Another HF dust collector with Thien style separator

[Alan Zenreich]

I finally got around to finishing a separator for a Harbor Freight unit.

Just to be different (and to see how this would work) I remounted the motor, and piped it into a separator that uses a trash can lid for the input ports.

Take a peek at my web page (http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/dustcollector.htm) for photos of the build process.

Enjoy!

http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/dustcollector/P1010387.JPG (http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/dustcollector.htm)

[David Hostetler]

Now the gears in my head are whiling like crazy...

There has GOT to be a way to make a good, solid base to hold it all together and make the entire thing mobile...

[Alan Zenreich]

Yes, that shouldn't be too tricky... but be advised... the motor is HEAVY.
In my case, I don't need to move it out of that corner. In fact, there's no extra floor space left <vbg>

[Alan Zenreich]

For those who don't know the default configuration, here's a photo from the HF web site

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/97800-97899/97869.gif

On Phil Thien's discussion forum, there are a wide variety of customizations and configurations of the HF unit. Some get rid of the bags entirely, collecting into a drum, and vent outside.

[David Hostetler]

Oh I am painfully aware of the weight of the HF 97869...

I lifted the thing onto a quick & dirty stand to give me a straighter, shorter run from the DC to the separator.
http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/45329/2915526290103915817S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2915526290103915817FbLjWz)

I added the Wynn 35A spun bond cartridge to mine...
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/42609/2965627130103915817S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2965627130103915817HAdAJL)

And my Thien baffle / separator is in a separate 55 gallon drum to the side.
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/15314/2747954500103915817S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2747954500103915817ozTRol)

I am sure my Wynn filter buys me a bunch of air flow, but my extra elbows and hose lose it back for me... If I could spin the motor housing and lose the connector hose like you did, keep it all a straight shot, I could buy what I lost back...

[Alan Zenreich]

Agreed... also I used a 5" port from the separator to the motor. I used a short length of the HF 5" hose as a coupler. I didn't see any point to downsizing to 4" for that connection, and I had that length of hose doing nothing after I removed it from the configuration.