I know there are a lot of people who say that it is a waste of time but my own experience is that I have never once received a shock off the pvc or flexible hoses since I did this. Before it was every day and I was sick of it. Bare wire kit available here. amzn.to/2M9ukWQ Euro screws available here. amzn.to/2LXhiLS
While procrastinating, I puzzled over whether to wrap a wire around the outside of my dust pipes, or fling a wire down the inside. But now you have shown how to connect both the inside and outside! Yay!
Another great tip. I was defeated when couldn’t get my pvc pipe to connect to my hoses and you saved me with your video on connectors and now again with static. Thanks mate!
Hi from Arizona Dave. I really appreciate your tip for handling the static. I've tried a number of things that made no difference. Having worked in a cabinet shop for 10 years I have a good supply of system screws & 5mm bits. I will be using this method as I set up my home shop. Thanks again!
Just wanted to thank you for you lightening rod idea. I installed a PVC based duct system with a Laguna PFlux 3 cyclone dust collector. I used your technique to mitigate static. Great idea - thanks!
@@DavidStanton the only way to physically remove the WHOLE amount of static is to cover every square inch of the pvc. You're talking absolute nonsense.
When I started getting nasty static shocks from the new drumsander LEV I realised that I needed to earth the pipe. I stripped a length of copper wire and stuffed it down the pipe, out through a small hole, and wired it straight into an ordinary mains socket earth pin. Its pretty scruffy but it does the job. The copper doesnt need to be in contact with the plastic pipe to make it work. PVC has no conductivity - if it did the static wouldn't build up anyway. It earths itself onto the copper across the air the same way that it affects the hair on your arm.
Great idea! Probably another benefit, since some Woodworker's have electronic equipment in shop, you want to avoid any static charges, as small components (computer chips) can be burned out with just one shock.
Great video. I'll use your method on my next video about my micro dust collection. Always use braided wire for static collection. Braided wire has much more surface area to collect a static charge and is way better suited. Any bare uninsulated wire will work but braided works better. Great job David!
Well done! Thank you for the insights and direct presentation. I've subscribed partly because, unlike many Aussies who ham it up with their regionalisms, you are perfectly intelligible even to a Wyoming U.S. ear.
David, it's possible to get adhesive copper tape in various lengths and widths - stick that on the outside of the PVC pipe and put the screws thru' it. Maybe drill pilot holes first. Spiral or straight? Don't know ... just passing on the thought. Of course the ends would need joining up and earthing as you have done with the stranded copper wire in yr video.
Thanks Dave. You do have a talent for thinking outside the box, or in this case, outside the pipe, if you excuse the pun. It makes perfect sense now you say it, I have seen the products that you wrap around the pipes but like you point out, they aren't earthing the inside of the pipe, which is where the combustible materials are.
Impossible to ground PVC. It is the insulation used on all wiring as it is one of the best insulators known. You may be discharging some of the nearby static, but the system is not grounded.
I appreciate the science behind your comment. All I can say is I never get a zap from my system since I did this work to it..before it was all the time.
I've hear that static fires aren't a problem in smaller shops like yours, it only a real problem in the extremely large industrial shops. The only thing you have to worry about is getting a little zap from you pvc pipes. On a side note, I recently bought some grounding wire to use on my small Shop Vac system. I also decided to upgrade my shop vac from a small Craftsman to a Ridgid which has almost 3 times more suction and about half the noise levels. Funny thing is that with the Ridgid vac, I get pretty much no static, where the Craftsman vac I could feel static from 2 or 3 feet away from my cyclone system.
The Euro screws are a good idea Dave. Nothing inside to snag anything moving through the pipe. In the side is a good location also. Nice job all around. I will do the same to my system. Thanks Dave.
Очень полезная информация. Давно искал как избавиться от статического электричества в вытяжной установке в своей мастерской. Спасибо большое из России!
Great stuff Dave. This is the first time I have seen this subject mentioned in a video and it is extremely important. Severe and permanent nerve damage has been caused to folk from the static build up in PVC extraction systems.
Yes. No cases of this to cite. Dust explosions require very fine dust, high concentrations of dust, and still air. Such as a nice, quiet grain silo that just finished filling. Woodshop dust is not that fine, moves very fast, and is in very low concentration due to the high volume of air. OTOH, you are hurting nothing by adding anti-static provisions except use of your time and money. The benefit would be to not be as likely to be zapped by the static.
