J. Phil Thien's Projects

You can get an idea of what he started with here  http://grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=25  It's the 2hp.. Cut a donut to mount the motor/blower assy. to the top of the collector. Put a baffle inside the collector. Cut a donut to put the collector on top of a trash can. Add an exaust filter, or duct it outside.
   
The exsisting "funnel shaped donut" inside my Reliant will have to be removed; it's below the intake. I've got a 55 gal. drum w/ a locking cover. I plan on cutting an opening sized to my collector (19" dia.) except for 120 deg.s, leaving the baffle still attached to the cover. I'll just need to cut the donut to mount the blower on top of the collector. As soon as a permanant home is found, I'll mount it so it will rise an inch to pull out the barrell.

I'll try to take progress pic.s.

I recently acquired a  Reliant 2hp. single stage D.C.. I am planning on adding Phil's baffle and pleated filters (I like the stacked auto filter idea, but would like to know the particle rating). My question is reguarding the existing steel donut. Robert Vaughn's post with links (a few down the list) shows stand-offs mounted to the original ring. On this one the ring is slightly funnel shaped with a 9" hole and is mounted below the intake, so I think it has to go. Phil's design has the outlet tube extending below the lid an inch or two. If I use a filter that doesn't exactly fit the D.C. housing then I will need to make an adapter, most likely for a smaller diameter. I can make this with a tube extending into the D.C. housing. I could attempt to make it funnel shaped on the top to direct fines dropping off the filter back to the tube. Does this sound like I'm over engineering. I would just do it the way Robert and many others have if I had a similar set-up. If you suggest the tube route; What size tube? How high above the baffle? My housing is 8" tall with a 5" inlet, leaving 2" below and 1" above.

Oh yea! the tip. Months ago I posted a tip for 120 deg.s. If you go to the link in "Vaughn"s post you'll see the same "compass" I suggested except I just drive a nail 9-1/2" from an end. In the next photo, instead of using a fancy digital protractor (which I don't own), try this. Using the same stick move the nail to any point on the circle. Using the hole mark a second point on the circle. (That's 1/6th of the pie or 60 deg.s.) Now mark the circle on the other side of the nail. (That's two pieces of pie or 120 deg.s!) This is the same tip I posted previously but Roberts photos are much better than my "notepad" drawing.)

I'll check back often to read your suggestions. Thanks for reading mine.

Guess that's why we send our kids to college, Thanks Son.

Received an E-mail last night asking for a picture of how to layout 120 deg.s. Re-reading my instructions, it does appear a little vague. I spent some time on "paintbrush", and did a little drawing with instructions. Now I've tried to respond with this drawing, and I hope if it shows up there someone can do a better job than I. please post it here for all to see. No credit is due because this is just eighth grade math that I forgot before I graduated.

Greg,
   I had already read your post, nice job. That's similar, but I was thinking a different order. Guess "building a cyclone" is a little more accurate. Here's what I had in mind. Start with a 4' +/- 24" spiral duct on a barrel. Inside the duct (bot. to top), Phil's baffle, side inlet, 24"disk w/ ?" lenght of 4" or 6" pipe, pleated filter assy., 24" top w/ blower mounted above, and possibly a bag on the discharge.
   This should keep all of the larger stuff off the impeller. I may borrow a posters idea of using several stacked auto air filters. So another question would be: If I have these filters, do I need the bag filter? Or should I skip the pleated filters, anticipating that the bag wouldn't have to emptied often due to the seperation by the baffle.
   
     

Hello All;
   I signed in tonight and scrolled through all the posts and read most of them ( 1hr.+ since I registered). There's lots of great ideas here! You may guess from my screen name that I've been in woodworking a long time. I've seen lots of changes to the trade over the years; some good, some bad, but that's another story. I'd like you know that I came here thru a link at Woodnet. Lots of free knowledge there too. I'd like to offer some here.
   In my (our) trade I frequently have to lay out 30 and 60 deg. angles. I'd like to say I learned this as an apprentice, but I was a good ten years in before I figured out the easy way. Remember from high school that an equalateral triangle has three equal sides and three equal angles? Those angles are 60 deg.s. With whatever you use as a compass, (more on that later) draw a circle. Now using the same compass setting, place the point anywhere on the circle and swing an arc intersecting the circle, giving you a second point. If you drew a line from the center to each of these points you would have 1/6 of the "pie", or exactle 60 deg.s. For Phil Thiens wonderfully amazing baffle we need two of them to equal 120 deg.s. You can keep the nail in place and swing the arc the other way. (If you happen to be looking for a 30-60-90 triangle, mark any side exactly in the center and draw a line to the opposite angle.)
   The fastest way I've found to draw a circle larger than my little compass/scribe, is to simply measure from the end of a board the desired radius and drive a brad/nail/screw straight in. Hold the pencil tip where the board meets the workpeice and swing the arc. It's easier to just use one hand too. I'll be happy to explain the fastest way I've found to layout 30-60-90's if anyone asks here or at Woodnet, but I have to move on to my question.
   Has anyone made the baffle system seperate from the barrel? I have some 24" spiral duct that I'm thinking of using. If the barrel is larger than 24" then a "doughnut" could be mounted at the bottom for the "lid". But what if the barrel is smaller than 24"? I think a 55 gal. is. I would need then to make a funnel of sorts and am wondering if this will mess up the airflow that Phil worked so hard to perfect. Even if I got metal trash cans, I would like to fill them up then swap them with another can. Put the lid on and put it out. I am also thinking of mounting a filter inside the spiral duct and just mounting a blower (sucker?) on top. Any suggestions, or "DON'T DO THAT!...because..." is appreciated.
   It may be a few, but I will be back. Thanks in advance.