CT cyclone and handplane shavings

Eorlingur

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Jul 21, 2017
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I am currently using a small-ish cyclone as a pre separator for my CT sys when I'm using it in the shop and it works perfectly fine for the TS 55 and the OF2200. However, if I'm cleaning up the shop after a session with my hand plane a substantial amount of the big shavings gets through the cyclone and fills up the bag in the CT sys in no time at all. I am contemplating replacing the cyclone with a CT cyclone pre separator, but I am curious to know if anyone has any experience vacuuming a big pile of large hand plane shavings with the  CT cyclone and what the result was?
 
Same. Broom and dustpan for floor shavings. I could use the big dust collector for the machinery but too worried about a screw going through the impeller and putting a hot spark into the dust bag. Hand plane shavings can be really long, and tend to clog things up. They do make the best kindling though!!

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You could use a pre separator inline for a large 2 hp dust collector. I believe jet makes something for $30-$40 that you could fabricate into a cyclone
 
When I am planing, I have a large waste basket where I can immediately dump the shavings. Keeps them off the floor. I love making shavings I can almost see through.
 
Hand planes are very satisfying to use, so they get used a lot. I do try to get most of it in the dust bin and I have been known to sweep the floors occasionally. Nevertheless, there is always some that get away and wind up behind the bench, only to be found again when I vacuum the shop.

If the CT cyclone isn't any better at dealing with those large shavings than my current cyclone I will probably just stick with what I have and spend more time with the broom.
 
Eorlingur said:
I am currently using a small-ish cyclone as a pre separator for my CT sys when I'm using it in the shop and it works perfectly fine for the TS 55 and the OF2200. However, if I'm cleaning up the shop after a session with my hand plane a substantial amount of the big shavings gets through the cyclone and fills up the bag in the CT sys in no time at all. I am contemplating replacing the cyclone with a CT cyclone pre separator, but I am curious to know if anyone has any experience vacuuming a big pile of large hand plane shavings with the  CT cyclone and what the result was?

The reason shavings, particularly larger ones, get past the separator and into the extractor is due to the ratio of surface area to weight. In a cyclone it is essentially gravity v air flow (with a little help from centrifugal force). Small chips and large dust particles have a small surface area to weight ratio and drop down into the collecting bin more readily. Shavings have a higher surface area to weight ratio and tend to be mainly influenced by the air flow and end up in the extractor.

I would not expect the Festool separator to be any better (or worse) than a regular cyclone.

Peter
 
This is the same reason that Dyson Vacuum cleaners are a bit crap if you have a long haired pet. The pet hair ruins the cyclonic effect and the normal dust gets through to the filter.
 
Peter Parfitt said:
I would not expect the Festool separator to be any better (or worse) than a regular cyclone.

Peter

It has a different geometry than most other cyclones. In most small cyclones the gap between the cyclone wall and the outlet tube is quite narrow. More narrow than the width of a shaving in my case. The Festool one is a bit different in this regard, at least from what I can tell from what I have found online. The CT cyclone does not narrow and the outlet tube has a flange on it. The CT cyclone is almost a baffle separator in a sense. It looks quite clever and I would expect there to be some difference in how shavings, or other types of debris get separated. Maybe the difference isn't big enough though?
 
You may be right but it is best to assume that a dustpan and brush is the way to go for the larger shavings.

Peter
 
Veritas came up with an innovative shroud in 2012 called NFTS that specifically addressed the handplane shaving problem. If you didn't get one at that time, it's too late now as the product has been sold out and discontinued:

Here's the video of the kit:https://tinyurl.com/yy5rfleh Enjoy.
 
ChuckM said:
Veritas came up with an innovative shroud in 2012 called NFTS that specifically addressed the handplane shaving problem. If you didn't get one at that time, it's too late now as the product has been sold out and discontinued:

Here's the video of the kit:https://tinyurl.com/yy5rfleh Enjoy.

That looks surprisingly nice. Maybe they will have a version for chisels in a few months. =)
 
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