New here, 120deg.s, & Question

[MstrCarpenter]

Hello All;
   I signed in tonight and scrolled through all the posts and read most of them ( 1hr.+ since I registered). There's lots of great ideas here! You may guess from my screen name that I've been in woodworking a long time. I've seen lots of changes to the trade over the years; some good, some bad, but that's another story. I'd like you know that I came here thru a link at Woodnet. Lots of free knowledge there too. I'd like to offer some here.
   In my (our) trade I frequently have to lay out 30 and 60 deg. angles. I'd like to say I learned this as an apprentice, but I was a good ten years in before I figured out the easy way. Remember from high school that an equalateral triangle has three equal sides and three equal angles? Those angles are 60 deg.s. With whatever you use as a compass, (more on that later) draw a circle. Now using the same compass setting, place the point anywhere on the circle and swing an arc intersecting the circle, giving you a second point. If you drew a line from the center to each of these points you would have 1/6 of the "pie", or exactle 60 deg.s. For Phil Thiens wonderfully amazing baffle we need two of them to equal 120 deg.s. You can keep the nail in place and swing the arc the other way. (If you happen to be looking for a 30-60-90 triangle, mark any side exactly in the center and draw a line to the opposite angle.)
   The fastest way I've found to draw a circle larger than my little compass/scribe, is to simply measure from the end of a board the desired radius and drive a brad/nail/screw straight in. Hold the pencil tip where the board meets the workpeice and swing the arc. It's easier to just use one hand too. I'll be happy to explain the fastest way I've found to layout 30-60-90's if anyone asks here or at Woodnet, but I have to move on to my question.
   Has anyone made the baffle system seperate from the barrel? I have some 24" spiral duct that I'm thinking of using. If the barrel is larger than 24" then a "doughnut" could be mounted at the bottom for the "lid". But what if the barrel is smaller than 24"? I think a 55 gal. is. I would need then to make a funnel of sorts and am wondering if this will mess up the airflow that Phil worked so hard to perfect. Even if I got metal trash cans, I would like to fill them up then swap them with another can. Put the lid on and put it out. I am also thinking of mounting a filter inside the spiral duct and just mounting a blower (sucker?) on top. Any suggestions, or "DON'T DO THAT!...because..." is appreciated.
   It may be a few, but I will be back. Thanks in advance.

[Greg McCallister]

I am not sure exactly but are you referring to something like the one I created <a href="http://www.jpthien.com/smf/index.php?topic=90.0"></a>?

[bennybmn]

Sounds like you almost want to make a cyclone from scratch...

Thanks for the Jr High geometry lesson too, it's amazing what simple things we forget!! We take these simple things for granted for too long, and forget them completely!!

[MstrCarpenter]

Greg,
   I had already read your post, nice job. That's similar, but I was thinking a different order. Guess "building a cyclone" is a little more accurate. Here's what I had in mind. Start with a 4' +/- 24" spiral duct on a barrel. Inside the duct (bot. to top), Phil's baffle, side inlet, 24"disk w/ ?" lenght of 4" or 6" pipe, pleated filter assy., 24" top w/ blower mounted above, and possibly a bag on the discharge.
   This should keep all of the larger stuff off the impeller. I may borrow a posters idea of using several stacked auto air filters. So another question would be: If I have these filters, do I need the bag filter? Or should I skip the pleated filters, anticipating that the bag wouldn't have to emptied often due to the seperation by the baffle.
   
     

[Greg McCallister]

Do you have a drawing or something that we can look at?

[bennybmn]

Yup that basically sounds like building a cyclone.
Do some reading on http://www.billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm that page, and I think you'll see it's similar. This guy goes into GREAT detail, but I think you're on the right track.  From what I've seen, it seems like most cyclones have canister filters with some way to empty them on the bottom, so it sounds like you'll still need to empty a bag a little.