Removing Shavings from Hollow Forms and Dust Collectors

[Kirk Amidon]

I've been using a shop vac with a dust deputy for removing the shavings from hollow forms and it works well. Recently, a real dust collector with a larger dust deputy has invaded my shop. This has replaced the shop vac for everything else. Like many of us, my shop is overcrowded with tools, and if possible, I'd like to move on from the shop vac set up. I know the differences between how shop vacs and dust collectors work, but I'm wondering about the wisdom of using the DC for hollow form shavings, given that the tubing steps down to 1". Anyone doing this?

My options to help save space would be to get rid of the shop vac set up - and either use the DC for the hollow forms, or I could consider a smaller shop vac dedicated to just the hollow forms, and would have one without the overhead of the dust deputy and huge stand.

I don't want to use compressed air for shavings.

 

[Jaramiah Severns]

Are you vacuuming the shaving directly from the hollow form? What the aversion to using compressed air?

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Are you vacuuming the shaving directly from the hollow form? What the aversion to using compressed air?

I usually use(d) compressed air when hollowing until I read here about the amount of dust I was spewing into the air around the shop, and certainly into my lungs. I’m now using a plastic tube in the mouth to blow out finer dust and a shop vac, located in a shed attached to my shop with a remote switch, for coarser shavings. More effort but less likelihood of early COPD, I hope.

 

[John K Jordan]

I don't want to use compressed air for shavings.

While compressed air works well to remove shavings, the pressure sure blows them and particles all over the place.

I find that a lower pressure/volume helps reduce this but still removes the shavings. Recently I was given two different battery powered rechargeable air devices. one is very strong (clocked at 40mph 12" from the nozzle. The other one is an inexpensive cordless "dust off" blower, much less air velocity and volume with a longer, slender nozzle. It removes shavings and sawdust but more gracefully.

Not much air is usually needed for the hollow forms I've done - I've seen several demonstrators use a plastic soda straw for small hollow forms.

One idea is instead of the soda straw to use longer flexible tube with lung pressure - keeps the face and eyes away from the opening. A perfect small flexible hose comes with breath-powered melodica musical keyboard instruments, a bit larger diameter than a straw. But a length of clear flexible plastic tubing from the hardware store would work. (BTW, when I buy tubing I get 3' of every size to see what works best for various tasks! - so handy to have on hand)

If I did a lot of hollow forms and didn't want to blow dust and shavings into the room I might consider constructing something that has both compressed air and a DC pickup. I haven't tried this but it seems like it would work. Maybe something like plastic container with a wide mouth to connect a DC hose (a Metamucil container comes to mind or perhaps a milk carton), then a compressed air tube entering from the side through a loose hole, long enough to push deep into larger forms. Connect both and turn on the compressed air. My cyclone has a remote switch at the lathe. Seems to me the compressed air would blow the chips out into the container while the DC pickup hose would collected them. If my thinking is right it might completely clean out the form and put nothing in the air.

If the vacuum from the DC was too strong (it wound be from my big cyclone), perhaps a few vent holes could be cut on the side. I might try making one in my spare time and see how it works.

Oh, while writing this I see Lou mentioned something similar.

 

[john lucas]

I use my air compressor to blow put the shavings of my hollow forms. I have my dust collector spout near the opening. I also wear a Peke respirator face shield.
When hollowing green forms I use a scoop to pull the longer shavings out. Then my air compressor to blow out tge smaller dust.

 

[Kirk Amidon]

Are you vacuuming the shaving directly from the hollow form? What the aversion to using compressed air?

Primarily the mess. I've tried it, and it is not for me. I've also tried the straw/tube approach which fell short. The current approach is to stick an appropriate sized tube into the mouth of the form, most of the larger ones have a 1" hole, and a piece of 3/4" pvc fits perfectly. With a heat gun, the pvc can be bent into a curve, which gets into the shoulder areas as needed. As others noted, using a scoop/spoon is helpful too.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

I use my air compressor to blow put the shavings of my hollow forms. I have my dust collector spout near the opening.

I had thought that suggesting something like john has done would be a good idea, but John actually did it.
Several years ago I made some vacuum nozzles out of EMT (electrical metallic tubing) because it could be shaped with the standard bending tool however they always got quickly clogged,so it was back to compressed air.

 

[Kevin Jenness]

Pretty difficult to suck shavings out of a hole <1". Typical dust collectors are designed for high volume/relatively slow static pressure, so not good for small tubing. I use compressed air and a dust pickup nearby plus a PAPR.

 

[John Torchick]

Use the compressed air cans for clearing out computer keyboards. I don't do hollow forms but use an ear syringe to blow out dust and shavings from turnings.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

@Kirk Amidon , shop vac and DC have different strenths. I would keep the shop vacuum, but not necessarily the dust deputy.
I had a cone shaped crevice tool and mated it to a length of small diameter tubing (retired CPAP hose). I find this effective at clearing smaller spaces. Haven't tried it on an opening smaller than the hose, though. Got the idea here somewhere.