I Highly recommend reading Bill's story to all of you working with mdf daily. There are solutions to the dust problems. Don't put your life on the line.

Para