Building a cyclone (Stu??)

[Jeff Horton]

I guess this is mainly aimed at Stu since I know he built one. I am to the point I NEED a DC system bad! I have some allergy problems and don't want them to get worse. I want a Bill Pentz cyclone but I keep choking on the $1000 price tag from Clearvue.

I know Bill offere plans for his and I am starting to think that maybe building one is not such a bad idea. So, how big and hard is this project? I can't help but wonder if it worth the effort to build vs. just buying? Anyone besides Stu built one?

[Art Mulder]

Jeff,

I know a fellow on the canadianwoodworking.com forum, named Bryan Cowing, and he built himself a Pentz cyclone in record time. Unfortunately I can only find a link to his "project completed" thread (http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11763), and not the thread wherein he actually had photos of the project in progress. (the forum changed software, which I think lost their old posts)

The key for him were two things: he had (or bought) some air powered shears, which made cutting the metal a breeze. And secondly, he bought the metal from a sheet metal shop and they rolled and folded some of the major parts for him. (folded the intake). This cut his assembly time to 8 hours. :eek:

FYI, FWIW.

...art

[Doug Shepard]

There's a photo album on ClearVue's gallery site that has a Pentz design DC built from scratch. It has lots of pics and may answer a few questions for you.
http://gallery.clearvuecyclones.com/Als-Cyclone-project

[Stuart Ablett]

Art nailed it, if you can get a sheet metal shop to cut, roll and weld, solder the thing up, you will save yourself a TON of work.

I really had no alternitive, so I did the whole deal by myself.

If I live in the US or Canada, I'd look for a sheetmetal shop that would play ball.

The plans you can download from Bill's site are MORE than detailed enough that a good sheetmetal fabricator can make the whole thing.

The air powered sheers are good, but you got to have a good compressor, I think that the electric type are maybe better for most guys (looks like a hand drill, but has a cutter on the nose instead of a chuck).

Lots of work, yeah, but I'm glad I did it, lets me breath a lot better down in my hole ;) :D

Cheers!

[Jeff Horton]

Just the kind of advice I was looking for. I used to work for a sheet metal shop years ago designing stuff. Unfortunately no contacts in that field any more but I know a couple of shops. May take them the plans and get a price from them. Will probably make the Clearvue look better. :)

[Art Mulder]

. Will probably make the Clearvue look better. :)


Maybe... Bryan reported that he paid $40 for his sheet metal. :eek:
He did assemble, rivet, and solder himself. But the rolling/bending made a big difference.

[Jim O'Dell]

Chris Padilla made his on the Pentz design. I think he had some pretty good information and pictures on SMC a year and a half ago or so. Do a search there and I bet you'll find it. Jim.

[Jeff Horton]

Thanks Jim, but I am bad boy :rofl: and not allowed at SMC anymore.

[Steve Clardy]

Chris [my brother] is a member here. Pm him for the link and info

[Russ Massery]

Jeff, I suggest calling Ed at Clearvue. I would at least buy the motor and blower from him. He'll help you along the way with the rest. I can't say enough about him. He's not so concerned about getting your money as he is helping you build the unit that suits your needs. I thought about building my own also. I used to work in a steel fabrication shop. I could have built my own but, decided to buy the whole unit from Ed. I'm not sorry in the least. I must have called him 4-5 times before making my decision.

[tod evans]

jeff, good advice from russ........phone calls are cheap and ed knows his stuff...tod

[Jeff Horton]

Thanks Russ. I have been thinking about this and I have worked in Design and worked with the fabrication of mechanical 'stuff' for years. I know the pit falls and what you don't expect will happen. I am having second thoughts about building one. Even thought it costs more there is a LOT to be said for buying one all ready built. I am just having heart burn over the cost of installing one.:dunno: