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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Mad Max on January 08, 2025, 04:57:27 PM

Title: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Mad Max on January 08, 2025, 04:57:27 PM
Roy slacking again, so here goes. :nono: :saywhat: :bigsmyl:

Dug out a Cedar (Juniper)board to make a few Veneers, maybe

(https://i.imgur.com/aGoLQiH.jpg)
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on January 08, 2025, 09:56:36 PM
I just laid up a set of 80# recurve limbs and got them mounted on the riser. i'm doing some different lam configurations on 3 different sets.  One set will be 115 # and i'm trying a new recipe to get better longevity . My last set this heavy had compression fractures in the maple on the belly side, so i have a different plan this time.  The 3rd  set for this riser will only be 65- 70# and I could just use maple on those with .040 glass.

I'm experimenting with this Fossilized woven bamboo on the belly side. So far my tests are showing higher compression strength than maple. The epoxy infused bamboo is seriously hard stuff, but surprisingly flexible. I was afraid it might be to brittle at first, but its held up well on heavy bows so far.

[attachment=1,msg3063783
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on February 03, 2025, 06:09:05 PM
Did this today, Hard Maple backing clean break across back. Faulty board or too dry, who knows.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on February 03, 2025, 08:20:29 PM
 looks like you forgot the fiberglass. :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: onetone on February 03, 2025, 11:42:27 PM
That's always a bummer, Bue.   :tongue:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: bownarra on February 04, 2025, 01:21:37 AM
Doh...maple's grain looks angled through the board....
I've been making some Rob cosman style wood hinge business card boxes...a nice change from the bows.....
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: dbeaver on February 11, 2025, 11:35:52 AM
Bow swap and an injury has me more active online than usual, anyone have any fun projects going?

Going to twist a string up for a flip tipped pacific yew selfbow and do some final tillering later on today, got a very interesting piece of hawthorne ill start scraping on soon been rigorous to get the tips aligned with steam and theres some pretty intense natural reflex which will be fun to tiller
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on February 11, 2025, 11:47:40 AM
I just put another large piece of Osage in the wood stove... :o :o :o :o  that 8" thick  log must of weighed 30# and it's 30 years old.

Years ago I got a huge trailer load of Osage thinking there would be a lot of good bow wood. It had been brought up from California and stacked in a shed for over 20 years. She was planning on having furniture built from it originally. Unfortunately.... Most of it was checked beyond use, no stave wood at all. I saved a few pieces for riser wood, but most of it ended up in the firewood shed. Kinda sad really.... But it burns like coal...  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Burnsie on February 11, 2025, 12:16:01 PM
Quote from: Kirkll on February 11, 2025, 11:47:40 AM
I just put another large piece of Osage in the wood stove... :o :o :o :o  that 8" thick  log must of weighed 30# and it's 30 years old.

Years ago I got a huge trailer load of Osage thinking there would be a lot of good bow wood. It had been brought up from California and stacked in a shed for over 20 years. She was planning on having furniture built from it originally. Unfortunately.... Most of it was checked beyond use, no stave wood at all. I saved a few pieces for riser wood, but most of it ended up in the firewood shed. Kinda sad really.... But it burns like coal...  :thumbsup:
Yeah, Osage burns crazy hot. Have to be careful loading up a small pot belly or barrel stove with 100% osage, you'll have the sides glowing red.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: kennym on February 11, 2025, 04:32:52 PM
I have a new huntin bow in progress but its a comedy of mistakes it seems... :dunno: :help:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: dbeaver on February 11, 2025, 09:02:43 PM
Lied about the string because I ran out of my spools so it was about time to put a backing on this pacific yew before I do final tillering and shooting in

Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Burnsie on February 11, 2025, 09:11:19 PM
Wheeled out some more Osage - could be some nice staves.
[attachment=1]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on February 12, 2025, 04:48:52 AM
Elm bow with double nocks, works fine.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on February 12, 2025, 05:46:57 AM
Are they Sturgeon skins and if so may I ask where you can buy them?
Looks like a nice Osage log.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: dbeaver on February 12, 2025, 06:54:57 AM
They are sturgeon Bue, and they were gifted to me by a friend I can find out sometime today and I'll send you a PM
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Longcruise on February 12, 2025, 06:01:12 PM
Quote from: Burnsie on February 11, 2025, 09:11:19 PM
Wheeled out some more Osage - could be some nice staves.
[attachment=1,msg3065309]

Why does that have the look of a public park? 🤣
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: dbeaver on February 12, 2025, 07:54:54 PM
Unwrapping the ace bandage showed me how much glue I used hahah, squeeze out cleanup took some scraping and cleaned up the edges of the backing.   Ready for some shooting and tillering tomorrow.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Longcruise on February 12, 2025, 07:59:47 PM
Pretty bow.  Looks very predatory.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Burnsie on February 12, 2025, 08:00:40 PM
Quote from: Longcruise on February 12, 2025, 06:01:12 PM
Quote from: Burnsie on February 11, 2025, 09:11:19 PM
Wheeled out some more Osage - could be some nice staves.
[attachment=1,msg3065309]

Why does that have the look of a public park? 🤣
Local County prairie restoration/walking area.  They are clearing out all the invasive trees - honeysuckle, autumn olive...etc, and they also consider Osage as an invasive species to the area. I know some of the guys doing the clearing and they keep an eye peeled for for straight pieces and let me know before they go in the burn pile.  I have to drag/wheel them out to the parking area. I still end up rejecting a good amount of them.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Longcruise on February 12, 2025, 08:02:17 PM
That's a nice inside track.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: wooddamon1 on February 16, 2025, 08:18:38 PM
Quote from: dbeaver on February 12, 2025, 07:54:54 PM
Unwrapping the ace bandage showed me how much glue I used hahah, squeeze out cleanup took some scraping and cleaned up the edges of the backing.   Ready for some shooting and tillering tomorrow.

That's gonna be a beauty.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on February 16, 2025, 08:32:28 PM
Those sturgeon skins look awesome on there!

After dealing with the furnace acting up today I got a little work done on a snaky Osage stave. After cleaning up it's a little narrow and the handle area is quite small. So I shaped out a piece of cherry to somewhat match up then gave it a boil before tightly clamping into place. Tomorrow I'll get it glued up. Once it dried I'll glue a belly side block to thicken up the handle a bit more before I start tillering. There are still a few cracks that need attention before tillering. But it looks better than I expected it to before digging in

Kyle
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Mad Max on February 17, 2025, 04:37:44 PM
That's going to be a looker Kyle  :o
:jumper:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jeff tech on March 14, 2025, 05:02:35 PM
Finished a 68" Longbow for my  boss. 43# at 31"
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 18, 2025, 08:38:15 AM
Experimental recurve ! Its coming along.
[attachment=1,msg3066830][attachment=2,msg3066830][attachment=3,msg3066830]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on March 18, 2025, 11:08:46 AM
Nicely done. Great string angle at full draw, and good looking DFC chart too. Looks like a winner to me. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Shootrj2003 on March 18, 2025, 11:38:48 PM
I debarked the six staves I split from an ash log a tree crew had leftup in the reservoir dam area . It was free,still green and asking for a ride.This is my first try at this and while I got two good straight staves and three that might just make curvy kind of crazy bows and one that was only just arrows I did learn about splitting right .I might have done better by paying better attention to where I split it .but it was free and to give myself a little credit there were knots in wrong spots, some tree fungus and bruised areas from the felling actions ,all these things can obviously happen to a log even if it is perfectly straight and this was not perfectly straight but not horrilbly crooked just enough to screw things a bit.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: B-JS on March 23, 2025, 02:09:35 PM
I finally got myself a proper Drilling/Milling Machine, for Bolt-down and ILF.

