I'm trying to set up a dust collector using a shop vacuum connected to a 55-gallon steel drum with some 1.5 to 2-inch PVC pipe and hoses. However, it seems that the shop vac is collecting much more sawdust than the drum itself. What could I be doing wrong? I have the hose from the vacuum going into one side of the drum lid, and another hose going from the other side of the drum lid to the PVC pipe. Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like you might want to consider adding a cyclonic dust separator to the top of your drum. That could prevent the dust from swirling around inside the drum and being sucked back into the vacuum. It’s a common issue when the setup isn't quite right!
You might need to show a picture or sketch of your setup for more specific help. Typically, you should have the entry pipe going into the drum lower than the side-mounted tube that’s pulling air out. This might fix your issue if it's not set up correctly.