I pursue woodworker as a hobby in my 2 car garage. In the past year I have upgraded my workshop with the purchase of a hollow chisel mortiser, a 17” bandsaw, and a spindle shaper. My ½ hp powered shop built cyclone dust collector connected to a 4” central duct system was just not up to the job. Therefore I decided to upgrade my dust collection.
My requirements for the new dust collector were:
1) Performance, including the capability to move a lot of air under nominal static pressures associated with a centralized duct system; to effectively separate course from fine dust; and, to capture a high percentage of fine dust.
2) Space, where the unit had to fit under a ceiling height of 101” and occupy a footprint of about 55” wide X 24” – 36” deep
3) Value, i.e. bang for the buck.
I researched a number of manufacturers’ 3 hp dust collectors and eliminated those with short cyclone funnels, believing fine dust separation would be poor. My search was thus narrowed to Grizzly, Oneida, and Clear Vue. I selected Clear Vue’s CV1800 bundled dust collector because it met all of my requirements and was a good value at the sale price offered when I made the purchase. I also bought the MacRabbet Bin Level Sensor.
Before assembling the CV-1800, I developed design requirements that I wanted to incorporate into the assembled unit. These were a unit that neatly tucks into the corner of my garage work shop, occupying a maximum footprint of 55” wide x 33” deep x 101” high; a Dust Collection Bin with maximized volume for collection of wood chips; a Dust Collection Bin that was quick and easy to empty; the ability to quickly determine how full the Dust Collection Bin is at any time; a quiet machine, emitting less noise than the table saw, planer, radial arm saw, shaper, or router table; easy disassembly and reassembly of the Filter Stack for cleaning; and, ready access to all parts of the CV-1800, including the Blower Housing, Cyclone Body, and Filters for inspection, service, and maintenance.
I satisfied my design requirements by building an enclosure of minimal dimensions to house the CV-1800, consisting of a wooden frame with a plywood shell. Unlike most enclosures I have seen in the forum, mine is an integral part of the CV-1800; not a fixed closet type enclosure. The CV-1800 Motor, Blower Housing, Cyclone Body, and Dust Collection Bin all fit inside the enclosure, which measures 29-1/2” wide and 27” deep and is on castors. The top of the Motor sets 2-1/2” down from the ceiling. The Blower Housing Transition extends beyond the side of the enclosure where it meets the Filter Stack. The Filter Stack and Filter Cleanout Box set on a platform that is outside of but attached to the enclosure with a pivot hinge at the front. The Filter Stack Platform can thus rotate out into the workshop. The Platform is secured at the back of the enclosure with a drop-in locking pin. The other end of the Filter Assembly Platform, away from the enclosure, has rounded corners and is supported off the floor by two castors.
The enclosure frame is covered with various sized pieces of ½” plywood. The plywood strengthens the enclosure, can be individually removed for access to various parts of the CV-1800, and hides sound absorbing R13 (3/12”) Ultratouch Denim Insulation. I also used UltraSonic Sound Panels, which are rigid sound absorbing 12” x 12” x 1” panels. A 4’ high x 22” wide x ½” section of plywood with UltraSonic Sound Panels is attached to the enclosure and sets in front of the Filter Stack. The Blower Housing Transition is wrapped with the Ultratouch Denim Insulation. Additionally UltraSonic Sound Panels were installed on top of the Blower Housing and the Motor Mount Plate (leaving a 3” air channel on two sides to vent the motor). The ceiling and corner walls of the workshop where the cyclone sets were also outfitted with the UltraSonic Sound Panels. Although I have no measurements, the sound abatement is effective. The CV-1800 emanates far less sound than my noisiest tools. The wife reports that when operating, the CV-1800 is no louder than our gas fired forced air furnace while she sits in the living room, which is adjacent to the garage. She does not have to adjust the TV’s volume when the CV-1800 is used in conjunction with the band saw.
I used ¾” wide felt weather stripping at the joints between the Blower Housing Transition and the top Filter and between the bottom Filter and the Cleanout Box. I lined the band clamp that holds one Filter on top of the other with the same weather stripping, held in place by pressure from the band clamp. Although the joints are all snug fitting, I doubt that I achieved a 100% air seal; but these are nonetheless pretty good seals. In any event, the Filter Stack can be maintained without have to remove and reapply silicone.
The entire CV-1800 in its enclosure sets neatly in the corner of the garage. By disconnecting the short section of smooth wall flexible hose that connects the CV-1800 to the central duct work and unplugging the three power cords, the entire unit can be rolled out of the corner where I can access all four sides of the unit for service and maintenance. I can access any part of the CV-1800 by removing one or more plywood panels. The filters can be dissembled in a few minutes and cleaned.