No more Drilling jigs, that will eventually wear out.

Completely different feeling, deep regrett, i waited so long.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on March 23, 2025, 08:12:04 PM
Do you have a power feed for you X axis set up?  That is a full monty DRO set up...

This is the one i put on mine. It's a variable speed control that is very nice for milling.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/301148098764?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=301148098764&targetid=4581046493380274&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603247657&mkgroupid=1239150647972013&rlsatarget=pla-4581046493380274&abcId=9316139&merchantid=51291&msclkid=c632d6541c6a1e29601fb1b4bd9620cd

What type of vice do you have on that table?    Kirk
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: B-JS on March 24, 2025, 01:38:14 AM
No Power Feed.
For the ILF Limbs, it works by Hand Operation or with assist of a cordless screwdriver.

I'll see, what else i will be doing with this new toy.

The Vice is a self centering one for about 100€.
Maybe i'll Upgrade this in the Future, but does the Job for now.

Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on March 24, 2025, 09:46:35 PM
Trust me.... the power feed is a game changer with milling ILF risers....  I would recommend looking on ebay to find a good high quality Kurt vise... Your machine work is only as good as your vise holding the product, and well worth the investment.

I've got an older Kurt vise here that i had a couple of 1/4" steel plates fabricated to help me hold my riser blocks at different angles with enough height to keep from flipping your riser end for end. Those so called self centering vises can give you problems. Watch that baby closely.... It's always best to never flip that riser around and mill everything in a straight line. and ALWAYS check dead center and zero out your DRO with every set up after the riser has been placed in the vise.   You'll figure it out yourself as you go along. I just thought i'd share a few tips.   Any type of machinist work is all in the set up, and learning the feed rates and type of mill ends or cutters to use. For riser work i typically use router bits and end mills for setting location pins accurately.

Here is my set up.... I cheaped out on DRO and used slide micrometers for XYZ axis.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CuHzJm2a2sJ8Swiu8

Have fun with your new toy!  These things are great tools.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: B-JS on March 25, 2025, 09:56:31 AM
Thanks for the hints.

I check for propper Zero and straightness before i drill.
After the Initial Setup, that took me like 1h for perfekt allignment, IT seems to stay true.

The only "milling" at the Moment is the Slot at the but of the ILF Limbs.
Bur this alone, is an absolute gamechanger compared to Drilling this with jigs....

The Vice was 100€ it does the Job, for the start.
I'll Upgrade this in the Future.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on March 27, 2025, 10:14:04 PM
I just finished up another Sasquatch SS RC.....

Here is the build album if you want to take a look.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/K24Yz3gEbmN4nEhC9

[attachment=1,msg3067416]

[attachment=2,msg3067416]

[attachment=3,msg3067416]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on March 28, 2025, 04:20:50 AM
Nice bow Kirk.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Burnsie on March 28, 2025, 09:17:22 PM
Finished up a stave vice I've been working on. I also plan to mount a conventional vice on a plate that I can swap out with the square tube. Supposed to rain this weekend, so I may get a chance to try it out.
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on March 28, 2025, 11:08:34 PM
Wish me luck.
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on March 28, 2025, 11:09:27 PM
[attachment=1]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: BO-R on March 29, 2025, 09:03:51 AM
Quote from: B-JS on March 23, 2025, 02:09:35 PM
I finally got myself a proper Drilling/Milling Machine, for Bolt-down and ILF.

No more Drilling jigs, that will eventually wear out.

Completely different feeling, deep regrett, i waited so long.


Good move, I love mine...makes all things good again!
Agree with Kirk... the powerfeed is a game changer, I found mine on alibaba for 130.00
good milling!
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: BO-R on March 29, 2025, 09:05:21 AM
Quote from: Bryan Adolphe on March 18, 2025, 08:38:15 AM
Experimental recurve ! Its coming along.
[attachment=1,msg3066830][attachment=2,msg3066830][attachment=3,msg3066830]
/quote]
Nice looking setup there...still working on my static design..
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: BO-R on March 31, 2025, 11:17:32 AM
I generally build recurves mostly, but laid out a takedown hybrid.
gonna be 61.5" 45@28"
[attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3][attachment=4]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on March 31, 2025, 12:22:40 PM
Looking good.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 31, 2025, 02:48:30 PM
Very nice,
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on March 31, 2025, 07:38:12 PM
BO-R.       I sent you a PM
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Shootrj2003 on April 07, 2025, 08:57:27 PM
Waiting for my rawhide backed bow to dry and started roughing out a green ash stave theres bends and a twist to steam bend out so it's a challenge for my 2 nd bow  but I'm gonna try I'll use my steamer that I use for rust blueing barrels.its also got a twist that needs untwisting by about 3/4" just ahead of the handle, bending and untwisting wood is a new skill to me but I have the equipment at least, any advice is welcome.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: dbeaver on April 08, 2025, 08:31:25 AM
a bit of advice for your 2nd attempt.

Some say wet wood wet heat and with that steam for a bit longer than you think.  the difference between 38 minutes and 45 minutes can sometimes be the difference between cracking fibers or working with rubber wood.  Keep it a tad thick so if you do get some stress fractures you can shave down past them and still achieve your desired thickness.  you could boil the whole limb if you fancied but that takes some interesting setup. Take care of one major correction at a time and let it sit in whatever clamping setup for longer than youd like as well, ive jumped the gun and erased heat corrections ive made many many times.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: kennym on April 09, 2025, 11:10:09 AM
My widebelt sander ran the belt off the end this morning, investigation found an air solenoid was leaking, hoping it was a hose but nope.

Nothin $115 wont fix but I'm down for 3 days .

It is 14 years old tho...

I'd buy a new one but they are over 8K and I may not have 14 more years in me! :laughing:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 09, 2025, 01:21:37 PM
Quote from: kennym on April 09, 2025, 11:10:09 AM
My widebelt sander ran the belt off the end this morning, investigation found an air solenoid was leaking, hoping it was a hose but nope.

Nothin $115 wont fix but I'm down for 3 days .

It is 14 years old tho...

I'd buy a new one but they are over 8K and I may not have 14 more years in me! :laughing:

What kind of sander is this Kenny?   Air solenoid ????  :dunno: :dunno:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: kennym on April 09, 2025, 04:10:25 PM
Griz widebelt. The air runs the belt back and forth an inch or so. Thought about disabling it but figured I could screw it up... :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on April 09, 2025, 10:02:06 PM
Shaped a bow today. Overshot my desired draw weight by 18lbs and I'm not sure why. May need more taper.  I had one tapered lam @ 001. May need to try two tapered lams.
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
[attachment=3]
[attachment=4]
[attachment=5]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: kennym on April 11, 2025, 04:42:56 PM
Got sander up, Grizzly service is awesome.  Ordered part Wednesday, got it Thursday with 2 day shipping  :thumbsup: .

