My Dust Extractor and Camvac Review

This is a review of my dust extractor that I built a year ago. It is powered by a twin motor Camvac dust extractor and incorporates a cyclone prefilter with 3 inch inlet and outlet.
I have also incorporated a shop built pressure release valve to stock the drum imploding if there is a blockage.
No matter how good your dust extractor is it is important to remember to wear a good quality respirator mask.
Thanks for watching
Jim Overton
Disclaimer
Woodturning is potentially dangerous!
My videos are designed to give viewers creative ideas.
The way I work is not necessarily the best or safest way to work!
Your safety is your own responsibility not mine.
Please follow all safety procedures and wear personal protective equipment.
Wear a visor and a respirator dust mask at all times.
Be safe, be creative and enjoy your turning.

[@floridasaltlife]

The best information all in one place on KZbin when trying to decide on dust extraction.

[@JimsonMakes]

Many thanks for watching

[@IanBryan-cu7vy]

Brilliant Jim, a real work of art. It has given me many ideas for my little garage workshop.

[@JimsonMakes]

Glad to help

[@icespeckledhens]

A very well explained system with some useful hints. I bought a Camvac, from an auction, which has a cage underneath the bucket for cyclonic action. It hangs on a wall high enough to get the bag from the cage. I have yet to install it but I will soon. Thanks James

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much James. The wall mounted camvacs are very good as you can see very clearly when they need emptying and they have a good capacity. Cheers, Jim

[@MrPete1x]

Well done Jim. Excellent video, thank you for showing the cyclone and pressure relief valve

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much Peter Cheers Jim

[@proffd972]

BRILLIANT pressure release valve!

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much Dale, the valve works very well and I have managed to avoid any further implosions ! Jim

[@anklebiterwoodworks2818]

Really like the compact design of the entire unit. Very nice.

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks, it had to be compact as I have a tiny workshop. It also had to be on wheels and the worktop gives me extra space that I would have otherwise lost. Cheers, Jim

[@anklebiterwoodworks2818]

Yeah, I have a rather small shop myself and i have been looking for options with my dust collector to save space and add a cyclone to it. Thanks for sharing your setup.

[@mitsukowalker5831]

No, not at all boring. The way you explain what and why you do the stuff you do in a construct to me a very good teaching method, (since I'm an old teacher... I can say that...) I've not seen your system exactly before but I do like it and might be trying to figure out a clone one of these days. Good job! Thanks

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it. The system works very well, I have got to empty mine this week😕. Cheers Jim

[@yuvallahav]

A clean shop is a... clean shop :) That is a nice system you've got there, very usefull... There is no way in hell that the dust is turning into a cyclone with the drum filter and the two motors in there :) What a joke of marketing?? I mean, I bet it sucks air perfectly well, just doesn't cyclone anywhere in there :) Now the plastic top cyclon, sure, that works just fine. You're so organized!! My dust extraction is that I'm working near a window and I put a fan near it to blow the air out... I should upgrade.... Love your homemade valve!! Yuval.

[@JimsonMakes]

Many thanks Yuval. It is well worth getting a cyclone. I've just installed "hangouts" so hopefully you will have got my message. Cheers, Jim

[@TheBeardx16]

Ah it all makes sense now ,thanks Jim

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Richard, it was difficult to explain. Cheers Jim

[@MikeWaldt]

Firstly Jim, it was a great pleasure to meet you at UKIWS, yes I am catching up on videos ;). A very impressive and effective set up mate, nice one. Also thank you for the new terminology - The Gobless"!!! :) Take care. Mike

[@JimsonMakes]

Cheers Mike , glad you liked the extractor. I hope you have caught up on some sleep. I am working on my next video today, so will hopefully post that on KZbin in the next couple of days, it is looking quite promising so far ( famous last words ! ).Cheers, Jim

[@mrgunn2726]

Nice video, a but of a prattle at the start, but I really enjoyed your solution, quite the clever solution with the pressure valve, well done!

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much for watching

[@alansimpson596]

Thanks Jim for a very interesting video. I'm in the process of rearranging my small workshop so you've given me some good ideas to work on. Many thanks, Alan.

