J. Phil Thien's Projects

is this how collected saw dust should behave when there is a properly fabricated and installed thien baffle in a single stage dust collector's drum ring?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MSOCePr35s

i'm asking because while my frying pan drum ring baffle does reduce the rotation of saw dust in the collection bag, it doesn't just lazily fall into the bag like it does in this video.  i'm just looking for a standard to work towards in optimizing the performance of the system i've got. here's how my frying pan baffle in drum ring currently performs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6KpAhEsrV0

in the drum ring of those 1100cfm jet units and delta 50-850 type units is to reduce the cyclonic swirling that occurs in the collection bag, right?  and that with a properly installed baffle or (dare i say it) jet vortex type cone/tray, one wold see the collected dust drop into the collection bag of a DC rather than continue to swirl around as it does in it's OEM state.  have i got this right?

to a delta 50-850?

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/tools/shop-made-vortex-dust-collector-woks-on

based on the article, it seems like a simple addition with a good return in terms of efficiency.

i've been planning a 4" version of the separator, but always bumped into a problem with identifying the fittings that connect the separator to the vacuum.  i came across these in the latest rockler catalog at $15.99:

http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offerings_ID=25225&r=2&TabSelect=Details

seems they'd make the connection easier, and it should be possoble to find some rigid pipe/tubing that will provide for a straight downtube in the center of the separtor lid.  any constructive comments on them?

i would like to add a baffle to my delta ap400.  here is the owners manual for a delta ap 400:

http://www.dewaltservicenet.com/documents/English/Instruction%20Manual/Delta/A15097.pdf 

page 8 shows a photo of all the components.  the blower housing, which is one piece, seems to be the appropraite spot for the baffle, but i'm not quite sure how to position the baffle in the blower housing between the filter bag (top)  and the collection bag (bottom).  anyone have any thoughts on this?

this question is about the pictures of Phil's baffle that appear on the j. phil thien site.  i think i know what fittings were used above the lid(the black ones).  my question concerns how the outlet and inlets ,below the lid,were attached to their respective "above the lid" black fittings.  any input would be appreciated.

i know the consensus here is that metal works best as a separtor, but i happened to see this at the HD.
http://www.rcpworksmarter.com/rcp/products/detail.jsp?categoryCode=waste&subCategoryCode=waste_brute_utility&rcpNum=2620&categoryCode_subCategoryCode_rcpNum=waste_waste_brute_utility_2620
it was very substantail and i'd like to know what opinions there are about its possible suitability as a separator for a 4" DC like the delta ap400.  the 20  gal size, which i am considering, is stronger than the metal cans that HD carries. thanks.

now that i understand the baffle set up, and my shop vac is equipped with a dry wall bucket separator with a thien baffle, i want to add something to my DC.  should i:

1) add a baffle to the DC (delta ap 400, not really sure how to do this given its configuration) or

2) create a separate separator for the same DC.  if yes to (2),  what size pail/receptacle would work well with 4" fittings (20 or 30 gal)?

possibly phil could offer an opinion regarding choosing one of the above two alternatives.  thanks.

anyone ever come across this lid?  it sems to mimick the features in phil's lid with the center draw and the angular tool inlet.  any thoughts about this and a baffle?

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2426971900104952478zoshmA

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2059589390104952478arcuwL

put together a small separator today.  5 gal pail with plumbing fittings driven by a 20 gal craftsman shop vac.  baffle is 11 3/4" in diameter, with the 1 1/8" slot reducing that over a radius of 240 deg.  about 1/2 of the dust sample still makes it to the vac.  how critical is the placement of the suction side relative to the side of the separator pail?  i could get it so the edge of the elbow between the lid and the baffle touches the inside sidewall of the separator pail if that will help. is a 5 gal pail too small?  should the slot in the baffle have been smaller?  the connection of the vac to the separator is dead center in the separator lid.  i don't have a digital camera or i'd have included pics.  elbow between lid and baffle is a sched 40 90 deg elbow and its face is perpendicular to the baffle.  the suction side of the separator, to which the vac is connected, extends into the space betwen the lid and baffle approx 1.5". any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.