Didn't fix it so called tech support this morning and the techy went over the whole problem and we tried some different things.

It started working but I'm still not sure what fixed it. I'm thinking low air pressure wasn't cycling the solenoids.

But anyway it is back to work now! :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 12, 2025, 06:02:28 AM
I'm thinking low air pressure wasn't cycling the solenoids.

Wonder how that happened?:)
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: kennym on April 12, 2025, 08:25:36 AM
Operator error I think, it had an air cylinder that got loose on one end, and I lowered the pressure while figuring out the noise. Never turned back up, but it worked for a long time like that...  :tongue:

So I'm still not sure what fixed it... :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 12, 2025, 09:08:04 AM
Good job big dog:) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on April 13, 2025, 05:40:27 PM
New design glass bow on the tiller for the first time. 64» ntn. Came out with almost even tiller on both limbs, just a tiny bit of adjustment to be done. Pics show bow drawn to 20-29 and 30 inch draw.

[attachment=5,msg3068153]

Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Longcruise on April 13, 2025, 07:48:01 PM
I like the way it bends.   
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 14, 2025, 12:17:19 PM
Nice looking bend to that one. :clapper: :clapper:

Did you use tip wedges?  and....What taper rates did you use?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on April 14, 2025, 03:09:01 PM
Kirk, here you go. The tapered lam has a .003 forward taper and the last 6 1/2 inches before string nocks goes into a .004 reverse taper, kind of a integrated wedge.
Specs: lengt 64 inches ntn.
From belly side:
Bjorn glass .040
European Walnut thin veneer
Tapered bamboo
Riser 22 inches
Bamboo parallel
Bamboo parallel
Stabil kore
Walnut veneer
Bjorn glass
Riser is made from 3 pieces of Jatoba glued in I beam configuration.
As this one is the first off new form we shall see how it work out.
Have adjusted it today so tiller is dead even on both limbs measured from three points both on brace and 20 inch draw.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 15, 2025, 10:45:17 AM
Looks like a winner to me.... I thought it looked as if you had a tip wedge. I bet you get decent performance with that one too. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on April 15, 2025, 11:56:24 AM
Kirk.Don't know if you read it all, but I mention a tip wedge, kind of. :)
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: BO-R on April 15, 2025, 02:51:37 PM
Nice Job!...Bue
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Shootrj2003 on April 15, 2025, 08:53:51 PM
Quote from: dbeaver on April 08, 2025, 08:31:25 AM
a bit of advice for your 2nd attempt.

Some say wet wood wet heat and with that steam for a bit longer than you think.  the difference between 38 minutes and 45 minutes can sometimes be the difference between cracking fibers or working with rubber wood.  Keep it a tad thick so if you do get some stress fractures you can shave down past them and still achieve your desired thickness.  you could boil the whole limb if you fancied but that takes some interesting setup. Take care of one major correction at a time and let it sit in whatever clamping setup for longer than youd like as well, ive jumped the gun and erased heat corrections ive made many many times.
Thank you for the hints, I've  for all intents finished the rawhide backed bow and it taught me a lot , I ended with a 40 lb bow but not befor a handle lamination let go for the third time after the rawhide was finished better handle design on the next one I reglued snd clamped this time then reinforced it with a rawhide handle wrap after it dryer I painted it with clear epoxy and wieghed it on the tiller tree -back up to 40 lbs then shot it for an hour no problems so I guess it is what it is , it's a bow that shoots and I wanted to make one before I kick off! Well now I have two more in the works and several green staves ! ( I guess I'm hooked) thank you for help!
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Pat B on April 16, 2025, 08:06:36 AM
If your handle is popping off it is probably because the handle area is bending. It doesn't take much bending for that to happen. One thing you can try is making the handle riser from thin layers of graduating lengths. These types of handles risers have enough give so they stay in place unlike a rigid handle riser.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 17, 2025, 09:28:21 PM
Well, it's a liitle bit hard to do but I started dismantling the woodshop. About 5 yrs ago when I learned how to build bows I partitioned off the 3rd bay in the garage and got set up for woodworking, but mainly bow building.
The time has come to get the house ready to sell and its getting all torn down before the move. I'm gonna sell the big cabinet saw and get all my tools on mobile bases. I'm gonna try and get the dust collection consolidated and mobile as well.

All that to say, I got one last bow finished.

This one was intended for Kenny in the bow swap but came in originally at 60# somehow. I did get her backed off to 52@28. I love shooting this bow though and it looks like I just got to get stronger. 60# at my draw length, but I shoot it well.

Even though it will probably be until next winter before I dig into another build, I'll be lurking around on here to see what you all got going on.  :archer2:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on April 18, 2025, 06:55:48 PM
Excellent attention to detail Jon. Just beautiful.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 19, 2025, 02:16:11 PM
That's a very cool overlay transition from the riser to limb connection point. Can't say i've ever seen that one pulled off... Nicely done Jon. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:

That's sad you have to move... Why are you selling your place and moving?  Greener pastures, Bigger shop next time?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 19, 2025, 02:51:33 PM
Thanks guys.

Moving just to build equity. I was a custom home builder for years and used to move a fair bit. Before our current home we lived in 3 houses in 8 yrs. Been in our current home 9yrs and now the youngest is in college. So we will most likely build 3 more homes and move every 2 yrs until we settle down for a bit.

No dedicated shop in the new home so will be putting all the fools on wheels so I can pull them out every once in a while.

The new garage has a 3rd bay that is 20'x53' in which i will be doing PPF wraps on cars for some side money. I really enjoy doing them as I did do Custom Auto Painting in my 20's for 9 yrs.

Here is an example of my wifes car I wrapped in cosmetic PPF last month.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 20, 2025, 11:45:53 AM
Wow!  Is this the same material that they wrap boat hulls with?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 20, 2025, 12:14:36 PM
Not sure about boats. This PPF is  Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). Traditionally used in a clear form on the front end of cars to protect from rock/bug chips and road debris.
This is were the cosmetic wrap industry is leaning bs a normal vinyl wrap. Typical vinyls are 2-2.5 mils thick vs PPF coming in at 7.5-8.5 mils.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 21, 2025, 11:16:56 AM
Wow! That's some pretty thick material.... Can you repair a scratch in it without replacing a whole section? Or can you heat it and pull it off again?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 21, 2025, 11:39:50 AM
Small superficial scratches like the stuff you get going through a car wash will self heal on a hot sunny day or with a heat gun. A painted surface would need to be polished to remove that type of scratch.

Anything that mars the film without tearing it can be heated up and mostly healed. Worst case, you pull the film off that panel and re-wrap it.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 21, 2025, 11:43:28 AM
Different Brand than what I have used so far, but this is an example of how it heals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc7FAIMlU2o
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on April 24, 2025, 04:36:21 AM
Made a shopvac port for my pattern sander. I 3d printed it with a magnetic base so that I can stick it down anywhere on the table. It's so much nicer than trying to clamp something down.
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Smguinnip on April 24, 2025, 09:01:13 PM
Took a short cut today, using a grinder with an aggressive wheel to save time shaping a bow for a friend and got careless.[attachment=1,msg3068659] wasn't trying to grind the tip, just flipping the bow over to work on the other side with bow in one hand and grinder in the other.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 24, 2025, 09:11:23 PM
Dang it. Those were looking good too.
You can probable still save that if the glass is ground out too far. It'll just be a short base on the tip but still look decent.
Besides, less tip overlay=faster tips....Trying to look at the bright side :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Smguinnip on April 24, 2025, 09:16:38 PM
That thought crossed my mind, but I might try and grind it down to the glass and start over. Luckily, it barely nicked the glass, either way, I'm pretty sure it can be saved.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 25, 2025, 09:14:44 AM
Quote from: Smguinnip on April 24, 2025, 09:16:38 PM
That thought crossed my mind, but I might try and grind it down to the glass and start over. Luckily, it barely nicked the glass, either way, I'm pretty sure it can be saved.

Agreed
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 25, 2025, 12:45:22 PM
Don't feel bad bro... we all get our share of oooops! going on.   I'd take em off myself and start again too.  That's the part about using power tools to save time that can be expensive sometimes. one wrong move and its toast.... :biglaugh:

I use a dremel tool with a ceramic tile bit to rough cut my tip notch grooves. I learned the hard way to dull up the brand new bits on a piece of steel and knock the edge off. Those brand new ceramic bits eat like a lion! I ended up piking a few bows an inch shorter because of that lion... :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jeff tech on April 25, 2025, 05:43:17 PM
Glued up another  66"  straight longbow.  #60. 45 to 47 lb at 28 in the razor is the Cody Osage and Wenger
Limbs are Osage under clear glass Amber action Boo from a flooring that I cut down and grind. Going to be a sweet one going to North Dakota.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on April 25, 2025, 08:10:52 PM
Quote from: Jon Lipovac on April 17, 2025, 09:28:21 PM
Well, it's a liitle bit hard to do but I started dismantling the woodshop. About 5 yrs ago when I learned how to build bows I partitioned off the 3rd bay in the garage and got set up for woodworking, but mainly bow building.
The time has come to get the house ready to sell and its getting all torn down before the move. I'm gonna sell the big cabinet saw and get all my tools on mobile bases. I'm gonna try and get the dust collection consolidated and mobile as well.



All that to say, I got one last bow finished.

This one was intended for Kenny in the bow swap but came in originally at 60# somehow. I did get her backed off to 52@28. I love shooting this bow though and it looks like I just got to get stronger. 60# at my draw length, but I shoot it well.

Even though it will probably be until next winter before I dig into another build, I'll be lurking around on here to see what you all got going on.  :archer2:

Man thats pretty!!
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jeff tech on April 26, 2025, 06:44:55 PM
Working on a 66" straight  longbow.  Roughing it in and Working to my target  poundage
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jeff tech on April 26, 2025, 06:46:38 PM
And the palm side
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on April 26, 2025, 07:15:55 PM
Quote from: Jon Lipovac on April 24, 2025, 09:11:23 PM
Dang it. Those were looking good too.
You can probable still save that if the glass is ground out too far. It'll just be a short base on the tip but still look decent.
Besides, less tip overlay=faster tips....Trying to look at the bright side :bigsmyl:
you ever thought about dual string grooves?  Saw it once. One for practice and one for hunting switch string and move to lower string grooves and niw you are at hunting poundage.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Longcruise on April 27, 2025, 06:06:15 PM
Quote from: Jeff tech on April 26, 2025, 06:46:38 PM
And the palm side

How are you liking that asymmetrical riser design?  I've been doing it on my rd style but not so far on a longbow.   How long is the riser?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jeff tech on April 27, 2025, 08:47:40 PM
.my riser on a 66" longbow is 16-1/2" on a 28" draw.been working out great
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jeff tech on April 28, 2025, 08:35:14 PM
.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 28, 2025, 09:52:16 PM
Quote from: Jeff tech on April 28, 2025, 08:35:14 PM
Better speed with a longer riser on a 66'longbow at 28". Shorter working limb. It will  stack at 29" 3# pounds.  Max efficiency and  comfort at 28"

Your 66'' bow starts stacking at 29" ???   That doesn't sound right....

I can get 33" out of a 66" and 31" on a 64" on my long bows ....and... i use a 22" riser fade tip to tip and power lams beyond the fades 4".   :dunno: :dunno:

.004 FT with Bamboo cores. .040 glass.     Kirk
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on April 30, 2025, 06:58:40 AM
Got tired of riser glue up being so annoying, so I made some clamps from flat bar and coupling nuts I tapped.  Worked well on the first go. I may re-make the setup with 4 clamps instead of three tho.
[attachment=1]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on April 30, 2025, 11:54:29 AM
That's a pretty cool riser clamp set up .... :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: B-JS on April 30, 2025, 02:02:52 PM
Almost finished a nice Bocote ILF Riser.
Will get some SR Limbs at the Weekend.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on April 30, 2025, 02:05:40 PM
Thanks Kirk. I'd love some of those rockler mini panel clamps, but they're just so dang expensive. I'm happy with how these came out.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 02, 2025, 01:19:41 PM
These are the clamps i like...

https://www.amazon.com/IRWINQUICK-GRIPOne-Handed-Bar-Clamp-Medium-Duty-1964718/dp/B001DK7SJM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39OSRXPA3N3RM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pAhjWsr97uVWjRrTTIJwRztzwqLfQWlSqkbUfS51w10pGzOvwyvsD6HITVqB_6xavzR66xbTN37YgjRoUw1tiZov1D1F8qRatnV1NBxiIsasncdnJbgBy5EC_0lA0H-88mUmO_k5PV4cPUJ_kmuATWiACIyk-PoKdc6GuBreMbrgMd3ZrEO2sFkd1MLTLtN5YYNtfqW3u0T725eT5XN_ghnc-WjF2rTmF48uc6Kq8EVwWW7EJpy3ZZ2E-KK0jwl0f5qwHMGRh_C86uM1bOpmwul_vqfZwo32pxNHULAsIR8.EFxN_qf-DJx6dfptYL-7-Um96tDQhPtHRlfqP9sY6pI&dib_tag=se&keywords=irwin%2Bquick%2Bgrip%2Bclamps&qid=1746206264&sprefix=%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1&th=1
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Brian from GA on May 04, 2025, 09:48:42 PM
Got some bows done. I still don't have a way to spray finish so a buddy of mine sprayed them at his paint and body shop. Got them back today. I think I'm going to build a paint booth in a small modular shed. I've got to figure something out. He sprayed them in gloss, but I'm hoping an extra fine brillo pad will knock down some of the sheen once they're fully cured. They all shot within 10-15 fps of each other with some variance in draw weight. Best speed was 191fps. Learned a ton. Gonna learn a ton more with the next batch.
[attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3]
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 04, 2025, 09:54:44 PM
Quote from: Brian from GA on May 04, 2025, 09:48:42 PM
Got some bows done. I still don't have a way to spray finish so a buddy of mine sprayed them at his paint and body shop. Got them back today. I think I'm going to build a paint booth in a small modular shed. I've got to figure something out. He sprayed them in gloss, but I'm hoping an extra fine brillo pad will knock down some of the sheen once they're fully cured. They all shot within 10-15 fps of each other with some variance in draw weight. Best speed was 191fps. Learned a ton. Gonna learn a ton more with the next batch.