Obviously having trouble with static in my shop or I wouldn't be watching your video. I've got a flex tube that arches from my drum sander to over to the main collection junction. I have to walk through the arch of the tube in order to turn on and off my dust collector. At first, I thought that I must have been walking through spider webs every time I got near the tube then I realized I had a serious build-up of static. It's not the discomfort so much but in my case, with very fine particles of dust the system isn't just a fire hazard under the right conditions but there is the larger danger of explosion. Thanks for the video, I've got thr information I need.
Biginuf m That's an idea, thanks for watching! I am curious as to why you feel a problem didn't exist? I stated in the video that there was a static buildup as the hair on my arms always stood up when I went near the pipes before I came up with this simple fix.
I always hear of grounding pvc dust collectors, but have yet to ever hear of one igniting, exploding, or anything else anywhere, any time, or any place. You could also build a moat around your shop to keep the enemy from attacking.
Thanks luna! Did you watch the video and hear me say that I am not getting any zaps off the system anymore. Good idea on the moat, might start this afternoon!
The ubiquitous Home Depot has 18 gauge bare wire (in USA). For some reason they note the voltage rating for bare copper, which I don't understand. Naturally, only the 500 foot spool is in my local store. Home Depot can be annoying.
As always a well thought-out endeavor. Thanks I wonder if a rivet (with the wire tightly wrapped once around it as you “pop” it) would have worked as well.
Another easy method to not have any significant surface to collect dust on the interior is to get a roll of aluminum tape used in HVAC duct work. It is cheap, provides a good surface area to collect charge, will cover any holes, and it will not provide anything for dust to collect on.
Clifford Browning, I agree. The reason I have created this video is due to using smooth walled pipe to reduce the airflow interruption from the type of hose you mentioned.
I wonder if you considered using copper tape. You would have all the benefits of copper wire in a package that can be no more than 0.1 mm thick, self adhesive so easy to apply and you can connect to it either by soldering or by screw connection. Copper tape also relatively inexpensive.
Hi Dave .... just a bit of background :- the plastic ducting you are using is in fact where the static electricity is being built up in .. not the dust or wood shavings (their flow in the plastic pipe just generates the static). Therefore you are actually earth bonding the plastic so any static electricity is discharged to earth. The screws don’t HAVE to penetrate the plastic as such. No harm done if they do tho as in the way you have done it. The copper wire you use to connect the screws as in the way you have done it can have PVC insulation on it so long as at each point you have a screw, the screw is in contact with the copper. Again the way you have wound the bare wire is good as it is making extra contact with the plastic duct. You can buy flexible plastic pipe where a continues copper braid has been moulded into the plastic material and then is bonded to earth where the pipe ends. Very expensive tho! Well done on your system and for recognising it needs to be done. Dust is very explosive under the right conditions.
Great video. Clear and to the point. I have always wondered why wrapping it around the pipe when the static builds up inside caused by the rubing of saw dust on the tube. Shouldn't the screws inside the pipe pick up the static electracy? Just curious.
Hi Dave, I have subscribed but I don't click the bell because I check your channel every 3 days and find your new videos then. I also don't want my email account filling up with notifications as I do watch a lot of channels mainly because I like woodwork and don't watch any TV. So if it is raining and cold out (most of the time in the UK) I resort to the videos. an interesting solve to the problem and neatly done.
2 things if your putting in a metal screw that's on the inside and outside of the pipe I do not believe you need bare copper wire, just screw into the wire and in the pipe you shouldn't even ahve to wrap over the outside of the pipe. the wire should bleed off any statice energy if not then at every screw wrap the pipes outside this will be to short a run to cause enough static energy. to make a spark jump far enough. 2' between screws. I'd just use a 1/2" truss head self tapping screw.
Excellent Dave! You mentioned that you drill 5mm holes in your PVC pipes. As you know, Euro screws come in different lengths. How long are your Euro screws?
I'm trying to understand the theory of operation. How many lightning rods did you use? How did you calculate the number needed per meter? If wrapping the pipe doesn't serve any purpose, why didn't you just run the wire in a straight line? Subbed up and liked. Thank you.