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Alan, I'm glad to have helped. If I did it again I would have designed the cart differently, originally I was designing it for my old record power vac but I found it did not have enough umph so I purchased the Camvac and modified the cart rather than starting from scratch. The Camvac is brilliant but I would not recommend the 36 litre model as a stand alone unit without the cyclone and barrel as it does not have enough dust capacity, particularly the twin motor version. Cheers, Jim

[@tompalmer334]

nice setup Jim the noise filter is what impressed me the most I don't use mine much at the time because of the noise cant here my radio I am going to make one like yours with the foam dreading material thanks for shearing

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Tom. The foam lined box works well. A bigger bow with a door would be better. The majority of remaining noise is the sound of the air rushing in the pipe. Cheers, Jim.

[@geofo60]

Great walk through Jim, really well researched. Like the 'pop off' valve, similar idea to what us old hot rodders used on super chargers to drop the pressure. Thanks for sharing it definitely wasn't boring !! Regards ......, Geof

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Geof, glad it wasn't boring. All the best, Jim

[@IanMaude]

Great stuff Jim and very well explained and demonstrated. That valve is great :) Love the top holder. I can feel a project coming on!

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Ian. I got lucky with size of cyclone and the power of the Camvac, they work well together. The valve is over engineered but works well, I tried several different springs and tensions before I was happy. Cheers, Jim.

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

nice bit of kit and thanks for the info. I have never seen those quick release hose clips and as I live in the UK it was great to find out that I can get them from local suppliers. I was surprised to see you using the ribbed pipe as I was told to avoid this because the ribs inside cut down the efficiency of the dust extractor. I built my dust extractor from plans I got from "Matthias Wandel of woodworking for engineers" I am sure you will have visited his site but if you haven't, you would enjoy his site. Your extractor is a lot prettier than mine but both of them work. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your next video

[@JimsonMakes]

I only use ribbed ducting where I can't really avoid it. Ideally I would have the entire garage fitted out with duct work but it is not practical with my extremely limited space. I think that what I lose with the ribbed pipe I probably gain with shorter runs. Cheers, Jim

[@ksp1278]

I bought a camvac at makers central based on your recommendation. It is a beast when it comes to suction. I was expecting better airflow though. I see what you mean about the twin motors blocking the cyclonic action. I'm considering modifying it to raise the height of the top so that the motors are above the air inlet. I may even be able to put a thein baffle inside just below the inlet. It should be more compact than a separate cyclone.

[@JimsonMakes]

These low volume high pressure machines will not produce the same airflow as a high volume low pressure machine but the twin motors do help and the filtration level is much better on the Camvac. Your modification sounds like a great idea and should as you say produce a compact system. If I had the space, funds and somewhere to externally house or vent one , I would also have a high volume low pressure system installed but I had to compromise. Good luck with your modifications, cheers, Jim

[@ksp1278]

Jim Overton - Jimson's Stuff thanks for the reply. Makes sense. I too have space limitations. I am in a 1 car garage. The only way I can fit a high volume system would be to put it in the roof space.

[@TheLittleGardenShedWorkshop]

Great job Jim, very handy piece of kit, cheers Harry

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Harry, glad you approve. Cheers, Jim

[@TheMysticABC]

Hello Jim, Thanks for the detailed video. I like the whole concept and is pretty much what I had in mind for my workshop. If you had to do it again based on your experience so far , What would you do different ? ie what vaccum unit, cyclone filter, sizes of the vaccuum and cyclone, barrel, anything e;s...

[@michaelflynn6178]

Great review Jim very helpful THANKS

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Michael, glad to be of some help. Cheers, Jim

[@tims.2832]

Good review, thanks. One question to the cyclone-setup: Isn´t it especially the very fine dust, that easily passes the first big fabric filter and then clogs the fine paper filters of the camvac? I have read, that cyclones are not extracting the fine, light particles. The centrifugal force is said to be too weak on them. So I´m wondering, if the cyclone is that good at preventing the paper-filter from getting clogged. Bigger partikels wouldn´t pass the first fabrik filter anyway. I see the advantage of your setup more in relation to the small drum you have and which doesn´t get full so fast.

[@JimsonMakes]

Many thanks for watching. Yes very fine particles can get past the cyclone but a significant amount do get separated. The barrel certainly has a lot of fine dust in it when I empty it and the filters last significantly longer.

