J. Phil Thien's Projects

This may have already been answered  and I missed it but-
Is the dimension from the outside edge of the drop slot to the inside of the container critical? I ask because I have three different barrels I'd like to use and switch out while working to dump later, but they vary in diameter.
I'd attach a quick sketch but I can't figure out how to put in a .pdf so you'll have to click on it below....

Really nice! A great solution to making emptying the collector easy. Do you experiance any blow-by at the sliding shelf?

My Grizzly is an older model with a 5" intake, 12" impeller. When I plane 6-8" wide maple, the chips will often come off the stock the full width of the stock being planed; when a 5-6" long chip gets turned in a piece of 4" flex(only 3' long), it can clog even when it's the only machine on the system. I'm running a Powermatic Model 100 and considering having my tinknocker buddy make me a 5 or maybe a 6" hood for it,so that's why I asked about pressure loss with increased volume.
BTW, it seems that a newer model 6" intake plate fits the older models so I won't have to make one. Read about it on the 'creek.

Yes, I've seen that modification. I've been wondering how critical the inlet to impeller ratio was to cfm; if I increase the volume will I lose too much pressure or would it be the same as choking it down 6" to 5" after the separator-which I plan on installing upstream of the dc. I have a buddy who's a tinknocker right down the street so the metal work will be easier. I guess just trying it out  might be an option too. ( I too get glassy eyed when the engineering math gets heavy. ;) )
The reason I ask about this is that I plane a fair amount of soft maple. The chips are usually long,curly and straw-like and they tangle up in 4" flex pipe( which I have a 3' piece of from my planer to the 5" trunk I have now) fast if you don't keep the air moving pretty quick. It's why i think I might make the drop slot in the separator a full 1-1/2" too.

Hello everyone,
First, big thanks to Phil for this site and for sharing his design;funny how you don't realize what you're missing till you stumble upon it, I was looking at cyclones when I found the link to here. I haven't built my separator yet but I'm looking forward to it.
So far I've ordered a Wynn filter kit and have gotten my barrel(s) together. I have a Grizzly 2 hp 1029 DC with a 5" inlet(12" impeller) and I'm planning on expanding my system using 6" pipe. I was wondering, would it be advisable to cut out the 5" tube on the inlet cover and increase it to 6" and do the same on the outlet?.  Would this decrease the blower performance?