J. Phil Thien's Projects

Any pictures?

Quote from: tvman44 on January 06, 2014, 10:04:25 AM
Should the 4" inlet be closer to the top of the separator?  I read someone has posted a rectangular input would be better than a round , so thinking about making the input 3" x 5" and connecting the 4" pipe to that and then would the height of the separator be better at 8" or 10" since the input would be 3"x5".  Also read someone had posted that a smaller drop slot would be better for fines, since I intend to use this top hat strictly with a scroll saw I think I will try a smaller drop slot, maybe 1/2" or 3/4" since there will never be anything but dust.  What say you experienced people?  My container is about 20"D and I will try some Formica for the wall since I have it & the only polycarb I can find is way to big and almost $100.00 and I would only need less than 1/4 of that piece. 8)

I have used a 3/4" slot for years with my CNC and it has served my needs well. Have also used it (top hat version) with my table saw and have had no problems. Heck, it gets rid of the saw dust and router shavings and I dump the collection tub once in awhile. Don't get no better than that does it?
Concerning your lexan/polycarbonite pricing: I know from working in the sign industry for the last 35 years that a lot of lexan goes in the garbage from drops, non re-claimable blanks, etc.. I know often times this waste is up for grabs from various sign companies that do electrically lit panels. If one was wanting to acquire some in-expensive lexan it might be worth ones time to play the game involved with getting it.

Well, according to the question in your thread title: I acquired a Harbor Freight 2HP dust collector a couple years before I finally built a Thien Separator (top hat version) and once built, it improved my dust collection procedures 10 fold, probably more. Everyone's needs are different but I find the HF 2HP suitable for everything I require. I've read on here where some have satisfactory results with a shop vac plus a Thien Separator, so I'd say your needs will dictate the amount of horse power you decide to go with. Whatever you do decide to go with..... adding a Thien Separator into the mix will improve your results substantially.

Probably none of this pertains to your situation but I'll share anyway  ;). I have a 4'x4' CNC in my insulated garage. I use a Thien Top Hat with a HF 2hp dust collector. The dust collector sits outside in an enclosed uninsulated attached shed. When in the garage I wear ear protection/headphones as the sound of the router is a little much. When I step outside the garage, the dust collector is a faint hum and the router (CNC) is a very faint whine, if that. I use my CNC all hours and have walked around at 2 in the morning and you don't hear squat 20 feet away. I live in a residential neighborhood on approximately a 50x100 foot lot. Never an issue.
Just some FYI.

This past weekend I was doing some fall clean up and noticed my DC bag had about 6 inches in the bottom of it and wondered what the ? My system sits outside my shop, original build thread here http://www.jpthien.com/smf/index.php?topic=503.msg2662#msg2662. Got to checking it out and the tub was plumb full  ::). Didn't think I'd been makin' that much dust. At any rate, the Thien Top Hat Separator continued to do it's job even with the tub full, just dumped it into the bag. No decrease in performance from inside the shop. I was very impressed!
Once again Phil, many thanks for an absolutely fantastic design! You and your design ROCK big time  8)!

Very Thankful,
Gale

Test post.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestion, Phil. I like the idea of that. Will pursue that innovation and get back with results.

Thanks!
Gale

Quote from: galerdude on March 19, 2012, 06:03:01 PM
Well, I've had to change my setup concerning after the Thien separator. Originally had a Wynn filter on the HF DC. I had acquired it previous to building the Thien top hat separator. I at that time had the DC in the shop. When I went to the top hat I put the DC outside the shop in an attached unheated room. I've been using it a lot and have had problems with the filter plugging. I think it's from the condensation from the warm dust hitting the ice cold filter. It's really caked. Anyways, I put the bag back on and will report back in a month or two and let us all know if that helped. So far, in just two days there is quite the noticeable improvement.

Till then,
Gale

Quick update on results from pulling the Wynn filter and replacing with the stock HF top bag. Seems to put a little more debris into the plastic bottom bag. Before, when emptying the barrel there would be about a 1/2 cup in the plastic bag. Now, with the top bag on, about a cup and a half of debris for a barrel full. It has more vacuum according to the Manometer I leave hooked up, so I can live with the extra in the bottom bag  ;D. And no clogged filter! Also, no noticeable dust in the shed, where the DC resides, blowing thru the bag. Had all kinds of dust out there when the filter would clog up  ::). All in all, a good change for my system. Thought I'd share the info.

Gale

What works for me is clicking on that orange box that says "new" and that takes me to the newer posts that I haven't read. I use Firefox.
Hope that helps  ;).

Gale

You can normally pick up drops (waste) of lexan from electrical sign shops. I'd call some and work up a deal.

Quote from: jgt1942 on March 27, 2012, 11:29:48 AM
galerdude - what is the inside/outside dia of your can?

The outside diameter is 18-1/2". Inside diameter is approximately 18-1/8".

   I think it was approximately 2", i.e., half the height of Thien top hat chamber. I never experimented with the suggested half the diameter of the exit pipe, which would have been a 2-1/2" entry. It very well could work better at that distance but was so impressed with the performance at 2" that I just siliconed the top of the exit adapter (a 4" DWV union) and called it complete. Sorry for the vagueness of that but at the time I was wanting to get it squared away and move on. Note, that I also went with a narrower slot than prescribed so am unclear if that has an effect on the suggested exit pipe depth of entry. There seems to be variances that I have no knowledge of it's effect or outcome. Bottom line being; I'm very pleased with the performance and it satisfies my needs. Probably won't redo it but no doubt will be building a smaller version for other vacuum collection, when time allows.
    With all the data that has been shared on this forum and the positive progression of Phil's design by its members, I would honestly be bewildered if one could not build a successful system. I am constantly amazed at the new and successful techniques that are employed and shared here  8).

Regards,
Gale

Well, I've had to change my setup concerning after the Thien separator. Originally had a Wynn filter on the HF DC. I had acquired it previous to building the Thien top hat separator. I at that time had the DC in the shop. When I went to the top hat I put the DC outside the shop in an attached unheated room. I've been using it a lot and have had problems with the filter plugging. I think it's from the condensation from the warm dust hitting the ice cold filter. It's really caked. Anyways, I put the bag back on and will report back in a month or two and let us all know if that helped. So far, in just two days there is quite the noticeable improvement.

Till then,
Gale

Cool article Ron. Thanks for posting.

Congratulations! Looks great!