Dust collector hose upgrade from motor to filter housing?

[blackhawk]

Has anyone replaced the hose on their Grizzly style dust collector with rigid pipe? This is the hose from the blower motor to the filter housing. That corrugated hose has to hurt the air flow. I can't find anything pre-made for my Grizzly. I could use 4" PVC but that would have a smaller ID. 5" PVC is about the right size but impossible to find. I've been looking at metal 5" diameter exhaust pipe for diesel trucks. I could connect that on both ends with a rubber coupling.

 

[ptt49er]

I've always wondered why they didn't try to find an elegant way to mount the blower like this...

 

[Henry W]

I've always wondered why they didn't try to find an elegant way to mount the blower like this...
View attachment 242917

Cost? The blower would need to mounted higher and therefor require a 'stand'. At this price point attaching a hose is cheaper, I would think.
I can't speak to the fluid mechanics of the design, although the flex house is seldom the best answer for flow (as I understand it).

 

[blackhawk]

I thought about attaching it to my wall but it would actually push my filter housing out from the wall further than it is now which is a problem for me. I found this pipe that should work: Metal 5" elbow Price isn't too bad but the shipping is high. These are made for semis so I might could find something at a local diesel shop.

 

[1075tech]

What about a 5x4 reducer coupling and use 4" rigid vent/duct pipe

 

[Gotcha6]

I've always wondered why they didn't try to find an elegant way to mount the blower like this...
View attachment 242917

Center of gravity too high. Subject to tipping.

 

[ptt49er]

Center of gravity too high. Subject to tipping.

Guess I've always left mine in one spot, hadn't considered tipping.

Could mount the motor to the wall and 3D print an adapter to go from the motor to the housing.

 

[blackhawk]

Guess I've always left mine in one spot, hadn't considered tipping.

Could mount the motor to the wall and 3D print an adapter to go from the motor to the housing.

Shouldn't need an adapter for the Grizzly as both ports are 5". You would just need a rubber coupling.

 

[blackhawk]

What about a 5x4 reducer coupling and use 4" rigid vent/duct pipe

I'm afraid that would restrict the flow to step down an inch in diameter.

 

[Mark Fogleman]

You can 3d print adapters to fit a 5" opening to a 6" PVC pipe and see. It will still be an underperforming DC relative to fine dust capture. If you want to improve the performance, shorten the machine connection hose, increase the 2hp to a 3hp motor, and increase the fan diameter and blade width. If you can't/won't do that, bypass the filter, exhaust it outside, and create a cross breeze of fresh air in the shop with a fan and two open doors/windows on opposite ends of the shop. Use an air quality (PM2.5) monitor to gauge when to close the shop back up and take off your PPE. This chart shows the difference in performance between different configurations from Bill Pentz's encyclopedia of dust collection:

 

[Dovetail]

5" to 6" adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/Reducer-Fitting-Increaser-Reducing-Coupling/dp/B06Y6JW9HW?th=1

6" PVC and two 45 degree elbows would probably be better flow than the flex hose. And not too expensive.

 

[blackhawk]

You can 3d print adapters to fit a 5" opening to a 6" PVC pipe and see. It will still be an underperforming DC relative to fine dust capture. If you want to improve the performance, shorten the machine connection hose, increase the 2hp to a 3hp motor, and increase the fan diameter and blade width. If you can't/won't do that, bypass the filter, exhaust it outside, and create a cross breeze of fresh air in the shop with a fan and two open doors/windows on opposite ends of the shop. Use an air quality (PM2.5) monitor to gauge when to close the shop back up and take off your PPE. This chart shows the difference in performance between different configurations from Bill Pentz's encyclopedia of dust collection:
View attachment 242929

Mark - Thanks for the info. I'm not looking for a large performance gain. Just wanting to optimize what I have.