Dust Bin Question

[bakaatz]

I'm in the process of assembling my cyclone. I'd like to use a 55 gallon steel drum for the dust bin. Have a few available - with a bolt clamping ring to clamp the lid to the barrel. I have access to a bellmouth fitting so I can attach the hose to the lid. Looking for suggestions and your experience for sealing the lid to the barrel as I can't see how the clamp would be air tight. Thanks.

[imported_admin]

You need to add a piece of weather strip in the recess of the lid. Otherwise, you're right, you won't have a seal.

Ed

[Jim O'Dell]

bakaatz
I would reconsider using the steel drum from a weight factor standpoint. Especially when it's full of dust. Unless you have some sort of contraption that tilts it to dump for you, or you have the muscles to handle it, (I don't :D ), or you will be using plastic liners. I'm using a plastic 55 gallon barrel, and hope to come up with an inexpensive solution to hold a plastic liner in. Jim.

[imported_admin]

Jim,
Bill came up with a solution for holding bags inside of the dust bin. If you glue 4 of the plastic refrigerator clips into the bottom of the can, you can clip the bag and they will hold the bag down while it's empty. When it's full, you can simply pull the bag out of the clips. I'm not sure if you would be able to reach to the bottom of a 55 gal drum to clip the bag in, but you could probably use a round piece of 3/4" plywood with the clips on and drop it into the drum after clipping it to the bag.

Ed

[Jim O'Dell]

Yes, I saw that, Ed, and thought the same thing witht the tall barrell. But that's a really good idea with the clips on a disc. I'll play with that idea. Thanks! Jim.

[dberkowitz]

I decided to use a fiber drum instead. You can get them cheap from McMaster Carr, and they have a built in seal in their lid. You just have to cut the hole in the top and either bend a flange as one does with the steel trash can or get a flange and bolt it in place, which is what I chose to do. --db

[bakaatz]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. The tractor and front end loader make short work of the task of dumping drums. My wood shop is upstairs in my barn and the cyclone is being set up downstairs with the ductwork under the upstairs floor.
That being said, I like the idea of the plastic drums for a number of reasons - with weight being a huge one. The ones I have in this area don't have a removable lid, to the best of my knowledge, or maybe I'm just missing something. Jim, just wondering how you set up your drum in terms of a lid.

[Jim O'Dell]

I cut it out with my Porter Cable Tiogersaw, then ground the ragged cut as clean as I could with my 4" angle grinder. I cut a 3/4" lid out of MDF, and put the rubber seal on the lid. Works great. I set up a circle cutting jig for my router and cut a hole that the 6" PVC is a tight fit into, and sealed with silicone. I also bolted a garage door steel handle onto the side of the unit, and made some"clamps" out of some short turnbuckles. I have a picture posted on one of the threads here. Look here:
http://clearvuecyclones.com/forums/index.p...owtopic=191&hl= (http://clearvuecyclones.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=191&hl=)
about the 6th post down. Lrt me know if there is anything else I can help with. Jim.

[bakaatz]

Thanks for the advice, Jim. And the offer of help. I have plenty of headroom so the use of a 55 gallon drum is a great solution. Now to talk to my barrel man about a plastic drum. And continue my assembly process.

[Jim O'Dell]

If you have trouble finding one, check with the car washes, or car dealerships. Mine was a barrel that a degreaser called "Hotter 'N Hell" came in. Easy to wash out, and I can get as many as they go through for free. Oh, I work there, hmmmm. But I bet they would be happy for you to take them off their hands. Jim.