The enclosure features a sealed Dust Collection Chamber. The Dust Collection Chamber houses the Fiber Dust Collection Drum, which is outfitted with a handle near the top of the Collection Drum. To empty the Dust Collection Drum, the door to the Dust Collection Chamber is opened and the Dust Collection Drum slides out for emptying – no lid with which to fiddle. A rubber gasket made from a bicycle inner tube is mounted around the upper rim of the Dust Collection Drum, held in place by 1” wide aluminum flat stock on the inside and outside top of the Collection Drum. (I reduced the height of the Fiber Drum and the aluminum flat stock also reinforces the top rim of the drum) The rubber gasket seals the Dust Collection Bin to the top of the Dust Collection Chamber, limiting the amount of chips and dust that could otherwise escape the Dust Collection Drum and accumulate in the Dust Collection Chamber. The Collection Drum capacity is just under 5 cubic feet or about 37 gallons.
In addition to being equipped with the MacRabbet Dust Bin Sensor (wired to shut down the CV-1800 when the Dust Collection Bin overfills), the Dust Collection Chamber has a clear polycarbonate sheet (which seems to attract less dust than other clear materials) mounted on the top of the Dust Collection Chamber and allows viewing the inside of the Dust Collection Drum without having to stop the dust collector or opening the Dust Collection Chamber door. To illuminate the interior of the Dust Collection Drum, two 139 lumen LED Puck Lights are mounted outside and on the top of the Dust Collection Chamber’s top, shining light into the Dust Collection Drum. The lights are controlled by a switch mounted on the front of the enclosure. Also a view into the clear flexible hose that connects to the Cyclone Funnel to the Dust Collection Chamber was built in.
The 240 volt and 120 volt circuits of the CV-1800 pre-wired Control Box (mounted on the side of the enclosure), as well as the Bin Level Sensor Control Box, are connected to dedicated 30 amp and 15 amp circuits respectively with power cords and plugs. The CV-1800 relay and the Bin Level Sensor are plugged into a 15 amp receptacle that has a switch that energizes this receptacle. The switch is mounted next to the receptacle. Another 120 volt 15 amp circuit with a single duplex receptacle is powered by a cord and plug, providing power in the corner of the shop for the shop vacuum and other power tools. This second 15 amp circuit is separate from the one powering theCV-1800 relay and the Bin Level Sensor.
Lastly, I outfitted the CV-1800 with a pitot tube to monitor air flow decline and thus know when to clean the filters. The Pitot tube monitors air velocity in the transition between the Blower Housing and the Filters. It is based on the design detailed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f92mDnLpWFU entitled “SNW45- Woodworking dust collection upgrades- MAKE YOUR OWN MANOMETER filter monitor!”. The only deviation from Stumpy’s design was ensuring that the Pitot tube extends at least 1” into the exhaust air stream.
I estimate that the materials, including electrical supplies, cost around $400. Special thanks to Catherine Currier, Clear Vue Technical Support and Robert Payne, MacRabbet Woodworks for patiently answering my many questions during the assembly of the CV1800.
Now it’s time to install 6” duct work.
My requirements for the new dust collector were:
1) Performance, including the capability to move a lot of air under nominal static pressures associated with a centralized duct system; to effectively separate course from fine dust; and, to capture a high percentage of fine dust.
2) Space, where the unit had to fit under a ceiling height of 101” and occupy a footprint of about 55” wide X 24” – 36” deep
3) Value, i.e. bang for the buck.
I researched a number of manufacturers’ 3 hp dust collectors and eliminated those with short cyclone funnels, believing fine dust separation would be poor. My search was thus narrowed to Grizzly, Oneida, and Clear Vue. I selected Clear Vue’s CV1800 bundled dust collector because it met all of my requirements and was a good value at the sale price offered when I made the purchase. I also bought the MacRabbet Bin Level Sensor.
Before assembling the CV-1800, I developed design requirements that I wanted to incorporate into the assembled unit. These were a unit that neatly tucks into the corner of my garage work shop, occupying a maximum footprint of 55” wide x 33” deep x 101” high; a Dust Collection Bin with maximized volume for collection of wood chips; a Dust Collection Bin that was quick and easy to empty; the ability to quickly determine how full the Dust Collection Bin is at any time; a quiet machine, emitting less noise than the table saw, planer, radial arm saw, shaper, or router table; easy disassembly and reassembly of the Filter Stack for cleaning; and, ready access to all parts of the CV-1800, including the Blower Housing, Cyclone Body, and Filters for inspection, service, and maintenance.
I satisfied my design requirements by building an enclosure of minimal dimensions to house the CV-1800, consisting of a wooden frame with a plywood shell. Unlike most enclosures I have seen in the forum, mine is an integral part of the CV-1800; not a fixed closet type enclosure. The CV-1800 Motor, Blower Housing, Cyclone Body, and Dust Collection Bin all fit inside the enclosure, which measures 29-1/2” wide and 27” deep and is on castors. The top of the Motor sets 2-1/2” down from the ceiling. The Blower Housing Transition extends beyond the side of the enclosure where it meets the Filter Stack. The Filter Stack and Filter Cleanout Box set on a platform that is outside of but attached to the enclosure with a pivot hinge at the front. The Filter Stack Platform can thus rotate out into the workshop. The Platform is secured at the back of the enclosure with a drop-in locking pin. The other end of the Filter Assembly Platform, away from the enclosure, has rounded corners and is supported off the floor by two castors.