0000 steel wool will take the shine off and give you a satin finish... They also make an extra fine scotch bright pad ...........Then buff it out with a cotton rag. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075B1XTW2/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=2be598973ff212306cb700498f504dce&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1746410246&sr=1-3-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_dlcd_asin_1_title&pd_rd_w=RvvQx&content-id=amzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942%3Aamzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&pf_rd_p=8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&pf_rd_r=KS40DR884BY2KGBEXR8Q&pd_rd_wg=sNeeU&pd_rd_r=9850ba75-8d4f-4efa-b205-e7bd55060eb9 
     Kirk
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 05, 2025, 10:47:12 PM
All but finished uo the mobile dust collector.
Not super excited about the box collector at the bottom.
If its end up a giant hassle to clean, I'll build a drawer for it later.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Buemaker on May 06, 2025, 07:00:13 AM
Setting up a new shop?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 06, 2025, 10:15:06 AM
What's the big gray cylinder for?  I built my own too and it doesn't look anything like yours... :dunno: :dunno:   I'm scratching my head here trying to figure out how this thing works....where does the dust go?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 06, 2025, 10:34:58 AM
The dust enters the cyclone below the blower and centrifugal force separates the dust from the airflow and drops straight down into the bottom box. Only the super fine dust makes it through the impeller on the fan and the larger gray cylinders are Merv 15 air filters that filter down to .3 microns.

I've still got to build a door for the base. What looks like storage underneath is where all the dust will go.

Here is a picture of the set up mounted on the wall.

Buemaker, I used to be a homebuilder and now that the kids are gone, my wife and I are gonna build a new home every couple of years for a while to build equity towards retirement. Hence, I wont have a 'static' shop for a while. All the tools will be mobile for a while
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 07, 2025, 12:39:33 AM
Thanks Jon... I get it now... I just run my exhaust outside.  I can tell when my sawdust collection barrel is full by how much sawdust it's blowing outside. :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 07, 2025, 09:00:32 AM
Yep, consider that a luxury. Living in town that is definitely not an option for me
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Burnsie on May 07, 2025, 12:51:49 PM
Jon, is that a commercial dust collection system that you made modifications to, or did you build it from various separate pieces. 
Do you have any info on what you used  - I need something for my shop - would cut down on a lot of sweeping and runnning the shop vac.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: mmattockx on May 07, 2025, 06:45:17 PM
Quote from: Burnsie on May 07, 2025, 12:51:49 PM
Jon, is that a commercial dust collection system that you made modifications to, or did you build it from various separate pieces. 
Do you have any info on what you used  - I need something for my shop - would cut down on a lot of sweeping and runnning the shop vac.

If you want simple and lower cost you can get a big improvement with just a shop vac and Dust Deputy system. Biggest downsides are the vacuum is noisy and you can't run a large permanent duct network off it.


Mark
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 07, 2025, 07:14:09 PM
I lost all the good photos I had on photobucket when I first built mine back in about 2008.  But it was pretty simple...

I started out with a heavy duty plastic garbage can that I set on 3.5" blocks of wood. Then I built a round top that fit perfectly in the garbage can with a 6" hole in it. Then I built a cone from sheets of Formica I had left over from different jobs I did over the years and just taped it together with industrial sheet metal tape. The cone was about 4' high and 24" at the top. At the top I built a box about 10" high x 24" x 24" that the top of the cone fit into. Note.... I used another piece of Formica inside that top box that made a 24" circle. The 2 hp blower I mounted on the top of my spray booth and ran a 6" pipe to the box offsetting the hole so it came in on one corner so as to start the airflow in a circular motion or cyclone pattern.  Btw... that's what they call these things are "cyclone" dust collectors.  The pipe going to your equipment comes into the top portion of the cone like the picture Jon provided....  I made mine intake line 6" at that point and ran a 6" trunk line across the ceiling, then ran 4" drops to my machines. This increases the air volume using bigger pipes and picks up more fine airborne particles.  If you reduce the pipe size down to 2"  it will have more suction .... But... it will not pull the same volume of air. Always stay with a larger 4" line to your machines if possible.

Like I said before I just ran my exhaust outside, and it does blow a little dust outside, but not much really.

To empty my garbage can that has collected dust, I just pull out the blocks holding it in position and the top stays attached to the cone.... Crude but effective.

When I first built mine I used and old 10" furnace fan I had, and all kinds of pipe I had stashed under the shop. I used sewer pipe, stove pipe, furnace duct work and pvc pipe too.  The whole system took me a couple days to build,  but out of pocket expense was almost zero... I just used stuff I already had in the shop.

I ran that fan 10 years before it crapped out, and I bought a big 2 hp blower motor to replace it... that baby will suck a cat up a 4" line no problem...lol

There are a bunch of small setups that can be built for shop vacs instead of running a big blower too... check it out

https://www.google.com/search?q=home+made+dyclone+dust+collectors&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS764US764&oq=home+made+dyclone+dust+collectors&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTEzMzY3ajBqN6gCDrACAeIDBBgBIF8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8


Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 07, 2025, 09:13:11 PM
Burnsie,

I agree with everything Kirk said. 6" is the way to go if it fits into tour system. The only thing I dod different was to run 6" all the way to the tools. The reason is that it does not restrict the volume of air the fan is trying to pull. I did have a 6" drop that Y'd off to (2) 4" ports. It went vertical 7' before it turned horizontal towards the collector. With just one 4" gate open you could here the fan working hard and had some decent suction and good airflow. But when I opened both 4" gates you could here that fan breath and it would clear the whole line of heavier debris loke screws and such that 4" alone would not pull. One of those 4" lines was on a 20'x4"hose for cleaning the shop. The other went to a bandsaw.

I bought a 2ho Delta fan off FB Market place for $175

Oneida XL 6" Dust Deputy $240

The Merv 15 airfilters came from Pennstateind.com (2)$250/each

I soent time reading up on systems at Billpentz.com

This guy made it his life mission after suffering health issues due to poor dust collection while woodworking.

Good info if you like to get in the weeds.

Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on May 07, 2025, 11:05:58 PM
Question. Im building my system, its a 1 1/2 hp wen. I was thinking about running my 4" pipe at about 40" off ground almost directly behind my equipment. My dust collection will be in my back garage wuth a rockler cyclone kit in a trash can. My thought is if I keep the pipe low I can just run 3-4' of flex to the machine off the Y's no need to suck the dust up the wall and long runs of pipe to get it up there. Where my collection will be is 2' below my shop. Do you think this will be more efficient or should I just run up to ceiling?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: dbeaver on May 08, 2025, 08:58:51 AM
Jay anything thats airtight will work.  But youll absolutely be better off with as much of the widest hard line for the system for as long as you can manage before either going flexible or reducing size. If you can do it, reduce it right at your mahcine.

