Background:
I do occasional woodworking activities in a small shop in the basement of my home. Most larger tools I have use 2-1/2 inch ports. Several portable power tools I own have smaller ports. I’ve owned and used a larger 1 HP dust collection system with 4 in. hoses and it proved to be awkward to handle, a pain to connect, and sometimes lacking in suction. So I decided to look into a shop vacuum based system. I know you can buy off the shelf solutions and more powerful dust collectors, but I wanted a shop made solution.
My Criteria:
Low noise
Infrequent dust dumping
Minimum filter cleaning (hence a cyclone was needed)
2-1/2 in. hoses (and capability for small hoses)
Able to use standard utility nozzles (floor sweep and crevice tool)
Minimum floor space
Remote controlled switch
First Attempt:
I built a noise reduction box out of 3/4 inch plywood for a standard 5 HP shop vacuum based on a web article titled “How to Silence Your Shop Vac”. It is basically a cabinet for your vacuum that is lined with noise reduction panels. While this technique works to minimize the noise level, it wasn’t easy to find noise reduction insulation at a reasonable price, and the box just took up too much floor space for me at 25x25x34 inches high (not including the cyclone and dust bin).
However, during this attempt I found out about Fernco plumbing couplings. To connect to the vacuum inlet, I used a 2 in. No Hub Coupling NH-22 (metal sleeve removed) and fit it over the inlet into which I then inserted a 2 in. PVC 45‑degree street elbow. Into the elbow went a custom made PVC fitting that accepts a standard 2-1/2 vacuum hose fitting. I also used a Fernco P1059‑150 Coupling on the cyclone.
By the way, your own hose fittings can be made by heating a PVC pipe with a heat gun and pushing it onto the end of a hose. Just search for YouTube videos such as “Make PVC Shop Vac Fittings”.
Final Result:
To take up less floor space I looked into low noise vacuums. I ended up with the Fein Turbo I vacuum connected to an Oneida Air Systems Dust Deputy. The Turbo I and II have the same specs other than the size of the container; I wanted the smaller one. The Fein is relatively quiet and will accept 2-1/2 inch hoses directly in the inlet (though it comes with a smaller hose). I wanted more than a 5-gallon plastic bucket for dust, so I used a 10-gallon fiber barrel. I built a cart out of 1x4’s to hold the vacuum, dust bin and cyclone. To complete the connections, I used a 5.5-foot hose and right angle vacuum hose adapter from Oneida. To hold the 13-foot hose a central vacuum hose hanger was attached to the side of the cart. And an outlet with a wireless remote is how I turn the system on/off.
Component List:
Fein Turbo I Vacuum Dust Extractor
10 gal fiber barrel
15-3/8 in. dia. barrel lid made from 3/4 plywood
Oneida Dust Deputy
Oneida angle right vacuum hose adapter
Oneida 5.5 ft 2-1/2 in. hose
Fernco P1059‑150 coupling
Ridgid 13 foot 2-1/2 in. hose
Woods Weatherproof Outdoor Outlet with Wireless Remote (less than $10!)
Central cac wire hose hanger
1 x 4’s for the cart structure
2 inch casters
pict of noise reduction box
soundbox.jpg
pict of shop vac inlet (3 pieces)
shopvacinlet.jpg
Reply With Quote
