Does anyone use a cyclone with HL850 Planer and CT unit / Shopvac?

[Brice Burrell]

I did a pretty good shop cleaning this weekend and managed to put about 2in of stuff into the drum. Mostly sawdust, dirt and small leaves that blow in.
Nothing in the Festool bag so it looks like its working well.  I also wanted to reitterate that I dont have a Festool planer to test.  The next
time I use my lunchbox planer I'll take those shaving and empty them on the floor to see how that works.

~mark

Mark, all
  I've used my thickness planer, jointer and table saw with this setup, no problems.

 

[Corwin]

I've used my thickness planer, jointer and table saw with this setup, no problems.

That's what I've been waiting to hear!  Thank you!

 

[Brice Burrell]

Corwin, I didn't mention that I use a shopvac hose with the planer jointer, tablesaw, the Festool D27 and D36 hoses are too small.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

I use the D36 hose with my HL850 and the 1/2"router through a Clearview cyclone with no clogs. Saves a lot of bags. I use a shopvac hose with my portable thickness planer(Makita).
Mike

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Mark,
  I like the drum you are using. What size is it? I have to duct tape my lid on after I dump the bucket or the fine dust gets sucked into the vac.
  Also how long have you had the cyclone? Did it come with the three wooden supports or did you add them?
Mike

 

[Corwin]

Thanks Brice, I've already figured on getting another D50 hose from the cyclone to my lunchbox -- at least that is what I'll try first.  Once I get the 'lil cyclone I will look into making the antistatic connection. 

I looked into what info ClearVue had some time ago I was left with the feeling that a shop-vac based cyclone would work fine for sanding but was too small for larger chip-producing machines.  But since the CT22 moves more air that my ShopVac, I had hoped that the CT22/Cyclone combo would work with my planer -- my ShopVac alone almost does the job.  It sure is nice to learn this setup works for you, so now I'll be placing an order for the little guy.

Thanks,
Corwin

 

[Mark Carlson]

Hi Mike,

I bought my clearvue about 2 weeks ago.  The wooden supports come with the unit now. 

The drum I'm using is from Penn State Industries.  I wanted something that closed securely.  This drum
has a metal strap that tightens down easily.  I used a hole saw/drill to create the 2 1/4 in hole.  20 bucks.
If I did my volume calculations correctly, its 1660 cubic inches or 7 gals. 
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/cyfilcan3.html

Question for you.  What size is the Festool hose your using from the Ct22 to the CV06?
Is that the hose that comes with the boom arm? Thanks.

 

[Dan Clark]

Mark, Brice, Mike and everyone else,

THANK YOU FOR AN EXCELLENT THREAD!!!

The CT is great as a DC for smaller tools, but I've hesitated using it as an all around ShopVac to clean up the big smutzy stuff.  For example, one bag tore after the CT22 inhaled a good sized chunk of something.  I needed an alternative.

I've been thinking about this CT22/Clear Vue configuration for a while.  The combo looks nice, but I've been concerned about whether it would work well with tools like a lunch box planer and my HL850.  Another issue is the difficulty of connecting the hoses to my CT22 (with boom arm).  After reading about the results you are getting and to see my exact DC configuration hooked to a Clear Vue makes it a no brainer for me.  ;D

I just ordered a CV06 Cyclone and a drum from Penn State!

Again many thanks for the GREAT thread,

Dan.

 

[Mark Carlson]

Dan,

I use this configuration for all my festools (of course) and as a general vac for cleaning the shop.  The only exception is
that I attach this to my overhead blade guard on my tablesaw.  I use a larger dust collector for jointer, planer, router table,
and tablesaw cabinet port.  Right now my larger dust collector is a 1hp chip collector that I plan to replace with a 5hp
clearvue cyclone.

~mark

 

[Dan Clark]

Mark,

Unfortuately, I don't have space for big, fixed tools or dust collector.  It would be nice to have that option, but for the foreseeable future, it can't happen.  I see the CT/CV06 and as a very nice combo to meet my vac and lunch box tool needs.  As soon as I get the Cyclone and barrel, I'll hook it up to my Dewalt DW735.  I'm looking forward to using the combo for cleaning up my bathroom remodel and shop (garage) without worrying too much about the vac inhaling a sharp piece of smutz that tears the bag. 

I don't expect that it can handle the DC needs of big tools, but it should improve my situation (and save a buck or two in Festool bags).  And, when I'm done with the Clear Vue, I just store it in a corner or shelf, or leave it on the CT.  From what I can see, the CT + Clear Vue have lots of upsides and very few (if any) downsides.  I hope I'm right.  We'll see.  I'm thinking of doing a review of the setup process and how well the combo work together.

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Mark,
  Thanks for the link to Penn State. Yes, the short green hose comes with the boom arm. Seams the perfect size for this application. I think it is the same diameter as a Shopvac hose.

Dan,
  Don't feel bad, I don't have a big shop either. You can do some pretty nice work with portable tools(especially Festools) if you put your mind to it. I don't really want a big shop,but I wish I had a bigger trailer ;D

Mike

 

[Brice Burrell]

Dan, you mention downsides to the CT and CV. For me the biggest issue is lack of portability of this setup. Also, I don't know how much volume the CT/CV can handle with the larger tools like a lunch box planer or jointer. When I use these tool I'm careful not to over do it. I don't know if it could handle a 15" wide board going through the planer, maybe?

