J. Phil Thien's Projects

Hello everyone - Phil I hope all is well with you!
It has been quite some time since I last posted here. My how time flies.
If you do not know, I was one of the first to use Phil's baffle design and incorporate it into a top hat design back in 08.
Since then, I have seen many different builds on this idea.
All I can say is "wow" on how this simple concept has evolved.
I am in design phase of producing a clear version of this basic idea. I have the plexy glass but have not bought the solvent to join the ends.
Still using my original version and to be truthful, it has been working great. Do not get in the shop as much as i would like but have managed to run a few barrels of chips and dust with little to no buildup in the filter.
Thanks again Phil for sharing this life changing idea for those of use who can not afford the big cyclone systems.

thought I would post the pictures of the modified outlet from the HF DC. I upsized the outlet from 5"to 6" and plumbed directly to the Wynn Environmental filter.
I was going to cut a hole and create a dust collection tray area on the bottom but figured that I will have to clean out the filter anyways in the future so it just goes directly into the filter. Sure made a difference in noticeable noise - much quieter.
In the pictures I showed how I formed the outlet with 6" PVC. Made a form out of some scrap wood and heated the PVC and worked it in. The pictures not mounted is from the first one I created. When gluing the PVC to the wood I thought a couple of small brads would help hold it. Not smart as it cracked the PVC. Glue used is wood glue for gluing melamine on the finished piece, works real good. The one pictured I used PVC glue which seems to be holding quite well.
I was able to mount the adapter using the existing rubber gasket from the original outlet.
So far, so good, will update after I use it for a while and see how it works.
Last picture is our new addition to the family  ;D

Phil,

Your work on the baffle concept is beyond what anyone could accept in a free form. I would like to help take some of the financial burden from you as I know is cost to keep a website up and your time is valuable.
Your idea has made my dust collection capabilities beyond what I could of done myself. I am very happy in that you shared this information as well as some, I imagine others, and feel you could use some compensation for your hard work.
No good deed should go unpunished or as Mom used to say, "nothing in life is free".
How can I donate to you? Do you accept paypal or any other type of compensation?
You deserve something, that is for sure, if nothing else for my health and my families.

Greg

For starters - I would like the thank Phil Thien for his baffle concept. His work on this idea is what made my version possible. (Thanks Phil!)

I have never posted here before and I should of taken more pictures when I created this version, but to be truthful, I was not sure it was going to work.

As many of you probably have done is read Bill Pentz dust collection site, and after I did, it really scared the &%^ out of me. I have a very small basement shop and wanted to put in a cyclone but as you might be, I could not afford the expense nor did I have the ceiling height to install one. Woodworking is a hobby for me.

After seeing Phils design I wondered if this could be adapted to be used with 6" ducting instead of 4".
I have a Harbor Freight dust collector with a .5 micron Wynn Environmental filter. Worked great when clean but it plugged quickly and I did not like the material going through the impeller.

I came to the conclusion I needed a pre-separator and like most who have progressed with dust collection opted for a trash can separator.

Though they work, they killed the amount of air flow especially with 4" ducting. Well to make a long story short - below is a combination of both Phil's design and Bill Pentz cyclone.

Made rather inexpensively less than $50.00 for materials (not including the HF dust collector and 6"  PVC ducting).
Made using a 5' -6" metal duct from HD, some threaded rod with wingnuts and a 2' x 4' piece of melamine.

Here is the first set pics: