Dust extraction blockage problem, so run new piping, size and type?

[Acrobat]

Hi all
I have just purchased a 2hp single stage dust collector for my garage workshop. I got tired of emptying out my festool/dust deputy vac when using the 13" ryobi thicknesser. I hooked it up to the new dust extractor and found after a very short time, like 1 minute the large clear flex hose was filling up and backing up from the inlet port of the extractor. After switching it all off and waiting for the impeller blades to stop spinning, I find the shavings are getting blocked by the plastic attachment Y fitting (it can take two hoses, for now one is capped). Inside this piece it has a couple of plastic guards I assume to stop any large bits getting to the extractor itself. The extractor also has a metal star shape grill further restricting access for the shavings. So I am disappointed to say the least at this moment. Back to stopping, emptying hose restarting...I'm thinking of cutting the two plastic strips in the fitting to help remove the jamming up off the pipe. Also find myself considering a big rubbish tin of some sort and feed inlet and outlet hoses unresrticted to it and the extractor. ...
And since I have to get more pipe, am thinking of running smooth overhead piping around the workshop. 
I have seen examples on the net of 4" plastic piping and others of metal piping. Cost wise I can only stretch to the plastic tubing. Since I work alone and use only one machine at a time, is 4" piping ok? I have read it is best to have 5" to increase airflow but 4" is fine if only using one machine at a time. I will run the usual drops to smaller hoses to power tools such as table saw and Kapex and drill press.
Carba-tec in Aus-NZ sell this kit of clear tubing with blast gates and connectors.http://www.carbatec.co.nz/clear-dust-extraction-ducting-kit_c21121  Is there an alternative similar?. I could get 4" plastic pipes from Bunnings/Mitre10 here in NZ (big box DIY stores) and fiddle around making a setup. I guess I'd just like any advice thanks.

 

[jbasen]

The only reasons I can think of that you could be having clogs are

1) You have an air leak that is reducing the airflow so the debris from the thickness planer isn't being effectively sucked into your collector
2) The filter bag on your collector is clogged up with dust and this is greatly reducing the airflow
3) Your collector has a manufacturing defect and isn't producing the proper suction.

I would talk to the manufacturer of your dust collector about the problem.  I have a 1hp Jet collector with a Rockler expandable hose that I simply stretch to connect to whatever machine I am working with in my shop (table saw, band saw, thickness planer, or drum sander).  I have never had an issue with the hose clogging up; even when connected to my Dewalt thickness planer and my collector is only a 1 hp model compared to your 2 hp collector. 

This is the hose I use. 
http://www.rockler.com/dust-rightreg-expandable-hose-expandable-hose

I also run a piece of grounded copper wire through the hose to eliminate static.  I thought that might cause issues with debris catching on the wire and causing clogs but I haven't had an issue.

With a properly operating 2hp collector I don't think you should have any problem with a 13" Ryobi thickness planer.

 

[Nestor]

Is the capped-off portion of the wye connector positioned underneath the port you have connected the hose? If so, the debris can fall into the unused port and pile up.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[online421]

I had this issue before when I had my 3 hp 4 bag(2up 2 down), the inlet size was 150mm.

I used to cap it at the inlet with a triple 100mm - 150mm "Y" branch, and just use 100mm flex from the Y to the machine.

Dusty - Triple Y branch - 4m x100mm flexy

It clogs up frequently

then I changed it to this setup
dusty - 3 m x 150mm flexy + triple Y branch + 1 m x 100mm flexy to the machine,

the problem was almost gone, but I endup having another problem: a 150mm flexy on the floor, which is annoying and not safe to work around with.

what is the inlet size to your dusty? 

 

[Doug S]

I have had problems in the past with extractors blocking. I remove the plastic guards you mention, I guess they are only there to stop big lumps and fingers getting in to the fan blades, neither should happen if you are careful.

Doug

 

[Acrobat]

Is the capped-off portion of the wye connector positioned underneath the port you have connected the hose? If so, the debris can fall into the unused port and pile up.