[@TurningWorks]

Interesting Jim. I'm looking into dust extraction and this helps a lot! :)

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Dave, this system works well for me. If I had the space I would set up proper ducting around my workshop and put the extractor in a shed outside, similar to what Martin is doing. I have so little space, it is important that I can move it around, the shorter run of hose does increase efficiency. Cheers, Jim

[@TurningWorks]

I wish I could do that too Jim! I haven't got one yet, so rely heavily on having decent mask and open doors/windows.

[@markhobster8113]

nice work and I love that pressure release valve its a good idea, I admit I need to sort something out a lot more efficient and higher capacity than my screwfix henry hoover style vac lol, the pipe blocks fairly easy, although the inlet is wide the pipe is reduced down, so many things, this was supposed to be a cheepish hobby ;)

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes the costs mount up ! If I had realised just how much it was all going to cost, I would probably have never taken it up in the first place. I'm glad I didn't know because I am now addicted to turning.

[@spacemanrick2014]

That offset 4" inlet on the CamVac is not designed so much as to create a cyclone in the drum, but rather the design has less of a flow restriction. The motors do get in the way of achieving a true cyclone in the vac drum, and that's for a good reason. If it was able to spin the internal air in that drum to a cyclone, the dust would never settle, and the spinning air in there would decrease flow into it. It is designed brilliantly, and for its purpose.

[@JimsonMakes]

It was Camvac’s own literature that stated that the offset inlet creates a cyclone effect. I think it probably does to a degree in the larger models. Thanks for watching, Jim

[@spacemanrick2014]

Jimson's Stuff, you know, I actually kind of figured that out, because later in your video, I saw the stickers on the vac indicating a cyclone swirl, but I think it is designed to start a cyclone "effect," but I don't think it actually builds up to a full cyclone. Hard for me to explain. Great design on their part.

[@TheMysticABC]

Hi Jim. I pressed enter on the previous post before I had finished ... Also, I did not see you attaching devices like portable planes, sanders, etc... Woul you just use an adapter to go from 4" to a lighter and longer hose to attache to the portable tool ? I guess that hose would need to be much longer as you might need to work on a largish project like a door, etc.. so you may need to move around quite a bit. Thanks Jim

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much Stephan, glad you liked the video. I do occasionally attach a smaller hose with a reducer which could be used with power tools, the automatic valve takes care of the increased resistance. The only thing I would possibly change would be a slightly larger barrel and possibly arranging it so the unit had a smaller footprint. As with a lot of these things, there are always compromises but this unit fits my needs. Cheers Jim

[@Billlupton]

have you done a vid on that very good pressure release valve, I would love to see a quickie, on how you made it it looks genius

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much Bill. I didn’t make a video on the valve but it is quite simplistic. There is a metal disc fitted to the end of the plunger, this is covered in a neoprene gasket which seals all the holes when the spring has not been compressed by excessive vacuum. Many thanks for watching Cheers Jim

[@Billlupton]

@@JimsonMakes Thanks Jim for that reply ,I wasnt expecting one,how thick is the Neoprene and would tube rubber be suitable. I had the pressed seams on a galvanized steel dustbin burst from too much suction pressure, as it wasa pressed seam I sealed it with polyeurethane sealant and I tapped the seams back in place on an anvil but the valve is a very good idea. Bill

[@JimsonMakes]

Anything that compresses enough to form a seal will work. The release pressure can be adjusted by altering the spring tension. It took a bit of fiddling around with different spring sizes and hole sizes.

[@Billlupton]

@@JimsonMakes Thanks Jim Im lucky enough to have inherited a box of various size springs when I bought a used set of drawer when a factory closed down hundreds of different springs in the drawers.. I have a sizable chunk of 1/2" aluminium like yours so I'm going to copy you (flattery). many thanks for your replies most helpful

[@mikewilson5058]

Brilliant mate!!

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much Mike, I am still pleased with the setup today. Cheers Jim

[@mitsukowalker5831]

...and thanks!!

[@markins666]

Nice setup. I also have a twin motor cam vac and am planing a dust collection system. If the diameter is deduced to 3” at the cyclone, does it make a difference if I use 4” or 3” hose out from the cyclone?

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you, ideally the whole system would be 3" the same as the cyclone but I really don’t think it will make much difference .

[@Chrisparkerwoodturner]

jim is a big change in suction power with the 2 motors as omly having 1 thanks

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes a very noticeable difference, it literally doubles the flow rate. Cheers, Jim

[@RADCOMJ1]

Youre very innovative Jim, really enjoyed the vid. It was really funny hearing you mention maplins RIP. I really want to see the drum implode..did it scare the bajeebies out of you :-)

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much. Yes I did jump out of my skin as it made quite a Big Bang, I didn’t jump as much as when the LED work light went bang and filled the garage with smoke ( while I was using it to backlight the cyclone ). Yes sad about Maplins, it was very useful to those of us who make. Thanks for watching. Cheers Jim

[@Supanova7G]

Appreciate this old video, but where did you manage to find a 3 inch cyclone? They either seem to be 2 inch or you're paying hundreds for an Axminster 4 inch.

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes it took a lot of searching, I think it was from eBay and came direct from Taiwan. I don't think they were available for long

[@michaell8835]

Great video Jim. As a matter of interest do you know how much difference there is between record powers own system (like the dx4000)? They appear similar in specs, albeit without the cyclonic bit, and without the noise reducing pipes. Eg, both twin motor, high pressure low volume. Kind of strange that the record power have two similar line ups.

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Michael, sorry not sure how much difference there is. The cyclonic action on the Camvacs is fairly limited, the filters on the twin motor machines tend to disrupt the air flow.

[@michaell8835]

@@JimsonMakes I decided to go with a triple motor Camvac, and a large external cyclone.

[@jimchallender4616]

Jim, I can't find your Camvac listed anywhere in the US. If you know where I might buy it , please let me know. Your engineering/design capability is top notch. Keep up the fine work.

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks Jim, Camvac is a UK company and I think they are still made in the UK ( an increasingly rare thing! ). Camvac is now owned by Record Power, check out their website and it might give you a list of distributors. I am not sure if they make a US model. Camvac are great quality machines, I would recommend the twin motor version. It comes in several different sizes. The small 36L one I have is great for powering a cyclone prefilter but would have much too small a capacity if used as a stand alone unit. Happy New Year Jim

[@dirkvandermerwe8444]

Nice video - thank you! Please do a separate one for us on the remote switch! Have you built one, or purchased a complete unit? Did you use a 30 amp 2 pole contactor? What is the coil voltage? - (24, 110, 220 volt?) Please do that one for us, with specific refrence to the supplier (eg Amazon) parts used and their specs. Many thanks.

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much. The remote control comes as a set similar to this Remote Control Mains Socket Adaptors - Set of 5 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051NIJA4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apu_i_K.uiBbXKG0585 Very quick and easy, connects between the vacuum and the wall socket. Regards Jim

[@dirkvandermerwe8444]

Jim, many thanks for the valuable information and the link you've posted re the remote control switch you use to operate your shop vac. Very much appreciated! Regards. Dirk van der Merwe.

[@sirenwoodworkcreations1265]

Great video. Its an interesting topic about whether the cyclonic action actually works on these because Im looking into the wall mounted one with the collection bag under, however if I then need to add a cyclone it will kinda defeat the object of having the bag one. Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be any reviews of the wall one.

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes not a lot of point in having a bag and a cyclone, although you will get a good visual aid to when the cyclone bin is full. I think the cyclone action on the camvacs only really works on the larger models but the offset is certainly better than firing all the dust straight at the filter like some other models. All the best, Jim

[@sirenwoodworkcreations1265]

Many thanks :-)

[@oliverwalton5191]

Hi Jim, I have the same Camvac dust extractor as you do. I was wondering if you have a link to where you found the cyclone.

[@JimsonMakes]

Thank you very much Oliver. Sorry I don’t have a link to the cyclone, it is no longer listed on eBay. It came from Taiwan, try googling jumbo cyclone, it may be listed on Alibaba or similar. Shop around because prices and shipping are very variable. Many thanks for watching Cheers Jim

[@mitsukowalker5831]

May I ask.... Is that Yorkshire Grit and it's cousins available anywhere here in the States? ...and what does it cost? (I'm not up on exchange rates; UK/US... I can buy here on E-Bay, but shipping is over $15 and cost 227 contents weight is over $17!!! What can you tell me?

[@JimsonMakes]

Yorkshire Grit is available in the US from The Walnut Log www.thewalnutlog.com/ Cheers Jim

[@steve1953ful]

Hi, Jim, Great review, you have now inspired me to replace my old "Lidl" shop vac c/w homemade sort of a cyclone which is rubbish! I have hunted the internet for a cyclone like yours but no luck, so I have ordered a smaller one. Can you give any details on where yours came from? Just in case the small one does not work! Now to fork out for a Cam Vac. Thanks.

[@JimsonMakes]

Hi Steve, I bought my cyclone off eBay and it came direct from Taiwan. I have been asked by several people about where I got it and each time I search I can't seem to see it listed anymore. Most of the cyclones are either the smaller 2 inch or huge 4 or 5 inch. It may have been called jumbo cyclone. You will probably find a 2 inch will perform very well but I am not sure how it will perform with a twin motor vac. Cheers, Jim

[@thespanielinquisition7167]

I thought P/Ts, spindle moulders and wood turning lathes needed high volume low pressure?

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes ideally I would have 2 systems but my twin motor set up is a good compromise in my tiny workshop. I don’t have the space or anywhere to externally vent a high volume low pressure system. They are generally much larger and do not filter out fine particles, which is essential in my workshop. There are fine filter drums available for high volume machines but they are very expensive and take up even more space. Thank you very much for watching. Cheers, Jim

[@james4878]

Nice setup. What make/model cyclone unit is that?

[@JimsonMakes]

Thanks James, I can’t remember the make of the cyclone but it was called a jumbo cyclone, I bought it off eBay and it came from Taiwan. Look for a 3inch model. Cheers Jim

[@james4878]

Excellent, thanks. I've been wishing that someone made one of these with 2.5" or 3" ports! The dust deputy just has too tiny intake and outtake.

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes the dust deputy is too small the larger black ones that are available are too big. I’m not sure if one’s like mine are still available, it was quite difficult to find. Cheers Jim

[@james4878]

I think that this may be it www.aliexpress.com/store/product/cyclone-turbocharged/819976_32334434947.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.14.7c6b68a42WERUA

[@jasonhoyle3489]

Hello Jim, Thanks for the video, could you tell me which reducer and where you bought it, that you used from the 100mm hose going into the cyclone, I believe the cyclone has an outside diameter of 75mm, thanks

[@jasonhoyle3489]

I have seen a charnwood adapter 100mm outside diameter reducing to 67mm outside diameter, is this the one you used maybe?

[@JimsonMakes]

Hello Jason, I’m sorry but I can’t remember where I got the reducer. It was exactly the correct size though, the chances are I bought it off eBay, some listings show the external and internal diameter in the listing. It could have been a Charnwood reducer. The other possibility is that I bought it off Axminster Tools. Cheers, Jim

[@jasonhoyle3489]

Cheers Jim, No worries, reducers, hoses etc are a nightmare, I have only found two pages on the internet out of everybody that sells these things that actually list internal and external diameters. I have ordered a 75mm vortex, which took ages to find so if anybody wants one bang good sell them with free fairly fast delivery. I will measure up the vortex ports when it arrives and take it from there.

[@jasonhoyle3489]

WoW! That valve is flash. I have figured out a design very similar but mine will look rubbish, using a 40mm pvc tank connector with a drilled mdf sleeve inside the connector to hold the bolt straight.

[@JimsonMakes]

Glad you like the valve design, it works brilliantly and has saved disasters on many occasions. The vortex reducers should be much more efficient. Jim

[@Nathan-co4pr]

Hi, Looking to build something similar, where did you get your cyclone from. Many thanks Nathan

[@JimsonMakes]

Hi Nathan, I got my cyclone off eBay, but you need to make sure that you get the correct size for your vacuum. I got one with 3 inch inlet and outlets because I have a twin motor vacuum. Most of the cyclones listed are 2 inch, which work well on standard shop vacs and they are quite a lot cheaper too. All the best, Jim

[@Nathan-co4pr]

Jimson's Stuff thanks for that. It's a new cam vac I'm looking at, which has a 4" inlet. I'm looking at the 36l twin motor model, as I'm guessing there would be no point in going for a larger camvac if going with the cyclone setup with a separate bin. Regards Nathan

[@glennryzebol4472]

24 minutes long... a quick one lol?

[@JimsonMakes]

Yes got a bit carried away. Many thanks for watching

[@hswing11]

NEVER SAW IT WORKING