Edit: Read the question wrong i think that sounds good.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 08, 2025, 07:11:44 PM
Quote from: Watsonjay on May 07, 2025, 11:05:58 PM
Question. Im building my system, its a 1 1/2 hp wen. I was thinking about running my 4" pipe at about 40" off ground almost directly behind my equipment. My dust collection will be in my back garage wuth a rockler cyclone kit in a trash can. My thought is if I keep the pipe low I can just run 3-4' of flex to the machine off the Y's no need to suck the dust up the wall and long runs of pipe to get it up there. Where my collection will be is 2' below my shop. Do you think this will be more efficient or should I just run up to ceiling?


I'd highly recommend using a 6" trunk line and use hard pipe as much as possible. The flex pipe slows the air velocity a certain amount.

I think if I had to build my system again, or should I consider doing a little remolding. I think I would put some shut off gates in the trunk line to help maintain higher pressure for my sanders closer to the fan. I don't use the line for my table saw anymore because the distance of the trunk across the ceiling , and the 4" drop line down to the saw were too great to pull the larger sawdust particles up 10' and it was getting clogged up too often. About the only thing I use my dust collection system for are the sanders anymore.      Kirk
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on May 08, 2025, 07:57:42 PM
I have a small shop and very little equipment. I have all my equipment on wheels and have to pull them off the wall to use. Drum sander , spindle sander, small edge sander, and bandsaw. My table saw is in another area of garage. Ill only have 5 connections with y's off of one straight pipe to the cyclone so only corners will be the y!s at each machine. Each machine will have a blast gate. You saying i should divide the straight pipe with another blast gate?  Each machine will have 3-4 foot flex so I can pull it away from wall to use, then push it back. Machines on one side of 10x20 shop workbench and wood/materials shelves on the other side. Desk at the end. Would you recommend an order to the equipment closest to dust collector first?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 09, 2025, 10:37:39 AM
In theory .... If your system was truly air tight and pressurized,  it will not make any difference at all. But I've noticed a loss of air volume at the furthest drop and the efficiency is better closer to the blower. That's probably due to my home made blast gates that are not completely air tight, and I've got too many lines running off my trunk line. And.... It's a pretty red neck collection of piping. My whole cyclone system is almost 10' high.  Here are a few photos..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cZ1QHYQbweBJHoDMA

In your case with only one straight trunk line, I see no advantage to putting blast gates in the trunk line. Can I assume your blast gates are at each drop location, and right at the Y before your flex line goes to the machine?  Are the blast gates working well? 

Why most guys are disappointed in their system is that they are not running a large enough blower, or using a shop vac . And... running 4" trunk lines with 2" drops cut the air volume way down. Even a 4" trunk with 4" drops will not be as efficient as a 6" trunk line.   A 10" blower like a standard furnace uses will work excellent. I ran one of those for years on my red neck dust collector just fine.

When I upgraded to a larger 2 hp blower I honestly didn't gain that much in my system... it makes more noise than the furnace fan did too.

Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 09, 2025, 10:58:04 AM
I'm gonna put this out there from Bill Pentz's site. Although long, it's good information and a good goal to strive for in dust collection. This is what I used as a baseline when designing my system. An air meter to measure air speed is a great tool to have to see how your system is actually performing at the tool.

Food for thought.

This was written years ago and he highly promotes his own cyclone. The Oneida Dust Deputy I use has been amazing and for every 100 gallons of dust in my bin, I might have a quart of fine dust make it to the filters.

Good Collection
Good fine dust collection is a pain, particularly for woodworkers. Most incorrectly think we can eliminate our fine dust problems by wearing a good dual cartridge filtered mask whenever we make fine dust. A good respirator mask like this is a must because some shop activities create more dust than we can control. Others, including me at one time, foolishly believe that if we buy and install a good dust collector or cyclone with fine filters that we will end up well protected. Likewise, a good dust collector or cyclone also helps, but we still need to do more things to ensure we do not contaminate our offices, homes, and vehicles. Likewise, many wrongly believe that a good air cleaner will provide good fine dust protection, when in fact many air cleaners make things worse. To get fine dust well collected we need to know a lot more about dust collection. Here are some of the reasons why good fine dust collection poses more difficulty and expense than getting good fine dust protection or getting good "chip collection" which collects the same dust we sweep up with a broom.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) rules require collecting the heavier sawdust, chips, shavings, and wood strings that fall to our floors and work surfaces. Many experts call collecting this fallen material that we would otherwise sweep up with a broom "chip collection". Most small shop dust collectors, cyclones, and vacuums only do chip collection. Likewise most tools either have no built in dust collection or come with hoods that only provide good chip collection.

OSHA testing shows roughly every one hundred pounds of sawdust created contains about 5 pounds of airborne dust. By definition airborne wood dust consists of particles sized 30-microns and smaller. Airborne dust when vented outside settles slowly enough in typical outdoor breezes that it dissipates without a trace.

Airborne dust is fairly evenly distributed by weight meaning the weight of particles sized 0 to 10-microns is about the same as the weight of particles sized 10 to 20 microns and to 20 to 30-microns. This means about one third of airborne dust consists of fine invisible dust particles and the other two thirds consists of visible particles.

Visible airborne dust particles, meaning 10 to 30-microns quickly settle in normal room air currents. These visible airborne dust particles ruin freshly painted finishes. Traditional air cleaners filter off these larger visible airborne particles and protect our finishes.

By definition fine dust also known as inhalable dust by the medical world consists of fine dust particles sized under 10-microns. Because our eyes cannot see particles smaller than 10-microns without magnification, these particles are invisible. Even huge buildups of fine dust particles remain invisible. These fine dust particles are so fine and light they don't settle quickly in normal room air currents which is why they behave like an odor and rapidly fill all shared air. They are so fine and light they also almost never break the surface tension enough to harm our finishes. Unfortunately, these fine invisible dust particles go right past our bodies' normal protections and cause the most harm to our health. The different sized invisible fine dust particles cause problems in different areas of our respiratory systems as shown in the above particle distribution graphic. Most advertised fine filters for our shop vacuums, air cleaners, dust collectors, and cyclones along with too many dust mask filters freely pass fine dust particles right through so these things do a poor job helping to protect our health.

Woodworking makes huge amounts of fine dust compared to how little it takes to cause us harm. Based on carefully verified peer reviewed medical research, the EPA will shut down an office building if the airborne fine dust level exceeds more than 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/c3). Roughly one pound out of every twenty pounds of sawdust that we make consists of airborne dust and one third of this airborne dust consists of fine dust. One third of this dust is about 5 1/3 ounces by weight. There are 28349.5231 milligrams in each ounce so every twenty pounds of sawdust we make contains about 5 1/3 ounces which is over 151,000 milligrams. This is a lot! A typical two-car garage sized shop contains less than 100 cubic meters of air (about 90 c3), so just 10 milligrams of fine dust launched airborne will cause an average shop to fail an EPA air quality test. Our over 151,000 milligrams of fine dust in every twenty pounds of sawdust is enough fine dust to cause over 15,000 typical two-car garage sized shops to fail their EPA air quality tests. If we have a good dust collection that only misses 1% of the fine dust we still contaminate our shops with enough fine dust to cause 150 typical small shops to fail their air quality tests.