 

[Dan Clark]

Brice,

When compared to the portability and storability (or lack thereof) of a big DC with pipes runnin' all over the place, the CT + CV seems quite nimble.   Even at my advanced age and physical decrepitude  8), I can still lift the CT22 plus Boom Arm with one hand.   I doubt if I could do that with a big fixed DC.   

Hmmm...  When's the last time you hauled a DC up a flight of stairs?   Ah, but you're much younger.  That's it.  Sorry, I can't do that no more!   ;D

My lunch box planer only handles 13" boards.  I hope the CT/CV can handle that.

Dan.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  By portably I mean moving from one room to another, the whole setup has to be taken apart to be moved. You can attach it to the top of the vac, but that has its problems too. I have the hose garage on my CT22 and I store my D36 hose and cord there. So I don't attach the CV on top of my vac. I just set it on the ground in front of the CT.

 

[Dan Clark]

Yeah, I have a D36 hose stored in my hose garage too.  I'll probably have to set the CV on the ground.  Oh drat!  Still bettern' a big DC.  ;D

Dan.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

[Mark, all
  I've used my thickness planer, jointer and table saw with this setup, no problems.
[/quote]

Brice,

Are you saying that you were successful using only a C22 vacuum pulling through the little cyclone?  I hope so because that would be great news to me.  I recently tried hooking my C22 through Festool's Y-fitting using a 2 1/2 inch hose to the bottom of my JoinTech router enclosure and a Festool 27 mm hose to the end of the hollow JoinTech fence.  When I cut a couple of drawer joints using a Whitside lock-joint bit, I found this vacuum setup so-so to inadequate, with at best 75% collection.  Likewise, I found it inadequate to draw the saw dust from my 10" hybrid table saw using a 2 1/2 hose connected to a reduced connected to the saw cabinet which has a 4 inch hose nipple.  I did not have any overblade collector on the table saw.

Has anyone tried hooking up either of the little Oneida DD or ClearVue cyclones to a slightly larger CFM capacity DC unit?  I have a ~3/4 HP ElectraBeckum unit whose free flow CFM is ~400 to 500 CFM.  Its a classic [old] single stage DC which passes the debris through the impeller.  It works excellently with my Inca 10" jointer/planer to collect the chips, but the OEM filter bag does not capture all the fine dust.

Dave R.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Dave, yes I'm using the small ClearVue cyclone. However, I am only using a jobsite table saw, lunchbox planer and portable jointer.

  I don't think this needs to be said, but.... Small cyclones are not replacements for large to mid size DC units. The small cyclones will work if you only have small/portable tools. If you need to collect dust from large or multiple tools, then a small cyclone is not what you want.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Brice,

Your lunchbox planer likely produces more dust and chips than my 10" TS and probably about equal the amount my 10 1/4 inch Inca combo jointer/planer unit typically produces since I generally use it to take light cuts.

Thanks for you inputs!

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Because of the open space inside of a cabinet table saw a larger volume of air is needed to move the dust/chips. So the CT22/33 and CV doesn't work well. However with my jobsite jointer, table saw and lunchbox planer the chips far more are confined. Therefore, less volume of air movement is necessary to remove the dust/chips. The table has a housing around the blade, the jointer and planer have dust collection ports that funnel the chips, this makes all the difference for the CT/CV. So for the best results with the CT and ClearVue, use this combo with tools that channel the dust/chips into a small area. Tools like the larger planers, cabinets saws and chopsaws are a lost cause for the CT/CV.

 

[Dan Clark]

EDIT - When I wrote this.  I was upset.  The pictures speak for themselves, but I've modified the wording below to be a bit less inflamatory.

Yesterday, I received my Clearvue Cyclone CV06.   I haven't hooked it up yet, but so far my experience with Clearvue has been the best!

When I ordered the CV06 from the Clearvue site, I expected some form of e-mail confirming the purchase.  I got nothing.   Several days later, the first indication the order was successful was an e-mail from PayPal saying that my account had been charged. ???  The CV06 showed up on my doorstep last night... 

When I opened the box, I found CV06 loosely wrapped in paper.  I.e., poor packaging.   I thought, "Well that's bad, but it's probably OK."   WRONG!!!  The flange around the inlet port is cracked!

Then I looked closer and found that the overall construction is less than I had hope for; my expectations were higher.    It will probably work OK and I haven't the time to send it back to get a replacement.   I am disappointed.

I've included pics below to show some of the issues I found. 

Regards,

Dan.

p.s. In fairness to ClearVue...  They offered to replace it.

----
The broken flange.  I don't know if it's the result of poor packaging or a manufacturing defect:

Poor packaging.  It came like packed in two pieces of heavy paper.  (The top piece of paper was removed for the pic):

Rough ridges on the inside of the port.   The black marks came from my hose when I plugged it in to see if it fit.  The rough ridges rubbed off some of the hose connector plastic after one test insertion.  I can sand it down, but I expected better: