J. Phil Thien's Projects

Anybody try the Wen impeller as an upgrade for the HF?
Thanks

Ok, thanks. Think I'll start getting my pipe this weekend. Already have the 4".

Thanks! Sounds pretty good/easy. Actually, woodcraft started selling 5" ys for really reasonable. I think 16$ each. I have one ordered just to see how well it "plays" with hvac pipe.
Just installed my tophat, and mounted the motor on a shelf above it, and it's exhausting straight outside.
Are you having any trouble with lifting up flow from machines?

Planning my new ductwork. Really hoping some of the collection gurus out there can help.
I have my tophat setup tucked in a corner out of the way, and planning to ditch the 2@4" splitter that came on the HF 2hp unit, and run a 5" main diagonally along the ceiling. The furthest tools away are- miter saw, radial arm saw, and contractor saw. Closest is router table, and Dewalt 735 planer about half way between.
I'm thinking- the main is going to be 20' (+-), do a 5" drop to each of the furthest machines (the table saw is getting revamped as in an old FWW article (issue #205). The other, closer machines, do 4" drops.
This sound OK, or am I really missing something?
Thank much.

Well, got it all installed. Plumbing all temporary, and only sealed where I had to. Just did enough to test. Worked like a champ!! The wife watched the exhaust outside while I took a fairly heavy cut off a 2x4 with the thickness planer. She said the only thing coming out was air.
Going to try a video, never posted one before.

Thanks guys! I did find a good way to attach lexan to wood. The only place mine is attached is the "ramp" side by the inlet, but I used pop rivets. Work really good! Don't know if it's ever been mentioned or not, so I threw it out there for ya.

Well, finally got some time to make my tophat.
5" in, changed to 3 1/2"x 5 7/8".  6" out homemade bellmouth set at 3" above baffle, also reduced to 5" to match my HF collector. This will give me the option of going up to 6" in the future if I change the impeller.
Tomorrow's plan is to set the motor on a shelf, exhaust outside, and plumb from tophat to motor with 5" pipe. Thru the wall will be 6".

Thanks Retired2. The tophat will be going on a 30 gal brute. Right now, about the only thing different from your build, is, I'm thinking 10" deep.

Thats what I was wondering. When I was making it, it just kinda stopped there. Heated and pushed, didn't want to go. Didn't really want to push the issue.
Been looking for the real light stuff, think it's schedule 27, but can't find it in short pieces.

you guys think this will work ok?
6" pvc. Making a 1 1/2 or 2 height tophat, 5" inlet.

Ok. My memory isn't what it used to be. It must have been the bellmouth size I was thinking of. I'm thinking about a 1 1/2 height with 5" inlet and 5" outlet using a subwoofer bellmouth. Near as I can see I'll have to use a 6" and reduce to 5" But even at that I don't think they are real big diameter.
I have the HF dc and would like to increase the impeller size maybe.

Been planning to build a tophat for a looong time. Have almost everything together finally.
One question-how many of you have built one using a 32 gal. brute and after using it wished you would have went with the 40?
Really having a heck of a time trying to decide. The 32 sounds more attractive as far as cost and weight when full, but.... Then IIRC, didn't Retired2 say the smaller diameter pose problems with scrubbing, or am I wrong.

found this online but can't remember where.
Maybe you guys that are good with google search can find it.
I have it saved to books on my phone. It's around 15 pages maybe.

Sorry so late with this, but check out April Wilkerson on utube. She pretty much does this exact thing with her hf collector.

Thanks R2, that makes a lot of scense! Oh well, thought I had a good idea.