| Project by jcoulam | posted 209 days ago | 7280 views | 88 times favorited | 42 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

































42 comments so far
jockmike2
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7903 posts in 1218 days
posted 209 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 from Michigan - mwurm13@yahoo.com
choppertoo
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81 posts in 284 days
posted 209 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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190 posts in 230 days
posted 209 days ago
Where did you find the plan for this thing? I need one realy bad in my shop.
Christopher
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561 posts in 891 days
posted 209 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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1828 posts in 592 days
posted 209 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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23684 posts in 548 days
posted 209 days ago
Oneida just called boy are they mad LOL very inventive well done
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, http://www.heirloomwoodshop.com/
2xmahi
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13 posts in 242 days
posted 209 days ago
please post more info on the construction.. that thing seems great
cabinetmaster
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10934 posts in 529 days
posted 209 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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28894 posts in 1372 days
posted 209 days ago
You said that this is 2” pcv so it works with the shop vacs, at least for their hoses.
A nice job.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
tmiller
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90 posts in 284 days
posted 209 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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225 posts in 676 days
posted 209 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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4143 posts in 647 days
posted 209 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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141 posts in 968 days
posted 209 days ago
Nice job! I would also love to a blog on the construction process.
-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker
BTKS
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604 posts in 435 days
posted 209 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
-- "Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence" (Joseph Wood Krutch)
patron
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3321 posts in 312 days
posted 209 days ago
good post ,
and yes ,
details , details ,
we want more !
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
gbvinc
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572 posts in 918 days
posted 209 days ago
Nice
Rxmpo
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122 posts in 717 days
posted 209 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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402 posts in 758 days
posted 209 days ago
Very cool solution!!!
Have you started that blog yet on the construction details.
Splinterman
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7100 posts in 332 days
posted 209 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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508 posts in 837 days
posted 209 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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726 posts in 804 days
posted 209 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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147 posts in 210 days
posted 209 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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610 posts in 970 days
posted 209 days ago
Very simple design. Well done.
-- Bob A in NJ
Bob A in NJ
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610 posts in 970 days
posted 209 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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29 posts in 372 days
posted 209 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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1093 posts in 298 days
posted 209 days ago
Thanks for adding the drawings !!!
-- Don S.E. OK
SimonSKL
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147 posts in 210 days
posted 208 days ago
The drawing helps alot! Thanks Jeff!
-- Simon, Danville, IL
dragondncr
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19 posts in 400 days
posted 207 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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20 posts in 311 days
posted 206 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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145 posts in 232 days
posted 205 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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53 posts in 467 days
posted 204 days ago
http://lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/projects/76164.jpg
for better resolution drawing
jcoulam
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29 posts in 372 days
posted 204 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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19 posts in 400 days
posted 203 days ago
Thanks for posting a larger drawing. I really like the concept.
-- dragondncr
RajinCajun
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20 posts in 311 days
posted 200 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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256 posts in 197 days
posted 197 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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35 posts in 203 days
posted 192 days ago
Finished making one like this a couple of days ago and it works fantastic!!!
-- Don, Saginaw Mi
wooddude
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59 posts in 386 days
posted 134 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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593 posts in 160 days
posted 124 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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94 posts in 137 days
posted 124 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.
Profenceworks
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240 posts in 96 days
posted 63 days ago
That is way cool.
-- Brent Builds Fences in Georgia http://www.profenceworks.com http://www.productionfenceworks.com http://www.floridafencecompany.com
Simons44
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6 posts in 395 days
posted 55 days ago
Thanks for the great idea!
hjt
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53 posts in 109 days
posted 36 days ago
Never ceases to amaze me just how cleaver LumberJocks are!
-- Harold