I have an opportunity coming up - the roof of my shop needs a new support beam (the 1950’s framing is sagging by almost a foot in the middle). Looks like with the remodel slowdown, I’m going to get a contractor in to do the work, but to do so I need to take everything out of my shop, including dismantling the entire dust collector system.
I’m taking this as an opportunity to optimize my layout and look for an upgrade to the dust collector itself. Right now I’m running a Frankenstein system of a 2HP JET blower, a Super Dust Deputy Cyclone going into a 55gal drum and then 2 pleated filters. I haven’t measured the CFM, but this is already the result of multiple optimizations, so I like to think it’s operating close to peak efficiency for 2HP.
That being said, I’d like more CFM. I still have dust all over the shop after using my tools. My options are to either throw away the entire old system and get a new 3HP centrifuge setup ($$$$), try to find a blower only with a 3HP system ($$ - $$$ depending on what I can find used) or do something I haven’t seen before.
I’m thinking about running 2 2HP blower motors in parallel to the Super Dust Deputy Cyclone. Basically piping 2 into the inlet and then piping them in parallel to the large pleated filter. Either this is the dumbest idea ever or the best. I suspect the CFM from 2 of these things will be rated only slightly above a 3HP blower - but 2HP blowers are all over craigslist, while 3HP (or 5HP) seem near impossible to find.
Any thoughts on how this will work?