@@DavidStanton Apparently, the frequency of "rods" is insignificant. So I'll start with one in the middle and add as needed. The second one (if hair raising continues) will go between one end of the system and the one existing lightning rod, and so forth halving the distance each time. I'll see if I can determine how many per meter of ducting is required. Inquiring minds want to know.
@@DavidStanton Would need to charge a high voltage capacitor then use a transformer to step it down to useable, since the static is probably like 5000-10000V when you get a shock.
Hi Dave! I’m sorry I’m week late asking, but I was wondering about the flex hose. Do you, or most folks, even worry with exposing a little of the metal coil and grounding that point? Or, is that just overkill? I’m very familiar with the opinion that static started fires in small shops are low risk, but I know from my electronics background that impact to tools with circuits is a real issue. Thank you for sharing your valuable wisdom!
Thank You David, Excellent Video. You wrapped the fire around the pipe with one screw on one side and another on the other side. Are there other steps to grounding the pipes. Best Regards Dirk
Thank you for your time for your video it was very informative. I've seen a few videos like this and I have a question. If metal pipe doesn't build up static electricity why not just use metal?
Hey, that"s a great idea. Just out of curiosity, why do you still wrap the copper wire around the pvc? Couldn't you just go from screw to screw and save yourself from using so much copper wire? Are you putting screws on both sides of the pvc? Cheers.
Mark Radmall . The wire wrapping around the pipe ceates more surface on the exterior of the pipe to earth. Pvc is an insulator hence the outside needs grounding as well.
Great idea, thanks for sharing. Question, do you have to wrap the wire the total length of your vacuum pipe and any offshoots that you may have? thanks again, Tim
....” and the connector”.....?. if you put a couple turns on each euro screw and then, at the end connect it to the dust collector frame ... what’s the purpose of the connector.? If there is a purpose for it, what is it called? And where can I find them? Thanks in advance David.
You say in your video; "Pvc is an insulator" and then you install a conductor in the Pvc. You better hope your ground never fails, you'll miss those static discharge shocks.
@@DavidStanton the screw might be removing the static from the direct area near the screw, that is all. Air is a pretty decent insulator, not as good as PVC pipe tho. Static can't travel much through the air, or along the PVC so how is this doing anything? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yA22kTtV4XI.html
Dave I do not understand why you had to spiral the copper wire around the pvc pipe. As you were earthing it at the euro screws why could you not lead the copper wire from screw to screw in a straight and direct line?
Hi Norman. The thing with static, just like lightening, is that it is random. The spiral application is a twofold thing. 1, to hold the wire against the outside more efficiently and 2, to give the earthing a better chance of catching a discharge because of the circumference thing as well as their is actually more wire used.
Correct. In the average home workshop very rare indeed. If it is earthed correctly there is no chance. In the end it is up to you to be responsible for your own safety.
@@FPChris No offense but as an electrician I am familiar with two deaths from one in a million, rarely if ever or whatever. Both were ground related electrocutions of children.
Hi Dave, great video, hopefully you have an idea to help me. I am a floorsander by trade, i have my floorsander with a 50mm vacuum hose connected. 16.5 meters later it arrives at my Bona DCS 70 vacuum. Now, when sanding finer grit paper i get a huge static shock, do you have any ideas of how i get away from this with it being a normal vacuum hose, i.e., i'm not able to screw into it. Thank you
Festool make an antistatic hose for their dust extractors. The hose is carbon impregnated and where the hose connects to the dust extractor is a metal contact that runs through to the earth pin on the machines power lead. You can buy it by the metre up to 10 metres I think. Be aware it is very pricey. www.festool.com.au/products/accessories-and-consumables/dust-extraction/dust-extractor/hoses-cleaning-sets-connections/hoses-anti-static/50mm-antistatic-suction-hose-per-meter_452386
what is with the ear protection when all you're doing is drilling a few holes into pvc. Stop that. You said that the wire you installed has an insulator, but it prevents static just thru the screws or did you purchase bare wire or strip the wire of the insulator, or did you just strip the wire where it makes contact with the screws?
Hi Gino. You must be new to my channel. The earmuffs are the mount for my action camera. Never said the wire I installed has an insulator. Have another look.
