I'm leaning towards the 3hp cyclone from grizzly. After looking at the clearvue, grizzly, oneida, etc the motor amp draw for the 3hp grizzley is 22 amps, and the 5hp is 22.4 amps. Most 3hp motors draw more like 15 amps and 5hp motors run 22-30 amps. Does that mean they put an oversize motor on it, maybe for commonality of parts, or so they can outperform other 3hp DC?? Anyone else got any thoughts on this, or know why this would be the case?
Ducting - found pricing on S&D 6" pvc lower than what I originally thought and the 6" snap lock ducting is 30 gauge, by the time I buy 26 gauge it's more expensive. So I think the 6" pvc with home made blast gates will probably be the way I go. I've seen several plans online for making single gates. I was thinking (dreaming?) of a 6" drop into a plywood box. The box would have 2x 4" hoses on the left and a 4" and 2.5" hose on the right with gates to close either side. These will feed the bandsaw and router table. Anyone got any thoughts on this, problems i might have other than sealing the gates? Seen any plans like this already?
The dust collector i want has a 7" ro 8" outlet and I'll be adapting to 6" PVC. Is there any problem just making a bushing out of plywood and tightening an 8" hose clamp to the outside?
I have six-inch PVC throughout the shop with four-inch drops to each machine. Everything runs clean even though I have only 2hp on the DC. It is a Penn State machine. The drop off in efficiency is significan with a second blast gate open. I am sure you will be unhappy if you do not utillize one blast gate per machine and only one blast gate open at a time.
I read a ton of material before I went into permanant ducting. I purchased the Penn State DC before I had enough information stored in my head. If I had not built with efficient ducting, I don't think the two hp could cut it.
I made a comment a month or two ago on FWW about how amazed I was at the clean insides of my ducts. There was dust only at the small dimple where six-inch ducts met six-inch wyes and ells. The rest of the system did not even have dust on the duct walls.
My old Delta Bandsaw still scatters a bit of dust on the back side of the table. I just cannot come up with a totally clean pick-up. I have not heard of anyone else that has solved that problem with the old machine. The drill press is satisfactory, but not perfect. Close enough to what I want that I have not spent time trying to make it better. The bottom of the TS is great; I don't have DC on top yet.
My problem areas are all for the same reason. I have not found a way to get DC intake in a position to be great without having the DC intake be in the way of wood working. Going to more hp would certainly help the situation. On the other hand I have a pretty clean shop (dust wise, not clutter wise). I had to put that parenthesis in or I would have heard from my son, Glenn.
Sorry, I am good at rambling. To cut to the chase: I am very happy with six-inch PVC and would definitely do that again.
I have, and would not do otherwise, have a blast gate for each individual machine.
I am glad that the DC is in the Outhouse, not the shop. They are noisy!
I would love to have each blast gate open when the machine is turned on...However, I keep finding more important places to spend my money. More on blast gates in a moment.
I used two forty-five degree ells to make right angle turns. This gives me much smoother air flow...again the 2 hp would not make it if I had ninty degree ells. To me, this is an "absolute must."
Back to blast gates:
I have red ribbon with a rare earth magnet glued into a fold. One of these hangs from each blast gate that is closed. The ribbon is removed (stuck on something down lower) when the gate is opened. This lets me take a quick glance around the shop to confirm all blast gates, except the one I am using are closed.
All of my PVC joints are just friction fits...one piece shoved into the another. I have had no leakage problems and no structural problems doing this. AND it is really great to easily modify the system when I add a new machine or move a machine to another location. There is no need for adhesive in the joints and there is no need for tape over the joints. I suspended the PVC with lengths of chain fastened to the rafters.
After reading a technical paper on the subject I opted to NOT run a static line with the PVC.
Glenn has a Grizzly DC. Why don't you PM him. Glenn Bradley.
If you have specific questions send me a PM.