second baffle plate

[Bluepine]

Has anyone tried to add a second baffle plate below the first baffle plate?  The exhaust or suction
outlet would remain in the usual spot, but the inlet elbow would be between the two baffle plates.
I think this would keep more of the fine dust in the container, but do not want to try it if someone
else has done this and can give me the answer.

[phil (admin)]

Won't work.

Have you built a unit and had a problem with fines?

My unit works with a Ridgid shop vac.  All my tools have 2.5" or smaller ports, so a shop-vac based system makes the most sense for me.  I empty my 30-gallon drum about once every 3-6 weeks.  It really only holds about 25-gallons because the baffle extends into the drop.

But I don't get a ton of fines that escape the separator.  I do use a shop vac bag in the vac to capture whatever does sneak through, but given the volume I'm producing I'm very satisfied.

If you are having a problem w/ fines, please post some pics of your build.

[Bluepine]

I have two standard type separator lids with the elbow inlet.  The 4" inlet and outlet in the garbage
can does a great job, but I used a smaller (about 12"dia by 18" high) metal can for the shop vac, and
a lot of fines get through and plug up the vac filter, I even put an elbow on the vac inlet inside the
container to create a mini cyclone action.  I am going to build a new top hat separator with the
level feed instead of elbow, and wanted to know if I could improve it with a second plate.  You know
how us wood workers are always trying to improve, even if it does make it worse and we have to
start all over.  Thank you for the reply.

[Jonnynadeau]

What if the inlet stayed on top of the top baffle? In my head, the second, lower baffle, should slow the air down more leaving the contents of your container settled...

Note: I have yet to build my own but this was the thought process I was going through too!

[phil (admin)]

What if the inlet stayed on top of the top baffle? In my head, the second, lower baffle, should slow the air down more leaving the contents of your container settled...

Note: I have yet to build my own but this was the thought process I was going through too!

The inlet and the outlet can't be separated by a baffle.  The air coming is playing "goalie" for the outlet, spinning everything fast enough that only the air (without the dust) can make it to the outlet.

[deanminn]

I am just finishing my HF tophat. Would adding a baffle to the collection righ add any benefit?

[alan m]

my thinking is if i was going to try this i would put a baffel under the normal design. the inlet and outlet would stay the same.
i would put the second  baffel bellow  the 1st . i would rotate it around so that the slot was below below the non slottted part of the baffle. so that as the air and dust drop the 1first it will still rotate around above the baffle.
hopefully it will be slower below that 2nd baffle
the second air space should mean that the primary air steam at the top will have to pull th edust from the second area and not from the bucket below. that way it can only pull up what hasnt fully setled

i think having the slots oposing would reduce the total area open from the top to the bottom.

not sure if it would improve or ruin everything but its worth trying

[Jonnynadeau]

my thinking is if i was going to try this i would put a baffel under the normal design. the inlet and outlet would stay the same.
i would put the second  baffel bellow  the 1st . i would rotate it around so that the slot was below below the non slottted part of the baffle. so that as the air and dust drop the 1first it will still rotate around above the baffle.
hopefully it will be slower below that 2nd baffle
the second air space should mean that the primary air steam at the top will have to pull th edust from the second area and not from the bucket below. that way it can only pull up what hasnt fully setled

i think having the slots oposing would reduce the total area open from the top to the bottom.

not sure if it would improve or ruin everything but its worth trying

Exactly what I was thinking but better wording!

[alan m]

better wording . from me ha :-\. i never would have thought it. im know for talking rubish or explaining in a long round about way

i would test this but i dont know how to really judge if it is better on not. my dc is (will be) vented outside .
i supose i would know if it started raining dust inside

[tvman44]

Try it and report back!  :)

[BernardNaish]

I would also put both baffles below the inlet. One problem I encounter from time to time is long shavings from the lathe catching in the end of the slot. I wonder if the topmost baffle could have a wider slot so that these could be easily dropped below yet the lower one would still catch the fines? 1 3/4" and 1 1/8" slots should do it. I suspect the long shavings will still catch in the narrower drop slot but if you are trying this out I would be interested in knowing how well it works.

Happy wood work.

[tvman44]

Sounds interesting!  :)