I've been toying with the idea of building a 55 gallon drum tophat separator. I stumbled upon a stupid-cheap Reliant 3hp 2 bagger at the local Habitat Resale store. I'll use 1 drum for the collection and part of another for the tophat. I got started last weekend so here's what I have so far. Some drums have a rib ringed in thirds so the tophat will be 1/3 the height of the collection drum. I did this because the bottom of the rib fits nicely into the open top of the collection drum. All I need to seal it is some foam weather stripping. I think the weight will keep it in place. If not I can easily add clamps. I also used one inlet port from the bag ring of the collector as my side inlet to the tophat. This will make it easy I think for servicing and connection to a hose or pipe system.
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Thien Cyclone Separator Lid Discussion / 55 gallon drum separator started.
September 12, 2018, 03:15:42 PM #2
Thien Cyclone Separator Lid Discussion / 5 Gallon bucket DC
April 26, 2014, 10:42:43 PM
Not my original design, but I liked it enough to copy it. I wanted to post pics and key design measurments that worked for me.
1. I cut 1" from the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket.
2. I removed the top rim down to the last ring. (I wouldn't have but the bucket I used was damaged)
3. Small radius on baffle is 1" less than large radius.
4. I attached a lid to the bottom of the ring/chamber thingy and trimmed the inside flush.
5. Inlet port is 4 1/2" square with snug-fit hole for hose.
6. Top is cut with a router/circle guide and rabbeted to fit the lip tight.
7. I used the top as a template for cutting the inlet port top/bottom by laying the top down to intersect a right angle with height of angle at 4 1/2". The other side of radius ran wild to intersect at width of right angle.
8. Inlet port is screwed to side right under outside lip and opening is positioned 1/3 distance of larger radius from smaller radius on baffle.
9. Baffle is screwed to side 6" down from top.
10. Outlet pipe is 2" pvc and extends into top 2". (not 1/2 radius of port)
As stated, performance is excellent. My crude test is definitive for me. Hardly and I mean hardly any dust gets into the vac. The filter is very clean. The junk stays in the 5 gallon bucket.
1. I cut 1" from the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket.
2. I removed the top rim down to the last ring. (I wouldn't have but the bucket I used was damaged)
3. Small radius on baffle is 1" less than large radius.
4. I attached a lid to the bottom of the ring/chamber thingy and trimmed the inside flush.
5. Inlet port is 4 1/2" square with snug-fit hole for hose.
6. Top is cut with a router/circle guide and rabbeted to fit the lip tight.
7. I used the top as a template for cutting the inlet port top/bottom by laying the top down to intersect a right angle with height of angle at 4 1/2". The other side of radius ran wild to intersect at width of right angle.
8. Inlet port is screwed to side right under outside lip and opening is positioned 1/3 distance of larger radius from smaller radius on baffle.
9. Baffle is screwed to side 6" down from top.
10. Outlet pipe is 2" pvc and extends into top 2". (not 1/2 radius of port)
As stated, performance is excellent. My crude test is definitive for me. Hardly and I mean hardly any dust gets into the vac. The filter is very clean. The junk stays in the 5 gallon bucket.
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