Too much power?

[mollytalker]

Hi everyone!
I have made 2 baffles in the last 2 days, the first at my shop at work using an old rigid shop vac and it worked perfectly.

I made the second today at my home shop using a rigid 6.5 hp (more powerful) but this one does not seperate nearly as well.

Both were made using 5 gal buckets.

Is it possible that the extra power and velocity has a negative effect?

[phil (admin)]

Nothing is impossible.

But before we can know for sure, let's see some pics of what you've built.

[mollytalker]

Here are 3 pictures.
The large radius touches the side of 5 gal. bucket.
I made the drop slot 1 1/8" wide.
I have tried rotating the baffle, with no change.
Pail dia. is 11"
This one only catches aprox. 30%

The one I made at work catches 90%+ (With lower powered vac)

[servant74]

I am guessing you are right.  I can see that even if a 'regular' cyclone can take just about any amount of power (within reason), Phil Thein's design could be over powered if driven 'to hard'.

I would suggest use a larger design for your higher powered vacuum.

[phil (admin)]

Is it possible that there are leaks between the lid and the bottom?  Leaks there will wreak havoc.

Also, remember that you can't just stuff a hose into a pile of debris as fast as it can be sucked up.  I call that "stuffing a cyclone" and the result it, "it can't digest the mess."  Basically, not enough air comes in with the debris, so it can't do a good job separating.

There are other users out there with giant shop vacs and five gallon pails.  So I don't think it is a matter of overpowering the unit.  Actually, theoretically (at least), more power is better.

[Adam]

Can yo confirm the theory by running the bad seperator with the lower power vacume and see if it works better?

[AlanWS]

I think the problem may be that the inlet reaches too far down (up in the picture.)  You need some space below it for the air and crud to circulate.  It is this circulation that holds the dust to the outside edge so clean air can be withdrawn from the center.  There is no need for any space above the inlet, which can touch the top.

In fact, if your inlet were straight instead of a 90 degree curve, and angled through the top without extending in at all, it ought to work even better.  What do you think Phil?

[phil (admin)]

In fact, if your inlet were straight instead of a 90 degree curve, and angled through the top without extending in at all, it ought to work even better.  What do you think Phil?

Easier said than done to get enough of an angle.

It would be easier to just do a side inlet.

[tvman44]

What size fittings did you use on both separators?  4" or smaller?