Attic Dust Collection Question

[Rich Riddle]

I work out of a two car garage that shares space with automobiles. The garage at one time was a flat room the previous owner converted to a pitched roof. However, the old roof is still there. They simply built the new room "on top" of the old one. More or less like a hat. There is about five feet of headroom in the center and on one side. Is it possible to construct a collection system where the main components are in the "attic" and the debris gets sent down to a barrel in the shop to be emptied? The more work I do in the shop, the more a central vac appeals to me. Thanks.

[Brian Henderson]

Sure, you could do that pretty easily. Most dust collection runs go up into the rafters anyhow, yours would just keep going. You'd just have to work out how you would clean your filters, since you could direct the big chunks down into a barrel with a cyclone. You'd just need to find a DC system that will fit in the rafters, make sure your rafters are strong enough to handle it, and have it wired properly. I don't see a major issue here.

[Rich Riddle]

Sure, you could do that pretty easily. Most dust collection runs go up into the rafters anyhow, yours would just keep going. You'd just have to work out how you would clean your filters, since you could direct the big chunks down into a barrel with a cyclone. You'd just need to find a DC system that will fit in the rafters, make sure your rafters are strong enough to handle it, and have it wired properly. I don't see a major issue here.
Well the new rafters won't matter all that much. It will actually be sitting on the old flat roof and that is more than strong enough. Wiring will be a breeze since there is already 220 VAC up there. I have an access point to get up there through a trap door and that could be enlarged if needed. Do you have any recommendations on a system?

[Bob Faris]

Are you planning a shop vacuum-based system or a larger dust control system. Here is an example of each installed in an attic.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Shop-Vac-Dust-Collector/

http://www.shoptours.org/member2/ws-208_8.jpg

[Jim Andrew]

I had my dust piping in the attic of my shop, but it was a real pain to work on it. When I reconfigured it last winter, I hung it from the ceiling.

[Brian Henderson]

Well the new rafters won't matter all that much. It will actually be sitting on the old flat roof and that is more than strong enough. Wiring will be a breeze since there is already 220 VAC up there. I have an access point to get up there through a trap door and that could be enlarged if needed. Do you have any recommendations on a system?

Not without knowing the needs of your shop, if size isn't an issue (although you still have to get it up there), just find a DC system that works for your particular needs and the size of your shop and go to town.

[Rich Riddle]

Are you planning a shop vacuum-based system or a larger dust control system. Here is an example of each installed in an attic.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Shop-Vac-Dust-Collector/

http://www.shoptours.org/member2/ws-208_8.jpg

Well I actually like aspects from both of those. It looks like both can be somewhat adapted to fit the needs for the shop/garage. Thank you for posting that information.