Dust Collectors & Spark Arrestors

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Anybody here use a Spark Arrestor in-line with their Dust Collector?



I'm familiar with the water-in-a-bucket, cyclone-lid idea....and have one myself.



But my preference would be to use an actual in-line spark arrestor.

Problem is...I can't find any online that aren't "industrial sized". :foot:


My preference would be something I could hook up as close to the grinder as possible. Here's my reason:

The way I do things...after gluing up a full-tang knife...I go around the edges and shape the handle down to the tang (as I'm sure many others do). In the process....I am sending wood/micarta/etc dust down the hatch the same time I'm sending an ocassional metal spark (the simple nature of grinding it down to the tang).

wood dust + metal spark = ka-boom

:eek:

(hasn't happened yet...:foot: )


I do have a little water at the bottom of my "cyclone bucket"...and do change it out now-n-then. But I really don't like the idea of it getting filled up after heavy grinding/sanding and me forgeting about it...then ending up with a hot spark slowing igniting the topmost wood/micarta dust layers.

I'd like to fix the problem at the grinder and be done with it...no chance of igniting wood dust anywhere.


If there is a simple in-line solution (between the grinder and my cyclone bucket), that would be ideal.

Is this something I could build myself? I'm open to that too...though buying somebody else's tried/tested product works best for me. :D


Or maybe there is a better angle to collect the dust at? I've noticed the metal sparks go straight down while the wood dust tends to wrap around the belt a little before heading down...and also clouds up around the tool rest.


Let me know your thoughts/solutions.


Thanks!

:thumbup:

Dan
 
kind of off of your question but I keep a stainless strainer in the water bucket , pull it out and all the top floating stuff comes with it .
 
Don't want to totally hijack your thread, but I'm not familiar with the "cylcone bucket." Care to enlighten?
 
Basically, a cyclone bucket is a phrase for a device that mounts to a large trash can that causes the incoming air (created by the suction from a shop vacum or dust collection vacumn system) to spin in a rapid manner (cyclone, hurricane or tornado) causing the heavier particulate matter (wood chips, etc.) to fall to the bottom of the 'bucket' due to gravity/centrifugal force while the lighter particulate matter (dust) is moved to another filtration device. See the following link: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?page=30282&category=1,42401&ccurrency=2&sid=
 
I got one from HF that was called a ember trap. It is designed to go in a vacuum between the nozzle and the vacuum tank. It traps the sparks and cinders. It is metal and has a spark screen.It is about a 5 gallon tank.The principal is a simple cyclone. I have never had a vac fire since i put it in. When grinding wood, I simply take the vac hose (from the big shop vac) off the ember trap and snap it in place at the grinder.Takes about 30 seconds. Cost was something like $20.

Another thought is to purchase a fireplace vac, also called an ember vac. They are made to suck up hot stuff, and would be perfect for a grinder. They run about $200-250. Try a google for ash vacuum or ember vacuum.

Stacy
 
A spark arrester for a motorcycle would likely work. They come in several sizes. Look on line in Dennis Kirk. They are reasonably priced.
 
So if I u nderstand what you guys are saying....

Use the Ash Vaccum to pull the metal/dust/sparks into the system, and then into the water trap with a cyclone lid (primary containment)which should stop any dangerous stuff from getting to the vaccum motor or into the tank under the motor. (secondary containment)

Is that about it?

I expect in this sort of deal the biggest vaccum a guy can afford is the right way to go.


Shane
 
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