3 dust extraction / Midi I questions

makpacman

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Mar 21, 2023
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Hello. I'm fairly new to this board but over the past year I've been using it to improve my small shop and the knowledge I've been able to glean has been invaluable.

Now I have a small 200sq ft shop and a few days ago I purchased a Dustopper Pro for the Midi I. On my test run it blew a gash from top to bottom in the side of my only 90mil 5 gallon bucket. [scared] Granted, this bucket was older, and just something I found in a corner so I checked on Dustopper's website and they mentioned using 2 standard homer buckets(70mil) stacked inside each other may help so called "European" vacs not to crush the container. For the sake of expediency I tried that idea and right off the bat the inner bucket crumpled, though the outer was able to keep it from imploding completely.

In an attempt to remedy this without a trip to the big box store[grin related to different thread], I decided to drill some holes in the outer bucket and sprayed expanding foam between the two to make a fairly rigid monocoque chassis. That works better but the bucket squeaks a little and definitely changes shape under full suction. That's a rundown on the current state of affairs. Below are my questions.

1) Do the CTs produce the same(or similar) amount of maximum suction at high power as at low? This is likely a dumb question with an obvious answer but my beefed up bucket seems to deflect about the same either way once airflow is restricted. The behavior makes me wonder if low power is more of a capped CFM setting as opposed to a power cap.

2) Is there a particular bucket recommended by the community for use with bucket top cyclones? Metal perhaps, or a particular known brand or vendor?

3) The other question I have about the Midi is that of noise. I've had this since early 2021. At that time it seemed dramatically quieter than my 6hp Rigid shop vac. In fact, it still does, but testing with a phone based spl meter says differently. The app claims that with the noise floor at 34db, the Midi I on low is ~75db and on high is ~80db. Apart from the tone, there is no discernible difference in SPL readings when the hose is attached to the Midi and Dustopper Pro or removed completely.

The Rigid still "seems" much louder but according to the app is ~80/81db. So the question here is, Is my Midi noise about typical for a 3 year old CT? It would make some sense that it gets a little louder over time but is there any data indicating what's normal?

-Thanks
 
1) Do the CTs produce the same(or similar) amount of maximum suction at high power as at low? This is likely a dumb question with an obvious answer but my beefed up bucket seems to deflect about the same either way once airflow is restricted. The behavior makes me wonder if low power is more of a capped CFM setting as opposed to a power cap.

I have a metal bucket using a dust deputy and the bucket pops at full CFM.  If I lower the suction (at the hose end or the vac) the bucket returns to a normal shape So yes lower cfm does affect the canister

2) Is there a particular bucket recommended by the community for use with bucket top cyclones? Metal perhaps, or a particular known brand or vendor?

My bucket is an old 5 gallon bucket that had lacquer in it. I purchased a new top and a snap ring to attach the top as I wanted a good seal.

I have nothing on the noise as I do not have anything to compare to

 
jgrout said:
I have a metal bucket using a dust deputy and the bucket pops at full CFM.  If I lower the suction (at the hose end or the vac) the bucket returns to a normal shape So yes lower cfm does affect the canister

My bucket is an old 5 gallon bucket that had lacquer in it. I purchased a new top and a snap ring to attach the top as I wanted a good seal.

I have nothing on the noise as I do not have anything to compare to

Hey thanks. Do you mind if I ask which vacuum you use? And if I understand correctly, you use a metal bucket and it returns to shape? That was actually one reason I didn't go metal and instead reinforced two plastic ones. I didn't think the metal would be usable.again, once bent. That, and metal buckets cost around $30 or more. Also,the first bucket that imploded was LOUD. A bit skittish of allowing that to happen again.

As for the noise, I use a friends CT36 from time to time which seems about comparable but I never thought to measure it's SPL. The app I used to measure mine is called "Sound Meter". I really don't know how accurate it is.
 
It gets noisier when grid voltage rises just like Halogen bulbs become brighter.

At least the 26 does. Haven't really done Midi I + wall chaser (yet).
 
Hey thanks. Do you mind if I ask which vacuum you use? And if I understand correctly, you use a metal bucket and it returns to shape? That was actually one reason I didn't go metal and instead reinforced two plastic ones. I didn't think the metal would be usable.again, once bent. That, and metal buckets cost around $30 or more. Also,the first bucket that imploded was LOUD. A bit skittish of allowing that to happen again.

As for the noise, I use a friends CT36 from time to time which seems about comparable but I never thought to measure it's SPL. The app I used to measure mine is called "Sound Meter". I really don't know how accurate it is.
[/quote]

sorry I left some comments out, got sidetracked

CT MIDI I HEPA USA

First off the cannister does not actually bend it acts more like a plastic bottle you drink from and create a vacuum that distorts it; but it returns to a normal shape when the vacuum is released. I had a set up the DD on an older shop vac using plastic buckets    and when I changed  to use on my CT originally, with the same failure you described above, making the change to metal made sense for me once I worked out the cost benefit. You solution must work although in my case I lacked the space for a doubled up setup as you described.
 
jgrout said:
Hey thanks. Do you mind if I ask which vacuum you use? And if I understand correctly, you use a metal bucket and it returns to shape? That was actually one reason I didn't go metal and instead reinforced two plastic ones. I didn't think the metal would be usable.again, once bent. That, and metal buckets cost around $30 or more. Also,the first bucket that imploded was LOUD. A bit skittish of allowing that to happen again.

As for the noise, I use a friends CT36 from time to time which seems about comparable but I never thought to measure it's SPL. The app I used to measure mine is called "Sound Meter". I really don't know how accurate it is.

sorry I left some comments out, got sidetracked

CT MIDI I HEPA USA

First off the cannister does not actually bend it acts more like a plastic bottle you drink from and create a vacuum that distorts it; but it returns to a normal shape when the vacuum is released. I had a set up the DD on an older shop vac using plastic buckets    and when I changed  to use on my CT originally, with the same failure you described above, making the change to metal made sense for me once I worked out the cost benefit. You solution must work although in my case I lacked the space for a doubled up setup as you described.
OK. So the same vac. Well, my solution's working but raises the top of the cyclone ~5 inches somewhat negating the low profile design. As is it currently has to sit next to the workbench instead of underneath as I'd originally planned. That's was the reason for not going with the CT cyclone.

I'll give the metal can a go. Sounds like there's a fairly good chance that works out.
 
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