Woodworking makes lots of fine invisible dust even when using hand tools. To better understand think of wood as made up thin glass tubes lightly glued together. When we make that near perfect long shaving with our razor sharp hand plane at a microscopic level we actually drive a sharp steel wedge slashing through these glass tubes. The cutting shatters and launches all kinds of tiny airborne shards such as the particles shown on the electron microscope picture on the right. Many have written that their sensitive particle counters show almost every hand tool and other woodworking operation generates lots of fine dust even when we produce little or no larger sawdust particles.

Normal room air currents will keep fine dust airborne and these same air currents will launch previously made fine dust airborne repeatedly.

The fine dust takes a very long time to dissipate, particularly in closed shops.

Electron microscope images show fine wood dust with the same long sharp often barbed shapes found with asbestos and fiberglass which cause asbestosis and silicosis.

Although we make fine dust by the pound just two tiny thimblefuls of fine dust cause a large two-car garage sized shop to fail all of the different air quality tests both by weight and particle counts. We can launch this much fine dust by beating our shop apron.

Our tools lack the hoods needed to contain and control the faster moving air streams so they spray the fine dust away and miss collecting much of the fine dust.

Our dust collectors and cyclones move too little air to provide good fine dust collection. We all know when we put on vacuum hose on the blow port we can blow dust all over but that same hose when sucking will only pickup next to the nozzle. Air pulled by a vacuum comes from all directions at once so airspeed drops off at over twelve times the distance squared. In short, our vacuum lacks the incoming air speed needed to pickup except very close to the nozzle. The same is true for fine dust as normal room air currents will blow the fine dust away unless we move a huge volume of air right around the working areas of our tools. Those commercial firms that guarantee customer air quality long ago through careful testing and decades of experience developed tables that show exactly how much air we need to move near each of our stationary tools. They found most small shop stationary tools need about 1000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of airflow to have good fine dust collection and only need about 350 CFM for good "chip collection". When we add the overhead resistance of our hoods, flex hose, ducting, and filters almost all dust collectors under 3 hp and cyclones under 5 hp fail to move this needed 1000 CFM.

Air at typical dust collection pressures will hardly compress so duct diameter and resistance sets maximum airflow at a given pressure. Most of our ducting and tool ports are too small to carry the needed air volumes.

The more air a blower moves the more power or amperage that the blower motor uses. If we shut off the airflow our blowers idle using the least power. If we open all up wide then our blower draws the most power. Dust collector blowers must overcome the resistance of our tool hoods, flex hose, ducting, and filters. Cyclone blowers must also overcome the high resistance from a cyclone forcing air to turn in a tight separation spiral. To overcome this resistance vendors use larger diameter impellers to create more pressure. It takes careful engineering to balance impeller size and resistance to get maximum motor performance without moving so much air the motor overloads and burns up. The top magazine rated dust collector vendor puts a warning on their dust collectors that they will burn up if run without at least 10' of flex hose attached. All other major small shop dust collector vendors instead use a combination of small impellers and tiny ports to ensure that their motors do not burn up if a hose gets knocked loose and their blower runs with maximum airflow.

All of the major brand name dust collector and cyclone vendors remain caught in a nasty game of their own making. To appear better than their competitors each badly exaggerates their advertized airflow, filtering and separation. Plus these vendors fail to spend the tiny amounts needed to ensure the workability of their dust collection products. Sadly, the magazine and independent testing I oversaw badly upset many small shop vendors.

We found only the Jet and Powermatic brands actually advertised airflows that we could get during our testing. All others advertised airflows that were far larger than we could get during testing. A few of the lesser quality imports exaggerated their airflows by as much as 100%.

We found all small shop vendors provide misleading airflow advertising. Almost all small shop vendors advertise maximum airflow which moves enough air for good fine dust collection. Maximum airflow only happens when we have no ducting, no filter or a brand new clean very open filter, and a special test pipe. This means that the advertised maximum airflows are just over double what we get in real use when our systems have to overcome the normal resistance from our hoods, ducting, separators, and filters.

The few firms that share airflow curves falsify their system performance through testing tricks which they convinced magazine editors to continue. Most of the magazine tests measure airflow with no ducting, no filter or a brand new clean very open filter, and a special test pipe and over sized ducting much larger than we would use. These changes minimize resistance so the vendors can advertise higher airflow numbers. I reviewed one magazine test and helped conduct another. It sickened me to find that the winning dust collector vendor used an over sized impeller that will make their dust collector burn up if a hose gets knocked loose. With a standard test pipe this winning dust collector overheated and burned up its motor in about twelve minutes of operation. No collectors burned up during that test because it normally only takes about three minutes to do the air volume tests on a dust collector. Likewise, the top rated cyclone vendor demanded that we test their two, three and five hp cyclones with a significantly over sized test pipes. We found all of their motors rapidly overheated from pulling far more than their rated amps and three of their supplied cyclones burned up because these tests take longer to run. When we stopped our testing because the motors reached their maximum rated amperage, all previously top rated dust collector and cyclone vendors except Jet and Powermatic (both part of WMH Tools) lost their top ranking status. In short, running the top rated dust collectors and cyclones at their advertised airflows causes those motors to burn up within minutes.

In spite of the exaggerations, citing maximum airflows and testing tricks all major brand name small shop dust collectors and cyclones sized over 1.5 hp provided the 350 cubic feet per minute (CFM) needed for good chip collection but no dust collector under 3 hp or cyclone under 3.5 hp provided the 1000 CFM airflow that our vendors who guarantee air quality established that we need for good fine dust collection.

Likewise, our small shop vendors consistently advertise improper filtering levels. The American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) set the U.S. standards for indoor filters. In use filters build particles in the filter material that do not come out with normal automated cleaning. This is called seasoning. These particles build until a filter gets saturated and will take in no more particles. Manufactures call this a fully seasoned filter. A fully seasoned filter provides about twenty times better fine filtering than a clean new filter. Because it can take months to years for a filter to fully season, to amply protect our health ASHRAE requires that all filters for indoor use get rated when clean and new. Filter material makers share this clean new filtering level so engineers can comply with the ASHRAE standard for indoor air quality. Filter makers also provide the airflow and filtering levels for fully seasoned filters so air engineers can properly size outdoor filters.

Our small shop vendors claim that shops and garages represent outdoor rather than indoor use so advertise outdoor filtering levels, yet deliver equipment that can only be used in covered indoor areas. This combination makes for dangerously high indoor counts of the unhealthiest invisible particles freely passed by the more open filters even in clean looking shops.

