| Project by jcoulam | posted 130 days ago | 3501 views | 67 times favorited | 39 comments | ![]() |
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I was really tired of cleaning my shop vac every other day and as my vac started filling up the suction would go way down. I looked at all the solutions out there I determined that the cyclone units were better than the bags and filters. The problem is they are all so expensive, and I’m on a real budget. So I decided I would try and make my own… That was the best decision ever! I went to my local home store and bought some 2” PVC and an 8” x 24” piece of duct and made my own… Since then I have not had to touch my shop vac, this cyclone collects everything, you can see from the picture saw dust in the bucket and the vac is empty, this is working on my seventh bucket with nothing in the vac. The best part is the vac doesn’t lose suction (I sound like a Dyson commercial). Oneida sells the Dust Deputy and if it works as well as my homemade one it is well worth it.
-- Jeff Coulam, Austin Texas
































39 comments so far
jockmike2
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7297 posts in 1139 days
posted 130 days ago
I bought the little black thing that Rockler sells, but it’s got a curve thing that goes down in the bucket and the other hole that goes to the vac. is too close and the vac sucks stuff up right from the the curved thing sticking down in the bucket. I’ve got a Rigid vac just like yours, man that thing sucks. Maybe I’ll try what you did. It looks like it would work fine. Nice job.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
choppertoo
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62 posts in 205 days
posted 130 days ago
Very nice. I see one of these in my future. Any comments on the construction process would be appreciated.
Maybe you should submit your design to Shop Notes, I could see them being interested in something like this.
-- The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it.. Michelangelo
cwdance1
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186 posts in 151 days
posted 130 days ago
Where did you find the plan for this thing? I need one realy bad in my shop.
Christopher
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563 posts in 812 days
posted 130 days ago
Ingenious Jcoulam! I love hand built tools. I recently realized that even though I am cash strapped I can still build the tools I want. I am making a hollowing chisel right now for turning vessels.
-- "That Government is Best that Governs The Least."-Jefferson
Bigdogs117
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1808 posts in 513 days
posted 130 days ago
I think this is great. This may not be perfect for dust collection but it has to be better than nothing. I would still use a dust mask for additional safety but this is cool. I would like to see a blog on how to build this myself.
-- Rusty
a1Jim
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16598 posts in 469 days
posted 130 days ago
Oneida just called boy are they mad LOL very inventive well done
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
2xmahi
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12 posts in 163 days
posted 130 days ago
please post more info on the construction.. that thing seems great
cabinetmaster
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8474 posts in 450 days
posted 130 days ago
I’m putting in my 2 cents too. Please post your plans on how you built this. Looks very useful.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
Karson
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25795 posts in 1293 days
posted 130 days ago
You said that this is 2” pcv so it works with the shop vacs, at least for their hoses.
A nice job.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
tmiller
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90 posts in 205 days
posted 130 days ago
Nice work!
Yours looks different than the usual ones I have seen. Most are freakin huge and somewhat impractical for a small shop.
Please post more pics.
-- All trees have projects inside of them, it is your job to get them out.
bayspt
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184 posts in 597 days
posted 130 days ago
I’ll make number 7 to ask. Please go more indepth. I could really use something like this in my shop.
-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"
TopamaxSurvivor
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2994 posts in 568 days
posted 130 days ago
Maybe it works better than the store bought :-)) ??
-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.
Praki
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139 posts in 889 days
posted 130 days ago
Nice job! I would also love to a blog on the construction process.
-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker
BTKS
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480 posts in 357 days
posted 130 days ago
Great job, looks like you are going to help a load of folks save money as well as have a cleaner, healthier shop. My hat off to you, BTKS
patron
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2376 posts in 233 days
posted 130 days ago
good post ,
and yes ,
details , details ,
we want more !
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
gbvinc
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537 posts in 839 days
posted 130 days ago
Nice
Rxmpo
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119 posts in 638 days
posted 130 days ago
This is awesome.
Ok…lets say it all together we need this project as a blog..blog..blog..blog!!!
ratchet
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299 posts in 679 days
posted 130 days ago
Very cool solution!!!
Have you started that blog yet on the construction details.
Splinterman
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4827 posts in 253 days
posted 130 days ago
OK JCoulam,
All the Jock’s have voted….....do a blog on this little gem…...ASAP.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
DannyBoy
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442 posts in 758 days
posted 130 days ago
Great job! I keep wanting to make one of these because I don’t want to pay for a mass produced one.
