Small Shop DUst Collector (CES)

Thanks for posting this! I have been looking for the plans to a poor-mans DC for a long time. How does it work?

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

I like. Easy to build and easy to use.

-- Don't tell her I'm in the shop!

It works like this….the PVC Wye you see connects the tool (table saw etc) to the Dust Collector (DC) via a 2 1/2” hose that came with my shop vac. The Wye is connected to the 2 ” PVC elbow. The straight piece of PVC connects the shop vac to the DC via another 2 1/2” hose.

When you turn the shop-vac on, the suction from the shop vac creates a swirling action inside the DC (kinda like a cyclone). As the saw dust is sucked into the DC, the sawdust swirls around and 99% of the sawdust falls into the trashcan. The fine stuff goes into the shop vac bag.

The construction is very simple, basically it is 2 circles spaced about 5 ” apart. Spacing is supported by wood or whatever. The top circle is about 1/2 – 1” larger than the diameter of the trash can. I routed a groove on the underside of the top circle. The circle that fits inside the trashcan is about 2.5” smaller in diameter (for BOUT 240 degrees) then the top circle. This allows the sawdust to fall into the trashcan as it swirls.

For more detail and better directions, check out the website forum that I posted in my desript.

BTW, this DC works fantastic!!!

-- Pie

Pie,

BTW, this DC works fantastic!!!

That is what I was looking for when I asked how does it work. I have heard complaints that a Shop Vac doesn’t provide enough suction power to produce the cyclone.

Thanks for the info.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

Thanks for the post. I’m building a version like this over the weekend. A homemade air filtration system does work. There are a couple on the forum pages.

Post some pics when you’re down and let me know how you like it.

-- Pie

Built one but tried it out before I built lower interior supports for the metal garbage can. Turned my back to turn it on to test it and proceeded to watch it crumple the metal garbage can in on itself. Spent the rest of the night beating it back out. After fitting some interior supports in the can it works like a charm.

LOL yeah when I am vacuming with mine, my shirt gets sucked in a bit and my garbage can crumples a bit also but not alot cuz I tried mine out with the supports. I haven’t had to empty my trashcan yet and I hardly have any dust in my shop vac bag. For the price, it is very hard to beat one of these. Glad you like it and that it works for yoy!!!

-- Pie

I like it. I have 2 of them, one for my Wet / Dry vac, the other for my DC. Phil has probably one of the best separator designs I have come across. It has some issues (too many bends) but other folks have solved those problems (side inlet).

I used to have mine stacked similar to yours. I took that down and moved it under the table saw extension wing to free up room for the 55 gallon one for the DC. You might want to shorten your hose from the vac to the can to help out air flow a bit…

-- Trying to follow the example of the master.

Yeah I agree I should shorten the hose from the vac to the can but I have been so busy to interior (house) renovation I haven;t been able to do much inside my shop except push stuff around to make room . I was gonna run 4” ducts on one side of my shop for convinience but that is on the back burner also. My overall goal will be to have most of my tools etc on tables with locking casters (small shop. I need to post some more pics but just no timme.

Thanks for your comments.

-- Pie