Almost all small shop vendors sell much smaller filters than filter makers recommend which depends upon airflow and dust loading. This results in our filters constantly needing cleaning which kills our needed airflow and over cleaning quickly ruins fine filters. The typical small shop dust collector or cyclone vendor generally provides about one square foot of filter material for every ten cubic feet per minute (CFM) of airflow. This is the normal for a 30-micron filter that lets the airborne dust blow away outdoors. Sadly, most vendors now sell 10 and 20-micron filters that they claim as either 0.5 or 1-micron filters and size them the same. The actual sizing according to the top filter makers should be at least one square foot of 0.5 or 1-micron fine filter material for every two CFM of airflow. This means a typical 1.5 hp dust collector with a maximum airflow of 1100 CFM and real airflow of about 550 CFM needs at least 275 square feet of fine filter area if we use a real fine filter. Rather than provide this much expensive fine filter material, most small shop vendors instead provide roughly thirty square feet of far more open filter material. The more open filters appear to work just as well as they filter off the visible dust but they freely pass the invisible dust. This makes for terrible air quality but avoids the upset of customers having to constantly clean and replace fine filters.

During the one to three years it takes a small shop filter to fully season the filter freely passes the fine unhealthiest dust leaving our lungs to do the fine filtering. Although some vendors claim much faster seasoning, the truth is seasoned filters provide little health protection. Every time a seasoned filter gets hit with a blast of air from starting our blowers it sprays dangerously high amounts of fine dust into our shop air. Likewise, after every thorough cleaning these too open filters freely pass the fine unhealthiest invisible dust.

Worse, most filters contain large amounts of polymer materials that build up large amounts of static as we run air through the filters. This static charge causes lots of the fine airborne dust to build and collect on the filter exterior surface then get blown all over our shops when we turn on our dust collectors or cyclones.

In summary we did not find one single small shop dust collector or cyclone with advertised fine filter that did not freely pass through a majority of the finest invisible unhealthiest dust.

We also tested the separation ability of the various dust collectors and cyclones. As a baseline we first tested the two most popular trashcan separator lids. These trashcan separator lids work well and separate off almost all but the airborne dust. This means they captured about 85% of the dust created by weight and sent that remaining 15% airborne dust into the filters saving lots of time and trouble emptying dust bags and collection bins. When we stepped up the airflow from the 350 CFM needed for good chip collection to the 1000 CFM needed for good fine dust collection the trashcan separator lids became useless. The additional airflow scoured the cans clean of all but larger blocks and chunks.

At 350 CFM all but one small shop cyclone separated almost identically well as the trashcan separator lids. That one cyclone was so dismal that it put close to one third of the material it collected right into its filters. I had that firm identified on these pages and was quickly hit with a threat of a law suit demanding I remove that information. They did not care about how well their product works, only that nobody know how bad it works. They made no effort to improve this product and it continues to be sold exactly as was still being advertised as one of the best and most efficient. The magazine tests also found this one unit dismal and gave it their lowest possible rating without outright saying it was dismal. In defense of the magazines they do get considerable revenue from this vendor.

All other small shop cyclones except for my design separated little better than the trashcan separator lids. The only real advantage of these cyclones is at higher airflows than needed for "chip collection" all these cyclones continued to provide the same separation meaning close to 100% of the airborne dust went right into the filters. Independent medical school testing on my cyclone design found the same results as our testing. Instead of passing close to 100% of the airborne dust right through my cyclone design separates much better. It separates off over 82% of the airborne dust that other cyclones pass right through, plus it provides 99.9% separation of the unhealthiest invisible dust down to 4.7-microns. At this level of separation typical fine filters can go months instead of minutes between cleanings and these fine filters we need to amply protect our health will last years instead of the typical three months.

Unlike air from a compressor or vacuum cleaner, at typical dust collection pressures air is little more compressible than water, so just about any tiny opening, small hose, small duct, rough duct, poorly made fitting, or bad ducting design will seriously harm the airflow we need for good fine dust collection. We found every small shop vendor who offered a ducting design service used professional shop ducting designs that presume no blast gates and full time collection from all machines at the same time. Because air at typical dust collection pressures will not compress, this requires that each main and branch be sized large enough to carry all air coming from downstream. This creates very impressive graduated ducting designs which work terribly in small shops that only use one machine at a time. The oversized mains end up with too little airspeed to keep from building up piles and plugging.

The fine invisible fugitive dust we miss collecting just keeps building in shops that vent inside. Almost any airflow is enough to launch this dust airborne and keep it airborne as long as we are working.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2025, 12:08:24 PM
For guys that have an insulated , heated, somewhat air tight shop, i can see going the extra mile using an air filtration system. But getting enough CFM's to do it properly means getting a huge blower.  Most guys are happy to just get the chip collection and the airborne particles you can see.

That was a seriously long drawn out write up to sell a system he had designed. But... there are very good reasons to go with a larger blower and a 6" trunk line to remove most of the air borne particles.

I have more like an open air shop with no insulation. and use a large fan with a 10' blower that blows right over my work bench. i often work with the doors open and that fan blowing in warmer weather. but winter time i rely on my dust collector to remove most of the airborne particles and blow it outside.... Would it pass a DEQ or OSHA standards test... i doubt it...

I've got over 50 years of wood working under my belt and it hasnt killed me yet.   Kirk
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on May 10, 2025, 12:41:05 PM
What would you recommend equipment placement closest to collector. Like I said straight line to collector. Guessing Drum sander first then edge sander then spindle sander and bandsaw furthest away?
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: kennym on May 10, 2025, 01:09:51 PM
In my shop , the order of worst dust is table saw, edge sander, widebelt, then bandsaw.

I don't have the plexi blade cover on tablesaw and that might help, but I can't see anything with it on...
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on May 10, 2025, 01:32:29 PM
I wish I had room in my shop for a table saw. Eventually i hope to get a long edge sander. It seems like my drum puts out a lot of really fine stuff which was why I was going to put it first.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on May 10, 2025, 01:33:56 PM
Going to run the straight line today and figure out where I want the y's
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2025, 03:14:59 PM
Quote from: Watsonjay on May 10, 2025, 01:33:56 PM
Going to run the straight line today and figure out where I want the y's

What size blower are you using, and are you running a cyclone separator? 

I run all 3 sanders closest to the collector. I've got 2 lines capped off i don't use going to an older planer i got rid of, and i do not use my band saw enough to keep a  line hooked up to it. But the drop is there. I can hook the big bandsaw up when needed for a big project, but i rip all my lams on the table saw... I've got a line run over to my bench router and table saw that i rarely use too.

i use mine mostly for sanders and all the fine dust they create. im pretty casual about being a dusty old bowyer... :laugh:   
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Watsonjay on May 10, 2025, 05:24:39 PM
Its a 1.5hp wen system. It will be about a 25' straight run with y's off it to machines. Its a trashcan cyclone
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2025, 06:55:30 PM
that should work well for you.    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Longcruise on May 21, 2025, 04:45:06 PM
I'm being nurse maid for the wife who is very slowly coming back from a stroke.  Been a while since I've started any large projects but have finished up a set of arrows for my granddaughter.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on June 07, 2025, 12:53:18 PM
I had a friend cut my flair templates out of 1/2" baltic birch on his cnc then i sealed them, i have lots of Baltic plywood so thats what i used for now i will cut an extra set so i have a spare.
Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: Kirkll on June 09, 2025, 12:05:28 AM
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VZ75JtR7pCHDkRxi7

Title: Re: 2025 What did you do Today
Post by: B-JS on June 09, 2025, 11:32:59 AM
IMG_20250609_173120.jpgIMG_20250609_173107.jpg

Wife want's a pink bow.
I will deliver.