Is a CV cyclone too much for my needs?

[kinghong1970]

Hello folks.

I'm an amateur/hobby woodworker, if i can call myself that...
i have about 900 sqft shop in my basement where i love to make things but recently finding that my dust issue is stopping me.

currently i have an air filter and a 1 hp canister type dust collector but that does not help me with the fine dust created when working downstairs.

i would love to be able to find a solution to my problem and was hoping if a cyclone is the answer.

i have a 2 acre lot and venting outdoor or a combination of venting outdoor and filtering is an option.
all my hvac systems and hot water systems have separate air feed and exhaust that are ducted via pvc piping.

i have a old craftsman TS, band saw, drill press, router table and a miter saw as my stationary tools.

sadly, having inherited from old and unused tools from my work, they are old and if any, comes with either a 2.5" or 4" dust port.

most of the time, it is just me down there... and so only 1 tool will be used at a time.

is the CV1800 a viable solution for me or is this too much for my needs?

thank you in advance,

Al

[McRabbet]

I am a strong believer that you need a dust collection system that has the capacity to remove the fine, lung-damaging dust at the source, and a CV cyclone fits that bill. Spend some time reading the why's at www.billpentz.com and I think you'll soon agree. As for upgrading the ports on machines, it is pretty easy -- I've made 6" ports from Baltic Birch plywood, a hole cut with a fly cutter on a drill press (or a router template and pattern bit, or a good jig saw), a 6'' PVC clip coupling (cut in half so you can make two ports), and some Gorilla Glue. If necessary, cut a new hole in the machine, or take off the old smaller port and enlarge the hole.

I do not rely on an in-shop air filter since it is removing what your lungs would be taking in with each breath -- instead, I use a 16 gallon ShopVac with a HEPA filter and a Mini-CV06 with a length of flexible hose to my Random Orbital sander and a dust mask to protect my lungs. The goal is always capture dust at the source, not after it is airborne. Bag-style and even some smaller canister dust collectors just don't cut it. You only get one set of lungs, so protect them. For a dust mask, I use one from Grizzly that has replaceable cartridges for dust and VOC's -- cheap, but effective.