Paging Dust Deputy and Clearvue owners.

[Jesus Aleman]

I am looking for user feedback on using mini-cyclones with a festool dust extractor.  I've seen the many threads.  I have 2 specific questions. 

1) Does the minicyclone capture both coarse (planing, routing, shop cleanup) and fine (sanding, cutting MDF, sawing)?
2) Is there an impact to cyclone performance whether the dust extractor is set to rabbit or turtle?

I just got one to connect to a CT-22 and have quite a bit of MDF to cut and hardwood to sand.  I want to understand whether I should be looking for these to accumulate primarily inside the bucket or the paperbag.

Regards,

JGA.

 

[otto]

I have a Mini CV06 and it traps everything that my router and plunge saw produces, I can't answer for how it works with sanding because I haven't tried that yet. I would say that the investment has almost payed for it self during the year I have had it. (i.e. in not having to by new bags). I don't own a festool vac so I offer any opinion regarding the second question.

 

[tomweston]

Hi J.

I have a Dust Deputy/ CT-22 combination.

My opinion is that it is a fantastic combination. It sucks up everything. I use it for sawing, sanding, routing, pocket hole drilling - well basically everything and cleaning up the shop.

The only thing that troubles the combination is when I'm planing - and that I believe is because of static - causes the chips to clog.

Also the length of pipe is 3m (10ft) + 2.5m (8ft) + 1.5m (4.5ft) fed to the Dust Deputy + a further 1m (3ft) to the CT-22.  A total of an 8m (25ft) run and it still sucks like the devil - In fact it sucks better withe DD than on it's own.

Just emptied the DD container which was full to the brim, but found hardly any dust in the CT-22 bag.

I have just left the CT-22 set at hare.

Yours

Tom Weston

 

[oilburnerfixer]

I made a CV06 and it's made dust collecting much easier. The waste goes into the bucket with just a small amount of fine dust carried over. I see many claims from owners who say they have nothing at all carried over, but one of my customers used to work at an industrial plant which ran many very efficient cyclones, says there will always be SOME carry over with any cyclone. That's why they have a filter after.

 

[JeromeM]

I am looking for user feedback on using mini-cyclones with a festool dust extractor.  I've seen the many threads.  I have 2 specific questions. 

1) Does the minicyclone capture both coarse (planing, routing, shop cleanup) and fine (sanding, cutting MDF, sawing)?
2) Is there an impact to cyclone performance whether the dust extractor is set to rabbit or turtle?

I just got one to connect to a CT-22 and have quite a bit of MDF to cut and hardwood to sand.  I want to understand whether I should be looking for these to accumulate primarily inside the bucket or the paperbag.

Regards,

JGA.

I cant yet comment on the CT-22 hookup. but I have my  Mini CV06 Cyclone connected to an old (loud ) vac and while there may be some dust getting past the Cyclone there is none in the base of the unit, so it must be on the filter. This is sanding (RO-150), sawing (TS-55), and routing (Domino).

I am so impressed with the setup that my next project will be to make a cart for my CT-22 & Mini CV06 Cyclone with systainer storage (because I need to raise the CT-22 to near the hight of the Cyclone) and a home made boom arm.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I just emptied the 10 gallon steel drum that came with my DD "complete" with 2" outlet nozzle.  My DD is hooked up to my CT 22 E and in 3 years of usage I have not yet had to replace the filter bag or clean the HEPA filters.  I did swap out the bag to use my Dirt Trap (plastic bucket) and the HEPA filters with the wet filters (reticulated foam sponges) a couple of times to suck out dirty water from a catch baison I needed to repair.  There has never been any evidence of dust on those HEPA filters.  This debris was mainly that generated when I built my Four Piece Entertainment Center with Bookcases.  I was surprised how heavy the 10 gallons of wood debris were, much more than a much larger volume of planer/jointer debris collected by my larger cyclone unit.  The reason the DD debris was so dense and thus the 10 gallons so heavy is that much of the debris was sanding dust.  The rest was from use of my TS 55,  Domino and small amount Kreg jig pocket holes.  I highly recommend installing a mini-cyclone between your shop vacuum and your tools.

Dave R.

 

[norwegian wood]

jerome is that a work bench your building inthe photo? because it sure looks like you can use one, lol wish i could work in flip flops

 

[Dane]

Do you dust deputy owners reccomend the 1.5" version or the 2"?

 

[nickao]

I am sure technically and scientifically the 2" is better, but in reality it is not going to matter in the effectiveness of the unit.

Remember, the 1.5" is only on the one side, the other side is still 2". Most people are going to use an adapter at the point of the 2" to more than likely reduce it anyway. I just try to use the biggest hose possible as long as I can while retaining a comfortable use.

Plus the 1.5" is on sale and is 30.00 cheaper so I went with the 1.5". I have a clearvue also, but it has a slight crack. The Onieda is just far more durable and the deal for 160.00 including shipping with the canister is just to good to pass up.

