Hi all,
I’d like to attach my craftsman wet/dry vac to some pvc to make a dust collector for my workshop. The vac hoses are 2.5″ and I haven’t found any pvc that seems to fit just right. Anyone tried this before? Is there some sort of adapter or do I just have to use duct tape?
Thanks!
Bob
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Replies
Sears is notorious for providing oddball sizes for assessories for their equipment (never buy one of their bandsaws!).
Duct tape is an option, but, if it were me, I'd stop by a sheetmetal shop and get a reducer made that will attach to a standard 2" central vac pvc. It probably won't cost an arm and a leg and you'll have a permanent solution.
Woodcraft has alot of 2 1/2 dust collection stuff. A 2 1/2 hose will clamp on PVC. I cut down a wand until it fit the hose then my vac hose plugs right in.
Thanks for all the great tips. I realize this is going to be a POS, but like some have said its better than nothing. Its really just for my miter saw and if I can spend less time sweeping up dust than making a cut, I'll be happy.It sound like some of you have tried something like this before. Is grounding an issue? I know you can't really ground pvc because its an insulator, but should I worry about static charge at all?Thanks again.
Bob
Static is more a theoretical than a practical problem from all the references I've found. Google "Bill Pentz" and you'll find more info than you could imagine about dust collection.
-- J.S.
Go to any automotive speed shop.. : http://www.roadraceengineering.com/hoseandclamps.htm
You won't get much volume with a vacuum cleaner, so don't be surprised if the performance is disappointing. But, some collection is better than nothing until the budget allows a better system.
Hi Bob,
Use whatever hose you have, then make an adapter for that hose, out of wood, to fit your PVC pipe. If you shop vac is like mine, you will be limited to what will fit in the shop vac. You can usually get better resolution using the spade bit. Wiggle it a little, as required to get a firm fit for the hose or PVC. As usual, you can use duct tape to close any leaks
Tools required: a circle cutter (for outside holes)
a Forstner or spade bit (for inside holes)
file(s) and/or sandpaper
duct tape
Joe
A shop vac has nowhere near enough volume for good dust collection, and the filter will clog up fast. A vacuum cleaner has to pull about 100 - 150 inches of water to pick stuff up, but a dust collector may only pull 10 - 12 inches. It doesn't need any more vacuum because the dust is already airborne. That lets you move a lot more air with the same horsepower, maybe 1000 CFM for a dust collector vs. 150 CFM for a shop vac. You also want a cyclonic separator ahead of the filter. A good one will get more than 99% of the dust out before it reaches the filter.
So, cobble it up with duct tape for now, and save up for a proper dust system.
-- J.S.
Take a hunk of ur hose to Lowes and go on a wild hunt inthe plumbing section.Wide variety of sizes when u include street -L's, schedule 30/80/ pvc/cvc. I think they also sell a stepped adapter that u can cut off the unused section.I know its a riot when I start hooking up to my dust collector...everything seems to be made the same size..no inney or outteys,Ive also made a wood insert to choke down a size..just round over the cuts so stuff doesnt get hung up.
Take a piece of PVC that won't fit, a piece a little bigger in diameter than the vac nozzle. About a 6" length or so, not critical. Rip lenghtwise down one wall (don't cut it in two pieces, just cut it like you were going to flatten it out.) Use this slit to form it over the nozzle and into (or over) a normal piece of PVC. Then solvent weld the overlap, or small sheet metal screws might work.
I know it works on larger diameter (4") DWV PVC. The smaller diameter might be tough.
Or take a piece that is a little too small, cut a slit to open it up to fit the nozzle, and then take another piece (slit) to cover the slit in the first one, or some way to seal it up.
I do have to agree, a shop vac is a little better than nothing as far as dust collection goes. I love my central dust collector (2hp Grizzly) piped to every machine, with a remote control. If you ever go that route, spend the money on good blast gates.
Pete Duffy, Handyman
I've used a connector that is rubber with a hose clamp at each end. Locally the trade name/manufacturer is Fernco. These come in a variety of sizes and steps and are found in the plumbing section.
Even for your miter saw, get the bag that fits inside the shop vac canister. These are ment for fine particles (such as drywall dust) and will save cleaning the filter.
I don't think it necessary to disparage vacs for dust collection.While I've never used a shop-vac for this purpose, I have used built-in house vacuums to collect dust and chips in two of my shops. The present one utilizes a used central vac system and is not as ballsy as the first, dual motor, system. But it easily keeps up with my portable planer, collecting at least 95% of the dust and chips.
This is surely the test that counts.Mine is a small, one man shop, I don't have a 16 or 20 inch stationary planer, or a big jointer, so this works well for me. The main drawback is that the bucket fills quite quickly (when planing) so I recently bought a pre sorter from Lee Valley that works nicely.Alan
I too found that the container filled quickly when running the planer (only 12"). I built a precollection system with a 55 gal. drum. Even that fills more rapidly than one might expect especially if I'm planing several boards. But it works well and beats a blank. Someday I'll either buy or build a better system.