Main line, 6" or 7"?

[Larry Cooke]

I have what may be a newbie question - yep, I'm a newbie to DC's...

It's my understanding that using a larger main line from the DC is preferred. Would it be wise to use say a 7" main line up to my first wye and then run 6" on from there? Or am I limited to 6" due to the inlet size of the cyclone?

Currently, my shop is 25' x 25', the DC will be in one corner with the initial main run (~25') going to my 15" planer, then on to my 10" TS and 8" jointer (adding about 15 more feet.) Somewhere in there will be a floor sweep too.

This is a one person shop so naturally I'm only going to be using one machine at a time so maybe 6" all the way is more than enough, but I'd rather over engineer it in the event I add some monster of a tool later on.

Opinions/suggestions?

Thanks,

Larry

[Josh in FL]

Larry, I would like to answer that question but I think it would be better if you went to the Bill Pentz website and looked. He has a lifetime's knowledge there and even if you think you know the answer it is still good to go there and read.
Josh

[Larry Cooke]

Josh.

I had breifly read through Bill's site but to be honest there's a lot of reading there. So, I spent some serous time reading though it all tonight and have concluded that I will need to run 6" all the way through (including the drops to the machines.)

He even suggests that you modify the dust ports and increase them to 6" as 4" isn't quite enough. I really had no idea that it would take such a large opening but after reading everything it makes sense. So I now know what I'll need for my ducting. Next step will be to figure out exactly where everything will be placed and then that will tell me whether I need a left or right hand unit.

Thanks,

Larry

[Blackrain]

Larry,

If you post your room's dimensions, run lengths, drop downs, and Cyclone/motor information on Woodnet.net, it is likely Bob Dodge will answer your question with excellent detail. He seems to be the resident Woodnet.net air flow/physics guru, and has answered a great many "newbie's" questions, much like yours.

Below is a link to a typical DC/cyclone question answered by Bob.

Bob Dodge answering a DC/cyclone question (http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=2353345&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=2&vc=1)


You will probably get your best responses asking this question in the "Woodworking Power Tools" area of the forum.

Woodnet Forums main index (http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=)

Tell us all what you eventually end up doing! ;)

[Tim]

Larry,
You will soon find out that 6" duct is plenty. You'll also probably find out that 6" s & d is plenty expensive enough and will be glad you won't have to spring for 7".

When I first turned my clearvue on, I was amazed. Initially by the sound, next by the amount of air it moves.

You're gonna love it!

Let us know how it goes.

I recently got mine set up, but didn't take any pictures until I ran some dust thru it. Kinda wish I had some 'before' pics, because as soon as you run some dust thru it, some of it sticks to the cyclone. oh-well. Problem was, my shop was such a mess I didn't want to digitalize it.

Tim