General Information

Cyclones: Why and How

Why? Dust collection using a cyclone is not only the safest way to collect material from your shop, (because nothing goes through the fan) but it also helps you by reducing the amount of times that you will have to handle your dust. Eventually with either a cyclone or a regular stand-alone dust collector you will need to either empty the shavings or clean the filters. The cyclone reduces that frequency in a couple of ways. First off the dust and materials are spinning when they exit the cyclone so they pack into the drum. Secondly because properly designed cyclones are highly efficient less dust exits to the filter reducing the number of filter cleanings. Be aware when you are considering a cyclone that although it may look like a cyclone it may only be a component in a two stage collector, so ask. On 2 stage collectors all of the fine dust travels over to the filter and the container below it.

 Our cyclones have been computer designed to handle specific air flows with wood dust. The units are the physical size so that they can efficiently remove the dust from that volume of air flow. The fan top cyclone is designed with the fan mounted directly on top of the cyclone; this allows efficient operation of the unit.

Having said all that do you have room for one and where should you locate it? Please refer to the foot print specs given on the web site. If you don’t have the headroom in your shop there may be a couple of options that you can explore. First if you don’t have the headroom but require a large waste container then you have a couple of options. First if the unit was too tall for the room an opening can be made in the ceiling to accept the blower unit. Remember when installing the unit up into an opening there must be at least 1 inch of clearance between the end of the motor and the ceiling to allow for air flow through the motors end mounted cooling fan.
Second if modifying the ceiling isn't an option you may be able to simply install the motor up between the floor joists, in the case of the basement shop along with making some adjustments to the lower end of the cyclone and flex collar, you may be able to make things fit. You can also consider reducing the size (height) of the waste container. Also you need to consider which is your easiest most direct route to remove the waste barrel from the shop. Keep in mind that the last thing you want to be doing is manhandling the waste barrel across your shop and around your tools to get rid of it. Remember adding a cyclone to your system does not change the fact that the return air must still end up back in the shop so your layout must allow for this.

Keep in mind also that if your running the piping above the maximum lift from the lowest equipment hood or floor sweep to the center of the horizontal piping overhead should be no more than 10 feet.