LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

HF Dust Collector: Anyone add a bucket instead of a bag under the filter?

7K views 8 replies 9 participants last post by  English 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello everyone, this is my first official post in the forums! So I'm getting ready to purchase the HF 2HP dust collector in a couple weeks and am just laying out my build and upgrades that I'm going to do. I know that I will be building a thein top hat on top of a bucket and purchasing the Wien 35a filter as well, but has anyone replaced the clear plastic bag under the filter with a bucket/barrel? It seems no dust ever gets in that bag and the plastic is just begging to be ripped in my opinion. Like I said, I haven't purchased yet so I can't physically see if there are any build limitations so I would like to see if I could get some thoughts from you guys. Thanks!
 
#3 ·
You will need an air tight connection of the can you want to use to the dust collector. I do not see how that could be done. Any air leak will spit out about all the chips and dust you collect. I have a Grizzly and I now use harbor freight heavy duty bags , two of them, one inside the other for the lower bag. This way I can just toss them when full.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
A can works better as a cyclone or pre filter on the suction sde of the fan where the negative pressure helps seal it. On the exhaust side where the filter bag or canister is the positive pressure will make it more difficult.
That said, I do use plastic ice cream containers under the filters on my big DC at my home shop (Canada). The seal is made with a rod bolt clamp and some rubber gasket material. I did a blog on my system here.
Furniture Shelf Shelving Wood Chair


Wood Gas Machine Engineering Cylinder

You can also save yourself a few bucks I if you use a Donaldson p181038 filter.
They are available at any highway truck parts supplier at around half the price.
 

Attachments

#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have eliminated the bag on my design and it works flawlessly. I have very small collection area below the filter housing but I have yet to fill it in the 1 1/2 years of use. Most of the fines are from the cleaning of the WE filter than from what gets past the Thein cyclone in the trash can.

Wood Floor Flooring Composite material Hardwood


Paint Cylinder Electrical wiring Gas Machine
 

Attachments

#9 ·
My DC came with a chamber under the filters and the filters were stacked on top of each other. I separated them and build another matching chamber, added a duct back to the suction side with blast gates. This way I can recycle the dust that makes it to the filter back to the cyclone for collection. I also have blast gates on the inlet side of the filters so I can draw air through one filter while I filter with the other. This allows me to clean the filters without removing them. If I gently tap on the filter that's being cleaned it releases the dust caught in the pleats.



I showed this here on a review of my DC. http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/3900
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top