Hi, doesn't seem to be filling that side of the y, just backing up inside the hose itself, so it looks like theres plenty of suction, just the shavings are hitting the internal plastic strips in the Y on that side and not going through into the extractor itself.

This is the dust extractor model I have: AMAC-101 2hp 1500cfm rating. . The black plastic Y fitting is 5" screwed onto the extractor, branching to two 4" with one capped and I feed one 4" flex hose which is 3 metres long (118 inches?), with a step down fitting at the ryobi 13" thicknesser end. The chips are certainly coming out of it fine so I assume there's no leaking or at least nothing major there as it just seems to be backing up from the y plastic fitting back up the flex hose. I just lay the flex hose on the ground currently so is it because it has to push up to the Y fitting that helps clogging it? Should I cut the guards out of the plastic fitting? It's brand new so I am reluctant to cut it at this stage but thats all I can see as the answer. I will go into the store where I bought it and see what they say. Just disappointed so far, as I hoped to get quite a few boards done over the weekend just gone and it's now been idle since.

 

[online421]

You are likely to reduce the severity of the blocking problem if you use 3m of 5" flexy + y connection and then 1 m of 4" flexy.

My old extractor is similar to yours, so I know your problem.

if you bought the extractor from R&S then you should be alright if there is a fault(which I doubt it). they are very helpful. you are in good hands.

 

[Acrobat]

You are likely to reduce the severity of the blocking problem if you use 3m of 5" flexy + y connection and then 1 m of 4" flexy.

My old extractor is similar to yours, so I know your problem.

if you bought the extractor from R&S then you should be alright if there is a fault(which I doubt it). they are very helpful. you are in good hands.

So you're saying try 3m of 5" flex from the dusty first, then the y, then 1m of 4" to the planer?
I did get it from R&S and the guys have always been most helpful so I'll see them tomorrow after work Fri arvo and see what they say. I doubt it's faulty as there certainly seems to be enough suction happening to cause it all to suck from the planer down to the end of the tube, just a blockage as it is supposed to exit the Y and into the dusty. If I can get it resolved I hope to do a whole heap of boards friday eve/sat morning.

 

[greg mann]

Since you are using only one hose I would suggest removing the Y. If it made like the Jet you ,should be able to just pull it off. Run your five inch flex straight in to the impeller and for sure remove any plastic restrictions that might encourage clogging.

 

[MrGinCT]

I would put a 30 gallon trash can with a separator lid that effectively converts your 1 stage dust collector into a 2 stage collector as all of the shavings from your planner will drop into the trash can and only small particles will pass on to the bag of the dust collector.

I used one for years very successfully

 

[Acrobat]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I may either simply remove the "Y" fitting for now and try see how it goes, and make the 2nd stage separator bin for it if I can this weekend. Seems like it's a good idea and will help make the dust bag last considerably longer. Just gotta source a good rubbish bin. All the ones I've seen here are rather thin and flexible, don't look like they could take any suction effect at all. Metal drums are a thing of the past nowadays it seems.

 

[online421]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I may either simply remove the "Y" fitting for now and try see how it goes, and make the 2nd stage separator bin for it if I can this weekend. Seems like it's a good idea and will help make the dust bag last considerably longer. Just gotta source a good rubbish bin. All the ones I've seen here are rather thin and flexible, don't look like they could take any suction effect at all. Metal drums are a thing of the past nowadays it seems.

If you are going with the separator idea, you may need this from carbatec:
http://www.carbatec.co.nz/dust-separator-lid_c1830

I have bought this lid from Carbatec a few years ago and its not being used and will never be used.

If you want you can come and collect it from my place at East Tamaki.

 

[Acrobat]

Thanks for the kind offer mate.
I'll let you know if I do decide on it. I did see that on the Carbi-tec website. Just gotta source a drum that will take it.
cheers

 

[Acrobat]

If you are going with the separator idea, you may need this from carbatec:
http://www.carbatec.co.nz/dust-separator-lid_c1830

I have bought this lid from Carbatec a few years ago and its not being used and will never be used.

