Dust Collection - Show off your Shop Setup

Deleted at User's Request · Oct 4, 2019

Good morning everyone!
I hope everyone is having a great day, and if you're not then let me say:

You are awesome! :thumb:

Wanted to ask everybody what type of dust collector setup they have in their shops.
You can show pics if you want. I've heard that some setups are hard to do because of lack of shop space.

Bill Arnold · Oct 4, 2019

Here's the main part of my setup. My overall shop is 36'x24'; all the large tools are in a 20'x24' room.

Darren Wright · Oct 4, 2019

I use HarborFreight 2HP dust collector that has been modified with an internal Thien Baffle (https://familywoodworking.org/forums/showthread.php?30156-Internal-Thien-Baffle-for-HF-DC-Tutorial) and the cloth filter bag replaced with a .1 micron Wynn filter.

The control for most of my tools is automatic and power sensors turn on the DC automatically when the tools are powered on/off.

I used pvc S&D (sewer and drain) pipe for the ducting in combination with flexible hose to the tools. All connections are screwed to make re-configuration easy.

Demo of the automatic dust collection. It turns on when power to the tool is sensed, turns off after 10 seconds of the tool power stopping to clear out the ducts.
https://youtu.be/nuHgpZR79pQ

Rennie Heuer · Oct 4, 2019

Not nearly as pretty a system as Bill has, but it does the job.

Vaughn McMillan · Oct 4, 2019

My DC is similar to Darren's...a "2 hp" (yeah, right) from Harbor Freight with a Thien baffle and a Wynn filter. (As I recall I have the .5 micron version). I don't have any ductwork, but instead move a 20' flexible hose to different machines as needed. The other major modification I did to mine was to paint it purple (because purple has the best airflow) and add the Hoover label (because everyone knows Hoovers suck).

fred hargis · Oct 5, 2019

They do take up some space, the setups are often expensive (duct can cost as much as the DC itself), they are noisy and gets worse with some tools like planers, and if you make changes to the shop the system often needs to be changed to accommodatethings. This is my third (and I hope last) system. I went with a Clearview DC and ran plastic ducting to all the tools.

Deleted at User's Request · Oct 7, 2019

Lovin' the pics! Keep em' coming! :coolphotos:

It's cool to see how everyone has their own unique setups.

Bill Arnold · Oct 7, 2019

fred hargis said:
... the setups are often expensive (duct can cost as much as the DC itself), ...

In my case, by the time I finished getting everything you see in the photos set up, I had spent about three times the cost of the DC itself. I used good quality galvanized duct for my system. Other forms of metal duct would have cost at least double what I paid.

Vaughn McMillan · Oct 8, 2019

Bill Arnold said:
In my case, by the time I finished getting everything you see in the photos set up, I had spent about three times the cost of the DC itself. I used good quality galvanized duct for my system. Other forms of metal duct would have cost at least double what I paid.

I'd say it was well worth the expense, Bill. You have a great-looking system. :thumb:

Bill Arnold · Oct 8, 2019

Vaughn McMillan said:
I'd say it was well worth the expense, Bill. You have a great-looking system.

Thanks, Vaughn.

It was, but I didn't spend all of it at one time. Oneida did the original layout for me. When I bought the DC, I got the initial wye and 7" elbows. My first machine connection was using a single 4" flex that I moved between machines as needed. As budget allowed, I bought additional wyes from Oneida and straights and elbows from a local HVAC supplier. When I got down to 4" parts, I bought them at Lowe's. Overall, it took probably three years to get it done. I've made some minor tweaks to my system and have parts for a couple more drops to do when I get around to it.

Bob Romano · Apr 7, 2025

My shop has a clear view 5hp cyclone dust collector all 6” duct to all my machines. 3-shapers 1-20” and 1-12” planer 1-9” jointer 1-10 delta unisaw 1- panel saw 1-14” delta bandsaw 1-6” jointer 1-10” miter saw 1-William Hussey molder 1-edge sander and lastly a router gantry slab flattening machine with a overhead boom when it’s needed. Plenty of suction. Dumps into a 55gallon drum.

Jay Caughron · Apr 8, 2025

Bob Welcome to the family.
Dose the blankets help much with blocking out some of the noise????

Bob Romano · Apr 8, 2025

Jay Caughron said:
Bob Welcome to the family.
Dose the blankets help much with blocking out some of the noise????

Yes but the muffler helps the most

Jay Caughron · Apr 8, 2025

Tell us more about the muffler. Where is it located and where did you buy it at. I have a clear-Vue to reinstall in my new shop and would love to know more

Bob Romano · Apr 8, 2025

Jay Caughron said:
Tell us more about the muffler. Where is it located and where did you buy it at. I have a clear-Vue to reinstall in my new shop and would love to know more

So the blue 90* looking down has the muffler attached to it. It is constructed of a galvanized pipe with sound deadening material lining it then attaches to the filters. Similar to a car glass pack muffler from the 60-70s. Clearview sells them.it helps absorb noise by at least 10 db
Next picture shows a vibrating filter shaker to clear the dust in the filters. Clearview sells that too. But I made my own for a fraction of the cost. The furnature pads make the sound muffled and dose lower the db by 2-3 db.hope this helps. Anything else I can help with don’t hesitate.Clearview charges more for the muffler than Vevor so shop around

Jay Caughron · Apr 9, 2025

Thanks for the info Bob. I will shop around :thumb:

Ryan Mooney · Apr 9, 2025

Bob Romano said:
Clearview sells them.it helps absorb noise by at least 10 db
Next picture shows a vibrating filter shaker to clear the dust in the filters. Clearview sells that too.

Just FYI - not anymore, they retired and called it a day a few months back.

Jay Caughron · Apr 9, 2025

I just seen that Ryan. Hope someone comes in and continues the Co sad to see it go

glenn bradley · Apr 9, 2025

This is an old thread but still has a lot of value in it. I have my cyclone in a bump-out.

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I had to make a compromise between elevating the blower or using long sweeps. I used inexpensive sheet metal sweeps and taped them up. I vent to the great outdoors. I do not find the muffler to do much but I had it so it is in the exit path.