-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/
Greg Wurst
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716 posts in 725 days
posted 130 days ago
Blog!, Blog!, Blog!
If you have paper plans send them to me and I’ll draw them up in Sketchup for people.
-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.
SimonSKL
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101 posts in 131 days
posted 130 days ago
Me too. I will be very interested in seeing how this is constructed. May be a drawing of how the PVC pipes are attached and separated inside.
-- Simon, Danville, IL
Bob A in NJ
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521 posts in 891 days
posted 130 days ago
Very simple design. Well done.
-- Bob A in NJ
Bob A in NJ
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521 posts in 891 days
posted 130 days ago
Great idea. Has anyone figured out how to quiet a shop vac? The high pitch screaming they make drives me crazy!
-- Bob A in NJ
jcoulam
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20 posts in 293 days
posted 130 days ago
I tried my best to describe the construction of the cyclone in a blog. Thanks for all the kind words. I’d like to see your version when you make one.
Jeff
-- Jeff Coulam, Austin Texas
Don K.
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1095 posts in 219 days
posted 130 days ago
Thanks for adding the drawings !!!
-- Don S.E. OK
SimonSKL
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101 posts in 131 days
posted 130 days ago
The drawing helps alot! Thanks Jeff!
-- Simon, Danville, IL
dragondncr
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18 posts in 322 days
posted 128 days ago
Jeff, is there any chance of getting your drawing? I can’t read the dimension in the one you posted above.
Thanks,
-- dragondncr
RajinCajun
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19 posts in 232 days
posted 127 days ago
OK, Jeff, you really pi**ed me off.
I spent a small fortune on my Dust Gorilla and ductwork. I also bought a Dust Deputy for sanding and biscuits and so forth, connected it to a Fein vacuum.
You slap together a couple of bucks worth of PVC and ductwork, attach it to a Rigid shop-vac, and have results just as good! With pictures to prove it no less.
What a heartless thing to do. Great job…but heartless.
-- Its a HOBBY...I already have a job.
Jamie
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138 posts in 153 days
posted 126 days ago
This is awesome. I was looking at the dust deputy last time I was at woodcraft and thought to myself that I could make one. Looks like you beat me to the punch.
-- "Preach the gospel always. If necessary use words" -St Francis of Assisi
maluco
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34 posts in 388 days
posted 126 days ago
http://lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/projects/76164.jpg
for better resolution drawing
jcoulam
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20 posts in 293 days
posted 125 days ago
Thanks Maluco for posting a bigger picture.
Rajincajun, I reallly like the Dust Gorilla too, and that’s what I’ll get when I can afford one. I really need to get a 4” solution. How does it work for you.
-- Jeff Coulam, Austin Texas
dragondncr
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18 posts in 322 days
posted 124 days ago
Thanks for posting a larger drawing. I really like the concept.
-- dragondncr
RajinCajun
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19 posts in 232 days
posted 121 days ago
Dust Gorilla is Great. Performs exactly as advertised. Even the 2hp model I have will run two machines at a time without any problem.
Central DC isn’t cheap. I spent as much on tubing, wye’s, gates,...as on the DC. And I only have 6 drops.
-- Its a HOBBY...I already have a job.
GaryBuck
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120 posts in 118 days
posted 118 days ago
After seeing your door I wanted to see what else you have done this is great. Thanks for sharing but I have to admit I think I got a pretty good system, It’s called a broom,, a dust pan and most important a wife L.O.L. Hope she doesn’t see your set up or else that will be at the top of the honey-do-list L.O.L. Thanks again for sharing. GaryBuck
DonDA
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24 posts in 124 days
posted 113 days ago
Finished making one like this a couple of days ago and it works fantastic!!!
-- Don, Saginaw Mi
wooddude
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50 posts in 307 days
posted 55 days ago
Thanks Jeff for this idea. I used this and SimonSKL’s post to build one for myself. Works great. Thanks again. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/21819
ken90712
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329 posts in 81 days
posted 45 days ago
I bought one from rockler with a 20% cupon making it $80.00. Can not believe how well this works. I made a strap for it on the wall and bought a longer hose making it stationary, this keeps it from tipping over! Great product! Nice Job on yours. Ken
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
scottishrose
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84 posts in 58 days
posted 45 days ago
Seems like I saw a Harbor Freight version of the bucket lit thingy for about $29.99, but I may have been mistaken. Maybe on their website. If you find something in their website. Print out the page and take it in to the store. If the store price is higher they will charge you the lower price.