 

[Dane]

That's what I was thinking too.  But then I went to the clearvue site and saw this crazy new thing that they have that basically replaces the lid of a shop vac with a clearvue. Eliminates the mess of hoses and cobled together carts.  You get a compact package with hepa filtration.  I'm kinda thinking I want to sell my ct-22 and just get that rig.  My real issue with the cyclone has been having to haul around an extra large bucket along with the vac.  This seems to solve that problem.  Any thoughts?  What really is the advantage of the ct-22 as compared to this set up?  Seems like the variable suction and tool start could be addressed with a few accesories.

 

[nickao]

http://www.clearvuecyclones.com/Ridgid_Conversion.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-WD1670-16-Gallon-Wet%2FDry-Vacuum-with-Blower_W0QQitemZ300287001246QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090115?IMSfp=TL090115129004r6815

Yeah it looks neat. I like my Festool and Fein vacs though. I do not take my cyclone out of the house but maybe that clearvue would better if you did.

I do have a Ridgid that would work with that and it sure is loud and I am not so sure even with a cyclone set up it could match the Festool or Feins, definitely not in the sound rating. You need muffs to run that darn thing at least I do.

Actually that contraption does not look a whole lot smaller either.

 

[fidelfs]

This is more a question about the difference between a dust deputy and a simple conversion 2 stages.

The dust deputy relies in the vacuum power of a shop vac type of machine, it could be a rigid, fein, festool etc.  The dust deputy creates a cyclone where the largest dust parts goes to the bottom and the small parts go the vacuum.

What would be the difference in using something like this:
[attachthumb=1]
and using a 5 gallon bucket and make a sitting place for the bucket on top of the CT 22 like
Bru explained here

If It's the same or very similar why would you pay more for the dust deputy or something similar?

Just a question?

 

[mwhafner]

The cyclones are much more efficient.  The cyclones get the dust and chips out of the airflow, where are the lids do not.  The lids work ok, but it has been my experience that nearly all of the find dust still ends up in the vacuum bag.

 

[nickao]

It is weird that the Oneida cyclone portion is so much smaller than the clearvue in size, but works just as well.

I am going to order another as soon as I am able. The Oneida is so good I figure I make my money back quick. One box of 20 CT 33 bags cost me a little over a 100.00 with free shipping and I go through that in 2 months or less.

It is a huge money saver and anything that can save me that much money is worth it.

Dave was it you that went a year with one bag? If that is the case I can not see how anyone could pass up that deal for 160.00.

So simple to put together a 6 year old can do it.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Yes, Nick, that is me.  I'm still using the bag that came with my CT 22E.  I also save on bags in my Fein Turbo II by sucking out much of the debris using my CT 22 coupled to the DD cyclone.  Key to doing that successfully  is to turn down the speed (vacuum level) of the CT 22 so as not to totally collapse the Fein bag.  I use the Crevice Nozzle most of the time for this step, and expect to have to withdraw it from the Fein bag to clear blockage of its inlet during this operation.  Even so, eventually fine dust buildup on the bag reduces air flow and needs to be replace to restore full cleaning power.  Having two vacuum machines and the DD eliminates the need to cut open a bag to empty it, and then having to reseal it.  I'm not recommending this procedure to anyone such as yourself whose production time is more important than mine as a hobbyist.

Dave R.

 

[nickao]

I hate dust so much and even with all the vacs and central cyclone I still deal with dust. I love the dust deputy and if I get even 1/3 of the time out of my bags that you did I will save thousands of dollars over the years.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The DD and likely any other mini-cyclone will do that, especially for those using hand-held planers and routers, even without reusing bags as I have done.

Dave R.

 

[JeromeM]

Jerome is that a work bench your building in the photo? because it sure looks like you can use one, lol wish i could work in flip flops

Yes it is and yes I can. the base is mostly finished.
http://www.meekings.net/Workbench-Plan/Workbench_Summer_2007/
The Cyclone/systainer/CT-22 cart and workbench are the two projects I will be working on in 3 weeks time.

As to working in flip flops I wish I didn't have to When I have to wear clothing and Shoes for protection I guess I sweat at about 1L per hour, and that is a lot of water to drink.

 

[nickao]

Yikes Jerome I could never wear flip flops while working. My feet sweat like crazy and the kids run when I take off my shoes, but I could never be comfortable and feel safe in any way at all in flip flops. I have a foot thing like a soldier in the army. I take care of my feet and could never bring myself to wear flip flops even if not in the shop.

Doesn't that hurt your feet and your back after an 8 or 10 hour day in the shop?

Be careful  and don't drop a corner of a sheet of mdf or ply on those feet!   ;D

 

[Dane]

I used to live in los angeles and lived in my flip flops, that is until the day I dropped the chisel.  I stopped wearing flip flops to work after that.