Not a real expert here, but I'm guessing that the collector motor would be under-loaded and perhaps burn up. Oddly enough, running a blower with the intake closed will cause the motor to overspeed and die. IMHO, your idea would induce similar conditions. Again, I'm speculating here.
Hi Dave. Sorry, meant ground. In Aviation hangars we always talk about grounding and bonding the aircraft. Do you somehow ground the hoses themselves? Or do they benefit from the fact the PVC is grounded and they are touching the PVC at the coupling? Hope you’re well down under
Dave, how long are the 5mm screws you used? I need to do this with my 6" PVC for the same reason, hairs always stand up as I walk by. Gets really annoying after a while.
I recently set up a CV1800 with 6" pipe and am experiencing the same thing, hairs standing up when I'm within a foot or two of the pipes. What gauge wire did you use? And is it safe to assume you can just wire nut connections together to continue them when coming from a wye instead of using the connectors you did?
Non conductive PVC pipe is not allowed by NFPA 664 sec 8.2.2.3.1.2 for workshops for this very reason. Static dissapative hose that can be grounded is required
I don’t understand. You say PVC is insulated and you shouldn’t run wire on outside. But thats what you’re showing. And are your holes all the way through the pipe?
Hi Dave, Does this apply to all dust extraction hoses and PVC plumbing pipe alike? As I have just purchased the Carbatec DC-1200P from Tim in Sydney and about to work on my setup next week.
It depends Brad. If it is PVC then trying to ground the system is a good idea. If you have anti static hoses such as Festool have then you are good to go as long as the hose contacts the earthing wire. Think of it as an electrical circuit which is exactly what it is. Some carbatec 4 inch flex hose such as I have on the end of my pvc line as in the video has a wire as the stiffener. The grey hose does not, it is plastic.
Hey Brad. Thanks for giving Tim a 5 star on google. The company is pushing those kind of things within the ranks of the staff at present. It will make his day knowing that someone has taken the time to say what a helpful person he is!
Happy to do it, as someone in retail industry myself, we always hear the negative from customers and never get acknowledged for the good we do. I was back in store today with Tim and as usual great service... Now I just need to set up my new Carbatec 14" Bandsaw when it cools down. :-)
I'm not sure it's legal to use metric fasteners on 4-inch pipe. Mixing measurement systems is sure to cause all sorts of imaginary problems. I'm surprised the Internet metric dilettantes haven't pointed this out in excruciating detail in order to prove they're YTE's (You Tube Experts). But, from practical side - well done modification.
It's actually not 4" pipe as this would be 101.6mm, domestic sewer pipe is 100mm ID, 110mm OD so putting metric screws into it will be ok, should not spontaneously combust or cause any imperial outrage 🤣🤣
That’s funny. 😁 While traveling through Canada I had to stop and get a windshield chip repaired. While waiting I asked what else they did, turns out they do house and business glass as well. Funny though, they measure glass thickness in Metric and measure the glass dimensions for windows in inches.
Hi Bert. I found the outside of the PVC pipe also had a tenancy to get static build up, hence the wire wrapped around the outside one rotation per lightning rod. Bare wire is best.
While your video doesn't get into the high or low pressure versus high or low volume differences between shop vacs and dust collection systems, nor show application to the entire length of the extraction tubes, it does address grounding both the inside and outside of the PVC tube. I'd suggest stressing placement of the penetration screws to the top over the sides of the tubes, and jumpering across all blast gates and joints. While small dust particles are a fire hazard, the volatile components in finishes and cleaners are explosion hazards too. Advise woodworkers to store those in metal cabinets. Also, while sawdust makes a great addition to garden compost, I wouldn't recommend using sawdust from any treated wood or shop sweepings from sanding finished woods. However, if you know you'll be working on raw wood you could have an alternate "CLEAN" garbage can collector kept by the dust collection system to be swapped out for the "WASTE" sawdust collection for regular use. When the raw wood sawing, drilling & sanding is done the collector cans can be switched back and the "CLEAN" can covered until next use or dumped into collection bags for addition to your garden compost bin.
Interesting point Eric Grunewald. Maybe you should make a video on all of these items that were not in my video which as the tittle mentioned was only about, "PVC, no static"
I've been searching for years and have never heard of a DC system blowing up or catching fire that wasn't grounded. I think you have an equal chance of a plane crashing into your shop.
