BrandonD Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 So I had a large milling operation last week. I caught my bin getting full early on so I emptied it but apparently I neglected to keep an eye on it after that. I got so involved in the process of the milling ... ear plugs in ... didn't even notice. Until I saw the shavings not getting sucked up from the flex between the planer and the drop! It wasn't until yesterday that I had time to take a look. Yep... filter stack entirely clogged up to the top. I started off by trying to get it all out with the stack assembled but that wasn't happening... and I realized I'd have to have it apart to even have a remote chance at getting majority of the fines out. Here's some pics. I'm hating myself. I spent over an hour on each half of that stack with the air compressor trying to get all the fines out. Talk about an impossible task! I think it's adequate, but I may do another cleaning session before I reassemble it. Speaking of reassemble, any tips on replacing those adhesive foam seals? I found the part number but Penn State's website doesn't pull it up. Might be able to order it by phone but I'm sure there's cheaper options. Could I just use some regular adhesive foam tape and just cut it up into enough pieces to get a rough circle? A little silicone around it for extra precaution? Here's some pictures of the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 The tape I use for vacuum jigs will bend and stick around a curve that size. I get it from Joe Woodworkers site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted March 14, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Another reason I love bypassing the filters and exhausting outside...if my can fills up, everything just blows into my neighbor's pool. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 You can try to clean it, but if it’s more than a few years old, you’ll probably have to replace it… This happened to me once when the bin-full-sensor failed and the filter backed-up... A week and a grand later, had a new filter and bin sensor… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Another reason I love bypassing the filters and exhausting outside...if my can fills up, everything just blows into my neighbor's pool. That works for me! Except that it's MY pool .... doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Man that sucks! Time to get a bin sensor.....but according to tripleH thats not foolproof either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 ==>not foolproof Bin sensors are just like any other device – very reliable right up to the second when they fail… For quite some time after that incident, I use two sensors – a paddle-wheel sensor in the bin and an optical/IR sensor on the exhaust side of the silencer… Of course, I’ll never know if it fails, until it fails… In all seriousness – it looks like you’ve got a spun poly non-HEPA filter stack… These really aren’t that expensive -- couple hundred bucks... You’re supposed to change then annually in a commercial shop, but even hobby use is every five years… So if you’ve had the filters awhile, I’d just replace them and add a bin sensor – a good one, not that $49.95 junk… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonD Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Did another cleaning session, reassembled with adhesive sealant and planed a 2x4 down. Looked like it did OK during the planing. Took the cover off the clean out at the bottom of the filter stack and there might've been a little more there than I would have liked. Let's assume I wanted to replace these filters soon since they are old and purchased used from a cabinet shop. How would I go about selecting the proper filters? I have a Tempest 3.5HP with [supposedly] two 16" dia x 36" long 1/2 micron filters, connected by a 7" hose from the exhaust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Your best bet is contacting PennState directly – at least initially… The better mfg’s have a collection of filters that match the performance requirements of the unit… The available filters will have different balances of filtration (MERV), surface area, construction materials, longevity and cost… Plus some other stuff… They can walk you through the options – and there will probably be two or three viable solutions from just PennState… After you get educated on the filter parameters and their effects on your setup, you can shop as an educated consumer… ==>connected by a 7" hose from the exhaust One thing, PS may make a rigid exhaust manifold for your unit… And I’d look for a SP gauge for the exhaust manifold to monitor filter performance and, of course, a bin sensor… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Mark Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Wynn Environmental makes filters also. I used one to replace my Harbor Freight cloth bag filter and it works great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Wynn Environmental makes filters also. I used one to replace my Harbor Freight cloth bag filter and it works great Glad to hear it as I ordered one Tuesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew-in-austin Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 You may want to read this: http://www.oneida-air.com/static.asp?htmltemplate=static/top-notch-filtration.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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