Short message:
If you use the tools hooked up to the dust collector, check the dust collector before and after using the tools.
If you use the jointer or planer, check the dust collector before and during using the tools. Stop at about 20 minutes and check the bin. After using the jointer or planer, you are expected to empty the bin.
If shavings spill out when emptying the bin, sweep them up.
Longer version:
The Laguna Dust Collector has over filled a number of times now. When that happens, the shavings back up into the cyclone, and then spill over to the filter. There have been over 2 feet of shavings in the filter, multiple times. When the filter backs up, dust packs into the filter, and the dust collector stops working. Without dust collection, the other tools, particularly the jointer and planer start to work poorly. This also shortens the life of those tools, not to mention the dust collector.
A full cleaning of the dust collector filter requires shutting down the shop, so that it can be disassembled, and the filter pulled. This is something we want to avoid doing on a frequent basis.
The jointer and planer can fill the dust bin in 20-30 minutes of usage. So when you use these two tools in particular, you are expected to check the bin after 20 minutes of use, and empty the bin after every use. Even if it’s not full.
When you check the bin, if it’s near half full, empty it. Don’t wait until it’s full.
Another one bites the dust.
How many times has that joke been made? Looks like someone overfilled the dust collector again. The main bin was emptied, but the fine dust was not.
I asked Ashley to make the table top signs. I had a sign drawn up and then I got distracted and it never got printed. Ashley will follow through.
If someone has time a plastic filter bag should be attached below the filter flange to minimize filter caking when this happens. Just like on the cnc dust collector
At least two types of bag were tried. Perhaps the filter is already too clogged. When we get the opportunity to shut the system down for a few hours, pull the filter and clean it properly, it would be worth trying again.
What I brought up in the last meeting is a possible answer to this. I have a different take on the problem- I don’t blame people for being lazy, the problem is the T-Flux design isn’t friendly for the general membership to empty out.
My proposal is to add 20 gal steel Behrens trash can separators AT the planer and jointer. They’re not highly effective at fine dust, but highly effective at the bulky chips and curls from these 2 tools. There is plenty of room to put 2 cans there.
This gets you several things. The Behrens can is much easier and intuitive to empty all around- this will be bagless, and by design, it’s quite light and meant for an average person to be able to carry and hoist over a dumpster lip and tip without losing the can in the dumpster. The lid comes off and goes back on intuitively. There’s no clamps or bags or behind-the-bag air tube. It’s a straight shot.
Second, it is a better sense of “ownership” of your mess. It’s an easier message to sell.
The CNC router’s triple cyclone has a great track record in this. It fills up like gangbusters and people have been mostly consistent in emptying out their own can of dust.
It need not be the tall cyclone like the CNC, sure the cyclone is more effective at fine dust but that brings a tipping problem there. Rather, just a low-profile modified lid, or replacement lid like this: https://www.amazon.com/WOODRIVER-Trash-Can-Cyclone-Lid/dp/B0035YD23K
The only thing is the planer uses 6" hose and these are all 4" that I know of, but no biggie I would just try putting a 6" PVC elbow and 6" straight pipe through the lid. The pressure drop is low on these.
When emptied regularly, that keeps like 95% of the debris local and out of the T-Flux’s difficult-to-empty hopper. It prevents the dust collector runs from getting clogged because it doesn’t see the chunky debris. The T-Flux’s filter is still there for any fine dust that does make it past the sep can.
Could it be one can for both? Problematic, the planer is 4" and the jointer 6" and they’re switched separately with overhead blast gates. There’s no prob with room for 2 cans. And, again, better sense of ownership of your mess when it’s your can at your station.
Some of us were discussing your suggestion the other day. I think we were considering trying this for just the planer first. While the jointer certainly contributes, the planer seems to be the biggest source, because it’s the machine people use for dimensioning, which means taking off lots of material. If that helps but we still need more, then the jointer could be added.
Overall, the idea was to keep things centralized, but you have a point about mess “ownership”.
Sounds like a great start. The planer is the larger source, and nothing requires them both be deployed together.
There’s the commercial plastic separator lids, but also just the stock Behrens sheet metal lid can be ported for it. They do sell plastic ports to add in. Also practical to 3D print fittings.