The enclosure frame is covered with various sized pieces of ½” plywood. The plywood strengthens the enclosure, can be individually removed for access to various parts of the CV-1800, and hides sound absorbing R13 (3/12”) Ultratouch Denim Insulation. I also used UltraSonic Sound Panels, which are rigid sound absorbing 12” x 12” x 1” panels. A 4’ high x 22” wide x ½” section of plywood with UltraSonic Sound Panels is attached to the enclosure and sets in front of the Filter Stack. The Blower Housing Transition is wrapped with the Ultratouch Denim Insulation. Additionally UltraSonic Sound Panels were installed on top of the Blower Housing and the Motor Mount Plate (leaving a 3” air channel on two sides to vent the motor). The ceiling and corner walls of the workshop where the cyclone sets were also outfitted with the UltraSonic Sound Panels. Although I have no measurements, the sound abatement is effective. The CV-1800 emanates far less sound than my noisiest tools. The wife reports that when operating, the CV-1800 is no louder than our gas fired forced air furnace while she sits in the living room, which is adjacent to the garage. She does not have to adjust the TV’s volume when the CV-1800 is used in conjunction with the band saw.
I used ¾” wide felt weather stripping at the joints between the Blower Housing Transition and the top Filter and between the bottom Filter and the Cleanout Box. I lined the band clamp that holds one Filter on top of the other with the same weather stripping, held in place by pressure from the band clamp. Although the joints are all snug fitting, I doubt that I achieved a 100% air seal; but these are nonetheless pretty good seals. In any event, the Filter Stack can be maintained without have to remove and reapply silicone.
The entire CV-1800 in its enclosure sets neatly in the corner of the garage. By disconnecting the short section of smooth wall flexible hose that connects the CV-1800 to the central duct work and unplugging the three power cords, the entire unit can be rolled out of the corner where I can access all four sides of the unit for service and maintenance. I can access any part of the CV-1800 by removing one or more plywood panels. The filters can be dissembled in a few minutes and cleaned.
The enclosure features a sealed Dust Collection Chamber. The Dust Collection Chamber houses the Fiber Dust Collection Drum, which is outfitted with a handle near the top of the Collection Drum. To empty the Dust Collection Drum, the door to the Dust Collection Chamber is opened and the Dust Collection Drum slides out for emptying – no lid with which to fiddle. A rubber gasket made from a bicycle inner tube is mounted around the upper rim of the Dust Collection Drum, held in place by 1” wide aluminum flat stock on the inside and outside top of the Collection Drum. (I reduced the height of the Fiber Drum and the aluminum flat stock also reinforces the top rim of the drum) The rubber gasket seals the Dust Collection Bin to the top of the Dust Collection Chamber, limiting the amount of chips and dust that could otherwise escape the Dust Collection Drum and accumulate in the Dust Collection Chamber. The Collection Drum capacity is just under 5 cubic feet or about 37 gallons.
In addition to being equipped with the MacRabbet Dust Bin Sensor (wired to shut down the CV-1800 when the Dust Collection Bin overfills), the Dust Collection Chamber has a clear polycarbonate sheet (which seems to attract less dust than other clear materials) mounted on the top of the Dust Collection Chamber and allows viewing the inside of the Dust Collection Drum without having to stop the dust collector or opening the Dust Collection Chamber door. To illuminate the interior of the Dust Collection Drum, two 139 lumen LED Puck Lights are mounted outside and on the top of the Dust Collection Chamber’s top, shining light into the Dust Collection Drum. The lights are controlled by a switch mounted on the front of the enclosure. Also a view into the clear flexible hose that connects to the Cyclone Funnel to the Dust Collection Chamber was built in.
The 240 volt and 120 volt circuits of the CV-1800 pre-wired Control Box (mounted on the side of the enclosure), as well as the Bin Level Sensor Control Box, are connected to dedicated 30 amp and 15 amp circuits respectively with power cords and plugs. The CV-1800 relay and the Bin Level Sensor are plugged into a 15 amp receptacle that has a switch that energizes this receptacle. The switch is mounted next to the receptacle. Another 120 volt 15 amp circuit with a single duplex receptacle is powered by a cord and plug, providing power in the corner of the shop for the shop vacuum and other power tools. This second 15 amp circuit is separate from the one powering theCV-1800 relay and the Bin Level Sensor.
Lastly, I outfitted the CV-1800 with a pitot tube to monitor air flow decline and thus know when to clean the filters. The Pitot tube monitors air velocity in the transition between the Blower Housing and the Filters. It is based on the design detailed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f92mDnLpWFU entitled “SNW45- Woodworking dust collection upgrades- MAKE YOUR OWN MANOMETER filter monitor!”. The only deviation from Stumpy’s design was ensuring that the Pitot tube extends at least 1” into the exhaust air stream.
I estimate that the materials, including electrical supplies, cost around $400. Special thanks to Catherine Currier, Clear Vue Technical Support and Robert Payne, MacRabbet Woodworks for patiently answering my many questions during the assembly of the CV1800.
Now it’s time to install 6” duct work.