Static electricity with dust collector

[Dengue]

I have made a dust pre-separator to go between my table saw and my 2hp dust collector. After a short run cutting MDF and Masonite, I was amazed at the amount of static electricity on the hoses at the top of the pre-separator when I went to see the results. The dust had actually left tracks on the inside walls of the plastic drum, possibly from static?

My concern is the potential for a spark from the static electricity, and the fine dust flowing around, leading to a fire or possibly an explosion.

Can anyone advise if there is a problem, and how should it be overcome, please?

regards,
Jill

[glenn k]

I really have no idea but earthed metal bands around the ends of your pipes may reduce the charge.

[funkychicken]

http://www.carbatec.com.au/dust-extr...ding-kit_c1855

[Claw Hama]

Run copper wire along or around your hoses and drum back to an earth point on the extractor. this way the static will not build up and cause any sparks. The likes of Carbatec sell kits to earth extractor systems.

[Claw Hama]

There you go Funky's all over it.

[Groggy]

Jill, there will not be a fire or explosion from the dust collector. You may get zapped but that is about it.

Fire in a DC is most likely from cutting a nail or sucking in a cigarette butt.

[BobL]

Jill, there will not be a fire or explosion from the dust collector. You may get zapped but that is about it.

Fire in a DC is most likely from cutting a nail or sucking in a cigarette butt.

I agree, this one is way over hyped and IMHO those kits are designed to sell a product rather than make any sort of significant contribution to safety.

My guess is that there are dozens of greater risks and precautions that we could take in our sheds than worrying about that one.

For example how many of us have a fire extinguisher and fire alarm in our sheds?

[Enfield Guy]

It's all a myth, till someone gets hurt. Do yourself and your peace of mind a favour and earth it. Could be cheaper to buy a roll/part roll of bare copper from an auto electrician or motor winder. Either way, just do it.

[Groggy]

It's all a myth, till someone gets hurt. Do yourself and your peace of mind a favour and earth it. Could be cheaper to buy a roll/part roll of bare copper from an auto electrician or motor winder. Either way, just do it.

It IS a myth. The only danger from static electricity is getting shocked and forgetting where the blade is.

I ask anyone to find and post a single verifiable occurrence of a dust explosion from a normal domestic-style wood dust extractor; it simply does not happen. It is not worth investing money in these things unless your sole purpose is to avoid a jolt from static.

[Claw Hama]

I just stripped back some 10amp tps and did a few big coils around the flexes, couple of cable ties hold it in place and back to the dusty no more nasty little bites.

[Claw Hama]

Terrible photo but you can just see the wire and cable ties in this shot.

[tea lady]

Jill, there will not be a fire or explosion from the dust collector. You may get zapped but that is about it.

Fire in a DC is most likely from cutting a nail or sucking in a cigarette butt.

I don't think there is risk of fire from static. But we had a fire in the dust pipes at knox woodworker's cos someone cut a bit of hard wood on a band saw. Saw dust from that was hot enough to set a bit of saw dust in the pipes alight. It must have smoldered away for a few hours till it started to burn properly and a next door neighbour saw he smoke coming from under the door and got in and put the fire out before the whole place was set alight. (Dusty prolly wasn't on at the time. Or not working that well, cos there was a build up of dust in the pipes near the saw to set alight. ) (Forgot to say the fire didn't get goin gtill an hour or so after everyone had gone home. Just luck the guys in the studioo next door were around for a while.)

[beer is good]

I am very interested in this topic as I want to get a cyclone for my shed vac and I have been getting a bit worried (paranoid??) about the static electricity issue. I'm relieved that you say static is not a problem, although I was reminded about petrol tankers which are filled at the refinery from the bottom rather than from the top. Apparently, there is a risk of static from the petrol falling from the top of the tank to the bottom (when empty) and the risk of a big bang. I would be quite happy to not bother earthing my cyclone vac (when I pull my finger out) but I don't want to catch fire either.

[Dengue]

Here are a couple of really interesting articles on static and fires in dust collectiuon in the home workshop, exploding some of the myths.

Grounding PVC and Other Dust Collection Myths

The Principles of Static Electricity in a Dust Collection System

Interesting that all the static buildup is supposed to be inside the hose and the plastic drum, with the dust laden air whizzing past these surfaces (remember charging up the plastic ruler or plastic rod in static electricity experiments at school?).

So why is there so much static outside? The hairs on my arm just stand on end when near the hoses and the pre-separator . Admittedly I have 4.5m of hose that is all charged up internally

I am going to run a wire with cable ties just to stop getting zapped when I touch these things, and earth it to the frame of the shed with a portable lead with alligator clips on each end

regards,
Jill

[Claw Hama]

All ducts do it, if you look at some air conditioning grilles and see dirt all over them it doesn't mean the filters in the a/c are dirty or you have dirty air coming down the duct it is the static created at the grille as the air passes over it attracts any airborn dust and it sticks to to the surface.
I haven't had a zap since I put my copper wire on, its far more pleasant using my dusty these days.