Harbor Freight 2hp Dust Collector with Wynn 35a Filter and Thien Baffle Pre-Separator Setup

Cart Dimensions: 22.5" x 44"

Harbor Freight 2HP Dust Collector:

Wynn Environmental 35A 80/20 Paper Filter:

Thien Baffle:

[peterstewart]

I'm in the process of modifying my harbor freight dust collector (the same one you have) so that it is a two stage dust collector.  Thank you for sharing! This helps me out a lot!
Regards,
Peter

[rickfrench]

Nothing more to say than I have the 2hp HF dust collector and I've already built a VERY similar chip-separator.... I just need to combine it on your cart!

[Wildersport]

Good start to a great build. Just FWIW, I have the same DC and the same series filter but mine is the washable unit. Some more upgrades if you want even more air flow. #1. Upgrade the impeller. Rikon and Wen impellers reportedly fit and work great. I am planning on the Wen impeller ASAP. #2. Size up your inlet and pipe sizes through your Thien, OR size up your inlet and move the Thien to the separator ring although everything goes to the bag. Go with 6" inlet / pipe sizing

[bw]

I am doing it a bit differently. The dust input hose goes directly into the center port of the blower as it was designed to do (I have turned the unit upside down from yours) and the output from the blower goes into the the thien collector and then the bag/filter unit. The benefit, IMO, is that all the suction (low pressure) is delivered directly to the collection hose rather than pulled through a large garbage can and then through the hose. That does not create the best suction where you want it. It follows two principals of minimizing the run distance of low pressure side of blower and the diameter/volume of that run. In your case the entire low pressure side of the blower includes the trash can and the hose. However, the footprint of my setup is larger.

[nikburton]

Looks good. I poured a 4x4 slab outside my shop and am framing in a small room. Since it'll then vent outside like a dryer, I'll not need the filter and ought to have a great CFM flow rate. Wish me luck!

[MONNIEHOLT]

You did a great job, that is how to make a $150.00 dust collector into a $600. Dust collector

[jimcoogan]

I actually added a Thien baffle inside cylinder between the two bags.  I saw that in a YouTube video and thought I would give it a try.  That has worked well in keeping a lot of the garbage out of the bag so it stays pretty clean.  But my next upgrade was going to be what you did.  Its a great idea.  I saw a few others that did that and asked about the motor mounts because they worried me but the two I talked two have had theirs like that for several years.  I am not convinced they will last so I might have some new mounts made for me.  Great video.  I am putting the link into my folder for HF modifications.

[TenMinuteOutdoors]

Great upgrades, I plan on creating a similar system. Do you think the system would have less suction loss if you created a gasket between the baffle and the trash can?

[ginoasci]

I like that setup, it looks like it should really perform well but at 7:14 - 7:20 or so in this video when you were cleaning up the lighter dust the tip of the tube caught the floor a little, but came right back up. This happened three times, so there has to be a bigger lose of suction than you are anticipating, and this is the point i want to make, when the tip caught the floor, it should have grabbed it with enough powet that you would have had to struggle to get it loose. I'm sure you kmow what saying, for instance when you use a house hold vac and it catches a curtain or flat patt of surface you have to separate the hose from thete.
Like you said, the harbor freight system is only so effective, but i am thinking the seal on the tin barrel.
There is a seal broken someplace, because it should suck much more than what is shown here.
Plus you are getting too much dust in the clear bag in comparasan to other videos that use thr thein baffle.
Build a real thein baffle instead of using that swirl design that sits inside the barrel and raise the system up 12" or whatever height you make the thein baffle. I say this because those sysyems swirl the dust around the barrel and suck it back up. Another thought is to build another thein baffle with a 2 1/4" diameter hose same as a shop vac to see if it performs better with the harbor frieght system. Something else just came to mind, and that's maybe that the tin barrel may have leaks in the seams itself. Clean the inside of the barrel with rubbing alcohol and seal around the bottom all the way around and up the side to the top with silicone.I'd like to know if you change anything or find any leaks, because i want to build one and i want it to perform properly instead of wasting my time. My two cents.

[jeffwithhart]

Wow nearly a quarter million views! This is a very popular mod. Do you still use this? How tall is the upright portion? Also.... great job!

[watcherdude]

Ty for taking time to post the video. Nice build by the way 👍

[paulbergman]

Hi, great job on the alteration. I am thinking that a 2” pipe that is in the center of the bottom Thien level plywood, and then extends just below the 4” pipe exit by 2”, would create a negative pressure in the bottom of the trash can and almost eliminate all dust going onto the filter and clear bag. Have you seen very much fine dust in your filter?

[JamesTorrey]

Great video thanks, this is exactly the set up I would like. Might mount mine in one spot on the wall, possibly on french cleats. Anyways, thanks for the video! Too many guys do these and don't show it running! lol Happy new year!

[tenglundvideos]

Great job. And thank you for doing this video. very much appreciated!! especially for the info on where to find everything!!

[daveengstrom]

If you want some of your airflow back, seal around the garbage can and the plywood with weatherstrip or the like then clamp it tight.

[markteague]

Hahah! I have those same Bowflex dumbells. They have seen far too little use during my ownership. So, wound up giving them to my son.

[brianballard]

With the art work that I make I do a great deal of sanding, very fine sanding in fact. I understand a separater will separate larger or heavier wood pieces but do fine dust particles simply go direct to the filter and then clog up the filter?

[stuffoflardohfortheloveof]

I thought the inlet had to be tight to the top and the outlet lower than the inlet (that’s how I built mine)? Yours is the opposite? Obviously both seem to work....?.. thanks

[TylerHarney]

Thank you so much! Now does that 35A filter just rest in the pocket or is it bolted some how?

[jbaker]

Totally awesome upgrades you have done sir! Do you by chance have plans for the construction of the stand? Im about to buy this dust collector and I really like the vertical mounting/trashcan setup you have!