If you want you can come and collect it from my place at East Tamaki.
[/quote]

Hi, I tried removing the guards in the plastic Y fitting yesterday but it still blocks there. I have bought a large plastic bin (which I measured the specs so it should fit-530mm) so if your kind offer is still available of the Carbi-tec lid I will take a trip down your way this weekend coming if thats ok?
I am still a bit annoyed the hose is still clogging so anything I can do to stop that must help. Other than removing the extractors metal guard itself I am out of ideas, except remove the 4" hose and go larger. But that is more $ and I was told the dusty should easily handle a small planer with the supplied 4" hose.

 

[online421]

If you are going with the separator idea, you may need this from carbatec:
http://www.carbatec.co.nz/dust-separator-lid_c1830

I have bought this lid from Carbatec a few years ago and its not being used and will never be used.

If you want you can come and collect it from my place at East Tamaki.

Hi, I tried removing the guards in the plastic Y fitting yesterday but it still blocks there. I have bought a large plastic bin (which I measured the specs so it should fit-530mm) so if your kind offer is still available of the Carbi-tec lid I will take a trip down your way this weekend coming if thats ok?
I am still a bit annoyed the hose is still clogging so anything I can do to stop that must help. Other than removing the extractors metal guard itself I am out of ideas, except remove the 4" hose and go larger. But that is more $ and I was told the dusty should easily handle a small planer with the supplied 4" hose.
[/quote]

Yes, the offer is still available.

Were you trying to plane very wide board? did you try it with a 5" hose rather than a 4"?

when I first started I always get the clogging if I plane wider boards with only 4" running between the planer and the extractor, the problem went away when I used more 6" duct. in your case, you can try 5" duct. I think I have a short section of 5" flexy you can take it with you if you want.

 

[Acrobat]

Thanks Albert.
I planed 3 old fence palings. About 180 wide x 1200 long. 1mm pass each time. By the time I got them from 20mm to 16mm the 4" flex hose blocked quite a few times. Frustrating to say the least having to stop, unscrew the clamp, empty the hose into a bin, re-clamp and repeat. I have a pile of used fence palings I was given free from a friend which I have de-nailed and checked them all over, they are rough as, so need tidying and planing down. I hope to use them for some projects like little planter boxes etc (not fine furniture). I had thought I could get 20 or 30 boards done in an arvo, how wrong I was. Maybe 2hp just isn't enough grunt?
I will try the 2 stage bin setup and see if that helps. Otherwise as you say a larger 5" hose may be the answer.

 

[online421]

Thanks Albert.
I planed 3 old fence palings. About 180 wide x 1200 long. 1mm pass each time. By the time I got them from 20mm to 16mm the 4" flex hose blocked quite a few times. Frustrating to say the least having to stop, unscrew the clamp, empty the hose into a bin, re-clamp and repeat. I have a pile of used fence palings I was given free from a friend which I have de-nailed and checked them all over, they are rough as, so need tidying and planing down. I hope to use them for some projects like little planter boxes etc (not fine furniture). I had thought I could get 20 or 30 boards done in an arvo, how wrong I was. Maybe 2hp just isn't enough grunt?
I will try the 2 stage bin setup and see if that helps. Otherwise as you say a larger 5" hose may be the answer.

yeah that is frustrating, I had that once and although changing to bigger duct and separator worked for awhile, but I stil endup with a 5hp bag house extractor... the reason to upgrade to the 5hp extractor is because I needed one for the wide belt sander. Let me know when you want to pick up the separator lid.

my current planer is a 410mm wide thicknesser.  The extraction is 1m of 100mm and then gradually goes into 150mm, 200mm and the main trunk is 250mm. I never had the clogging issue again.

by the way, there is another woodwork forum which you may find useful, its mostly Australian and NZ woodworker.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f200