I finally had a chance to use my new home-made Version 2 separator for my DW735. I was attempting to resolve a few usability issues (below) with using my first separator for this purpose (which is normally mounted under my vacuum on a cart)
The essentials
Standard Thein lid setup for a 30 gal galvanized can
Random round $8 auto filters – double stacked on the exhaust with some aluminum screen for a chip pre-filter. I was concerned with filter through put – their ratings are on line, I picked the one with the largest number and then used 2 figuring if 1 was bad idea, 2 would only be half as bad. (Filter specs were only for relative comparison only since I never had specs on the planer).
(As an afterthought) Roof flashing was cut, bent and duct tapped into a hood to direct the exhaust (I didn’t want it becoming my new shop ventilation system). This was the most difficult and creative task of the project. I wonder how long the duct tape will hold.
The mistakes
Since I wanted a simple and reliable clamping system I committed on this design before fully figuring out the filter configuration. I would have preferred to use a 12” square furnace filter or at least square auto filters but remaining space only allowed for a circular configuration.
The results
I had to make a small circle jig for the cutouts – yippee, something else to store. Key items here – brass bushings for the centering pins, magnetic keepers on board for 2 different length pins.
The separator filter lid worked perfectly – NO dust on the lid and NO backup at the planer. This was based on about 20 gals of chips, many types of wood. I won’t have a problem using this inside. And I’m glad I put the exhaust director on.
BUT there is now a filter clean-out task at the end of the job … got the air compressor out.
If nothing else, I think it looks cool
- it’s a pain to extract separator from the cart for emptying. My Rigid vac was always disconnected from the separator for this op since I doubted if it could keep up with DW735 CFM
- The original 20 gal can was just too small; a plastic can was the wrong choice.
- There was no way to control the fine exhaust dust coming out of the separator (think Rosewood) so I’d never be able to use it inside - I was putting the separator exhaust into a waste bucket just to minimize the cloud outside. (I don’t have a serious DC system).
Standard Thein lid setup for a 30 gal galvanized can
Random round $8 auto filters – double stacked on the exhaust with some aluminum screen for a chip pre-filter. I was concerned with filter through put – their ratings are on line, I picked the one with the largest number and then used 2 figuring if 1 was bad idea, 2 would only be half as bad. (Filter specs were only for relative comparison only since I never had specs on the planer).
(As an afterthought) Roof flashing was cut, bent and duct tapped into a hood to direct the exhaust (I didn’t want it becoming my new shop ventilation system). This was the most difficult and creative task of the project. I wonder how long the duct tape will hold.
The mistakes
Since I wanted a simple and reliable clamping system I committed on this design before fully figuring out the filter configuration. I would have preferred to use a 12” square furnace filter or at least square auto filters but remaining space only allowed for a circular configuration.
The results
I had to make a small circle jig for the cutouts – yippee, something else to store. Key items here – brass bushings for the centering pins, magnetic keepers on board for 2 different length pins.
The separator filter lid worked perfectly – NO dust on the lid and NO backup at the planer. This was based on about 20 gals of chips, many types of wood. I won’t have a problem using this inside. And I’m glad I put the exhaust director on.
BUT there is now a filter clean-out task at the end of the job … got the air compressor out.
If nothing else, I think it looks cool
