Dust Collection with Homemade Boom Arm

phmade

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Oct 18, 2010
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I am currently moving into a bigger shop so I'm doing a bit of re-arranging.  In the past, I have used a CT22 Vacuum with my TS75 and my OF1400 router with pretty good results.  However, in my new shop, I'm planning on making my own boom arm to keep things off the floor.  I've looked at other homemade solutions and I haven't seen one using the PVC boom to collect the dust thru.  It seems a bit redundant to make a PVC boom arm and then attach a hose along side of it.  I'm thinking of using a short piece of 50mm flexible hose to connect the vacuum to the PVC and then from the PVC to the tool, I can use a 36mm hose (maybe with the option of using a 27mm pigtail).  So the sequence is:  Tool -->  36mm (or 27mm)hose --> PVC --> 50mm hose --> Vacuum.

The total length of run will be about 35' long.  Can the CT22 handle this?  Should I try to use a conventional dust collector instead of the CT22?  My overall goals are:

1.) to improve the dust collection
2.) to keep the hose off of the floor
3.) to keep the vacuum in one place my increasing the reach of the hose

Does anyone have any input on this?  I really like my CT22 for site work, but maybe I should just be using a conventional DC in the shop?  

Thanks in advance.
 
I should also mention that I'm currently using only a 27mm hose - I would like to switch to 36mm for some things like routing with my OF1400.
 
the length might be a problem. but otherwise it should work . i have used 63 mm(or maybe 67mm if thats what it is) downpipe fittings . the joiners that go into the end of the pipe  work with the festool hose joining  fitting (50mm-50mm) . you shove the  joiner into the female end , it fits snugly . this is for irish (probably rest of eu too but cant say for certain).
i would think that that downpipe would make a great  boom arm . .
i presume that 35' includes 8+ feet from the floor to the ceiling (or where ever you are mounting it). have you considered putting the vac up on a shelf (a very strong one ) and removing that amount of pipe from the system.
i am planing something similar for my shop  and another for the garage (where i cut up my sheet goods and sometimes route patterns in mdf doors) . i plan on some kind of boomarm  and use a cyclone or seperater  on the end  and leave that in place and just  conect up the vac when ever i need it. that way the vac is free for site work but i still have a full boom arm set up.
i have my festool boom arm screwed to the wall so that it is not conected too much to the vac. i find it a nightmare to remove all the handles and boomarm to put the vac in the van.

you could probably rig up this set up fairly cheaply and find out if it will work or not
 
That's a good idea to put the vacuum on a shelf - I hadn't thought of that.  My 35' does include the run up the ceiling so lifting that vac should help.  I think I'll need all the help I can get.  I should also put a cyclone on it and leave that connected at all times.  I'd like to get a CT Mini for on-site work but for now I'll continue using my CT22.  I'll try to test it out when I move in the new shop and I'll be sure and post my results.

 
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