LeeWay 2002 Dust Collector.

First Incarnation with a filter bag.

The second Setup was with 3 "ShopVac filters" stacked and bolted over the exhaust opening with a cap on the end. Similar to an older air filter/breather on a carburator.

This is the third setup. I have currently moved the DC outside under a three sided shed. The separator barrel is out there as well. It exhausts through ione of these walls with 6" pipe and one elbow into a 5 gallon water filter. Actually just a water trap like you can buy for dryer vents. Catches quite a bit of the fines, which is all that comes out the exhaust anyway.

This is a home designed and shop built two stage dust collector system. This system works very well. I kinda surprised myself with it's power and efficiency. It is the result of months of researching the internet forums and websites for info on the various do's, don'ts for building your own Big Sucker. I have designed and built commercial units in factory settings a couple of times in the past. Its easy to design when you basically have a seemingly unlimited budget.

The sound this makes is an incredibly deep throated sound of moving air. There is no high pitch present. This means that it is much easier on the ears than a shop vac dust collector system. A shop vac also can't compare in the volume of air this thing moves. I can keep the blast gates open to my BT3000 table saw and Delta 22-565 planer at the same time and run either one with near complete dust collection. This is just one of my little benchmark tests. Of course in actual operation, you would close one or the other. Another little benchmark or something to shoot for was the old Nickel Test,which it passed with flying colors.

My calculations so far tells me that this blower setup is capable of 1375 CFM at 4.75" of water column. I will post the formula that I used to determine this when I get some more testing completed. Keep checking back for improvements. I've come this far with great results and I'm not done yet.

There are 6 separate design elements to this project.

1. Motor and Blower Housing
2. Fan Blade Assembly
3. Filter Bag Flange Assembly, Cannister type, and Water Filter.
4. Collection Barrel
5. Frame
6. Piping, Grounding and Shop Layout

Some of the supplies needed to complete this project

• 3/4" plywood-$20
• Assted. nuts, bolts & all thread-$15
• 3 micron felt type filter bag and clamp-$35
  • or 3 "ShopVac cannister filters-$24
• Water Filter-$0
• Electrical-$10
• Caulk and construction adhesive-$6
• Aluminum plate (sign)-?
• Motor-?
• Paint-?
• Stand or shelf-?
• Flange or arbor-?

The basic collector comes to about $51 if you choose that Water Filter Type. You really can't include the pipe and stuff in with this. When you buy a single stage collector, you might get 10' of flex hose.

So the plumbing is another list:

• 6 -4" Blast gates-$24
• 20' of flex hose-$32
• Assorted 4" pvc drain pipe and fitings-$40
• Drum or barrel-?

This comes to about $96 and when you add the two together, that's $147 for a complete plumbed dust collection system for a small shop. I know this would take care of a medium sized shop with several tools attached to it.