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Mini Cyclone Dust Collection Bucket

Few friends message me and asked me if I can post this project also here in LJs than where I have it, because is easier for them to look at the project, so here it is.
My cyclone dust collector bucket is very inexpensive and efficient. It only cost me under 20 Euros (about 25 U.S. dollars), easy to build in a weekend, and it can run with any normal house vacuum cleaner (recommended a 1600W+).
This project was build to fit the needs of my multi-tool bench. But it will work nicely with your power tools and also with your shop vac.
Since this post is for LJs and experienced woodworkers, I will skip the intro and the explanations and give it to you straight, besides the images worth a thousand words. If any questions, I would love to answer them or explain.
So here is how it was build.

Materials Used:
1 Paint plastic bucket 20L
1 Metal (tin) paint bucket 20L
1 Plastic Funnel
1 Electrician's plastic pipe (diameter according to hoses)
2 pipe joiners
3 90 degrees plumbing elbow fitting
Bolds, nuts & washers
Self taping screws for attaching the funnel's support
5 minutes Epoxy Glue and pvc glue
Some sort of filler (builders bog or similar)
4 pieces of plywood or MDF

The Cyclone System consists of two stages.
The first stage is the paint plastic bucket with its top plastic lit, fittings, and the funnel.
The second stage is the metal (tin) paint bucket which will hold the dust and waste and its tin lit which is attached under the plastic bucket.
The two stages are locked together with the standard metal bucket's holding clamp which is used to clamp to the lit, and it comes together with the metal bucket.
Buckets and funnel were purchased from constructions paint shop.

Photo Descriptions:
p1 : The Mini Cyclone Dust Collection Bucket completed.
p2 : SketchUp view of the project (I always design before I build something).
p3 : Diagram of the cyclone's first stage parts.
p4 : The first test with some vacuum hoses proved that the top lit was a bit soft.
P5 : Dust from the test cut and the vacuum was dust free.
p6 : I have also designed a cart for the system but I could not build it as I had no storage space for it.
p7 : The top lit with MDF support, the center pipe and elbow.
p8 : Stage one top view, the funnel's wooden ring support and the wooden base connected with the tin bucket lit.
p9 : The funnel was cut for bigger opening and extended with a piece of pipe.
p10 : The funnel's final position.
p11 : Some sort of filler brings the edges of the funnel to a 45 degrees slope up to the wall.
p12 : The underside of the tin bucket's lit with its MDF connected with the first stage, also you can see the funnel's pipe extension sticking out.











Gallery

Comments

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Steli, does it work on fine dust ie. from a drum or belt sander?
 

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Sweet! I luv woodworkin, but, I hate dust.. Very awesome. Thnx for sharing. Like Martyn says "does it work on fine dust?"
 

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Hi Martyn
Yes it does, I always use it with my oscillating hand sander with very good results. Also depending on the vacuum you are using you may need to have your vacuum filter on. What I did when I first tested it, it was collecting some fine dust into the vac, so I cut a bit the center pipe making it shorter and it was fine.
Couple of friends who tried and build it where very happy with the results, each one had to also shorten the main pipe according to their vacuums suction. But you always start long and cut your way up to the point it's good for you.

Steli

P.S.: I have never tested it with a drum or belt sander, so I am not sure what results you will have with those.
 

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Looks like the answer to my chop saw problems. I am off to Home depot for buckets. Thanks for the complete instructions
Walt
 

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Very inventive - Great job

Thanks for sharing
 

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Nice! Adding this to the "to-do" list.

That list never seems to get shorter.
 

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The smoother you make the transition from the bucket wall to the funnel the better results you get. It is like you're creating an internal cyclone funnel.
Maybe someone will have a better idea and improve it. Personally they gave me the wrong filler material and I had problem to smooth it out. At the end I use another filler on top of the old one, so as you can see it's a bit messy, but it's fine for me and what I do because I work in open air space.

HungryTermite
Nope mine is also getting bigger too, my wish list is growing like a child lol
 

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Thank you for posting this. Going to be making one of these for sure!
 

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535 Posts
theken

You're welcome. Let us know the outcome when you build it.
 

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mmm I like it, some day I hope to get around to this. Thank you for posting.
 

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Great! I like the combination funnel and Thien style top. I have the Phil Thien trashcan part, but the 'fines' tend to migrate to the shop vac. I'm going to modify mine now that I've seen this! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

What did you use for the funnel? Looks like the top of a jug of some kind? Where did you get it?

Also, I wonder if it will still function if it was a shorter bucket? The top of the Thien unit is about 4" high off of the top of the funnel, but there is no funnel, just another disk with a 120 degree 1.5" cut out from the edge. The down tube is midway between the two disks. The big pieces spin around and fall into the cut out. It could be my shopvac has too much suction? It's a 6.5Amp that also doubles as a leaf blower. It sucks in the sides of the 20 gallon galvanized trash can!

The advantage I see with the longer down tube is that gravity has more time to work on pulling the debris down.
 

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RonPeters

Sounds like you need to go a size larger on your pipe. That, or get a stronger bucket.
 

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RonPeters

For a funnel I used a large plastic household funnel, trim the bottom to get a wider opening and attached a pipe to go through the two stages. It won't help you to say where I got it from since you are from the US and I from EU. In the image you can see the funnel with its tube cut.

Actually the bigger the funnel the better the results will be. After I build this I found a nice big tin funnel same that is used for putting motor engine oil into the cars, that would have been a better solution, but since I was satisfied from the results I got from the system, I didn't go back to do it again.

As for the shorter bucket it might work but I don't believe with just 4" high. These buckets if my memory serves me correct are about 18" tall each.
As you have already said gravity will not work in your favor and all fine dust will end up into your vacuum.
If your vacuum has too much suction as you say, (just an idea now) maybe you should make an opening on the hose to regulate its suction, something like that opening function you can find on domestic vacuum cleaners hose handles.

Thanks
Steli
 

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7,027 Posts
that is a very good blog Steliart
thank´s for sharing all the tip´s with us
right up to the favorits for later use :)

where did you find the big tin funnel online or what

take care
Dennis
 

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Dennisgrosen

You are very welcome Dennis, thanks for visiting.
In my country I could get the tin funnel from a car accessories shop, or a car mechanics supplier, or from what we call tin shops which are selling various stuff made out of tin.
Hope this info can help you.
Steli
 

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Thank´s Steliart
yes it does , but I think it will bee hard here in Denmark since alot of things has ben taken over by plastic
even the tinbucket can be difficult to found un-used I think….well I have some time to find it all
since I´m not in for maschinery´s at the moment becourse I try to learn it the old school with handtools
I have the electronkiller handtools as you have and your switsertable is realy start to tickle my hand…LOL

take care
Dennis
 

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Thanks a lot, I have been wanting to build one myself.
 

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PaBull

You are very welcome, thanks for visiting and commenting on the project.

Steli
 

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Great project,detail and plains. I have been wanting to do this but no one in particular has impressed me as much as this one. Marked favorite.
 

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superdav721

Thanks for visiting and commenting on the project.

Stay Safe
Steli
 
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