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Seems like I have had this thing for ever and just never got around to installing it.
I gave my old system to my brother in return for some help installing the CV.
We have two long evenings in to it and probably have 2 or 3 more but its coming along and I am getting excited to get my shop back and functioning. I have been with out duct collection far to long.

Here are a few pics..

This is my brother Brock, the system needs 8 foot ceilings, my shop is about 7.5' So we had to carfully
place the motor between floor joist, copper pluming and PVC pipes





Here is the 220 service we put in for it.



Last is a shot of the area its going.

I am getting excited!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Heard great things about the clear vue...

I too have heard great things. I know Tim McKnight uses one, or at least use to.
My old West Penn system had a 2 hp motor, the ClearVue is a 5 hp 220 volt motor. So that alone
will make a big difference. I am going to eventually replace the duct work as well but for now I will be plugging it in to the excising.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I sure love mine. Yes, installation can be a challenge, but it is very worthwhile in the end.

I did a cool thing with my installation. The room where I use my stationary power tools is adjacent to my garage, and there is a door between the two that I never used. I replaced the door with a double thickness of plywood, with holes for the in and out of the dust collector. The blower, cyclone and dust collection barrel all live in the garage on one side of the former doorway, and the intake, filters and filter boxes (one distribution box on top, one fine dust fall box on bottom) live inside the room with the tools. The noise is not as bad as having it in the room (although it is still darn loud), but the air leaves from and returns to the same room. I'm very happy with the setup.

I actually thought about doing the same thing, building a small shed next to my house and piping it to and from through a basement window, but its a more than I want to spend right now.

Your situation sounds perfect.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Yup, the noise can sometimes be annoying. But since the collector is on because you're using a big noisy machine anyway, it's kind of a wash...

I include high quality rifle range earmuffs in my safety equipment regimen. If machines are on, the earmuffs are on until the machines power down. No exceptions.

The whole "through the doorway" plan took some work to get the holes to line up. Also, I needed to build the top distribution box so that I could have the two filters sitting side by side instead of one on top of the other. The last big challenge was how to plan out the 6" sewer & drain ductwork in a way that minimized hard turns and had none near the intake. It all worked out. I'm very happy with it.

Finished up this evening. I still have to run new ducting but for now I tied
on to my 4" stuff.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Just curious, can anybody see my video or is it a broken link?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I tried to watch, but could not.

Think I figured it out. I had to remove the S from the https://

Thanks!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I like that no matter how fancy, cool, or good a thing you buy, at the end of the day there is still duct tape involved.

A duct muffler between the blower and filters would help the noise. McMaster has inexpensive ones in a range of sizes. Inlet mufflers also help with heavy steel cyclones, but I imagine ClearVue may radiate through the plastic. Another step is a closet lined with acoustic insulation -- rock wool has a high dB/$ ratio. Or hanging acoustic panels has good dB/work.

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David Malicky

Or, you could box it in with some of that new purple sheet rock!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Enjoy the clear vue. I had mine for a few years now and love it. Luckily I had the opportunity build a closet that includes the clear vue, my compressor and my vacuum pump. This option really cut down the noise. Also my clear vue then vents outside as well. I do not run it long enough to steal to much of my conditioned air.

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Have you tried the "sucking up a tape measure" trick, Lance? I have not; I don't want to put unnecessary scratches inside the cyclone. But mine sure feels strong enough to do it.

No I haven't but I will
It seriously moves some volume!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

What size duct will you go up to when you install the new duct?

Probably 6" mains and 4" drops

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance--

I use 6 inch sewer & drain pipe as ducts, and I have a few 4 inch connections, but I use 6 inch all the way to the machine wherever I can. Some tools are a major hassle to convert to 6 inch, but some are easy. If you can make it work, 6 inch at the tool really takes advantage of the power of the Clear Vue.

But is duct tape still redneck if you use it on an actual duct?

Lance,

I have the Clear Vue too.

Please be aware that metal ductwork will likely be cheaper and much better sized. A 6" main is significantly under capacity for the Clear Vue. If you use 7" spiral wound metal mains and 7" HVAC fittings you can get three 4" drops instead of just two from the 6". Or you can get one 6" drop plus a 4" drop. (I use a 6" and 4" on my bandsaw, a 6" & 4" on my router table, a 6" and 4" on my table saw, three 4" on the disc and belt sander, and I previously used three 4" on my 14" bandsaw. The extra capacity adds flexability and is nice.)

I priced the 6" sewer drain PVC here in Houston and it was much more money than the 7" metal spiral duct of higher capacity. Plus the metal meets fire codes (safer) while the PVC does not.

Less money, higher capacity, and safer makes metal a very viable option to the popular 6" PVC.

It must be a regional thing, because larger sized spiral pipe and fittings were nowhere to be found around here. I would have had to order online, and then the shipping costs would have eaten me up. I can get 6 inch sewer & drain locally, and at wholesale. Much cheaper.

IM honestly not sure what I will end up going with. I am in the process of revamping my shop. New table saw (220 volt) New band saw, and I am rewiring both my belt sander and osc sander for 220. Plus moving things around for a better work flow. Once I get everything where I want, I will hone in on what size and type pipe I want to use.
This is all good info though. I appreciate the tips!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I installed this system a couple of years ago, but had to build a heavily-insulated addition on to the house for it.
Now the shop is quiet...

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