Wood, Paper & Pulp

Wood Dust Types

Wood dust or sawdust is a broad category, consisting of several types, sizes, and shapes of materials. Important variables include:

• Wood species (hardwoods have different characteristics than softwoods)
• Moisture content (‘green’ or dried)
• Presence of other materials (as in plywoods or particleboard, etc)
• Application or machinery that is generating the dust

Generally speaking, wood dust can be broken down into one of three basic categories:

Sizing and Selecting A Dust Collector for Wood

Let Donaldson and our team of experts help you size and select the perfect dust collector for your wood application.  We will survey your shop or plant at no charge, and provide a prompt and technically reliable price quotation. Some of the key information we will need to accurately size a system include:

• Airflow Requirement in Cubic Meters per Hour (m³/h) / Cubic Feet per Minute  (CFM):
• Dust and application characteristics:
• Intermittent or continuous (production) 
• Collector location (indoor or outdoor)
• Volume of dust discharge / takeaway 

Dust & Discharge Disposal

A key part of the equation in selecting the right dust collector for wood applications is the consideration of how much material will be collected by the unit, and what size of storage device will be utilized for the collected dust. Donaldson offers the widest selection of options available, from small drawers or drums for light-loading applications, to medium and full size bins and roll-off dumpsters. Shown below are some typical discharge arrangements.

Common Mistakes in Selecting a Dust Collector for Wood Dust

1. There are a host of inexpensive point-of-use simple dust collectors on the market.
   
   These can consist of nothing but a blower/fan and a bag or drum. While these may have utility in a small intermittent ‘hobby’ type shop, they can present problems for any type of production environment. These are typically light-gauge construction, with filter media that is not very efficient, and without means to clean the bag or filter. These devices commonly have leaking and/or plugging issues. Additionally, these units may not be consistent with a combustible dust strategy as outlined by OSHA.
   

2. Cyclones serve a valid niche in the woodworking market, but buyers should be aware of their limitations.
   
   Cyclones do not have the filtration efficiency of a media-type device – if there is no ‘afterfilter’ bag or device, cyclones could be susceptible to some degree of ‘blow-by’ or fine dust passing out the discharge. If a cyclone is selected, an afterfilter should be utilized. If the cyclone is located outdoors (per OSHA recommendations), the afterfilter bag section should also have a weather enclosure to prevent the bags from being exposed to rain and the elements. Interestingly, a cyclone with afterfilter bags and weather enclosure often reaches or exceeds the price point of a fully-integrated baghouse or other device, so buyers should weigh several options.
   

3. Given the wide range of dust collector types that could be suitable for wood dust collection, a buyer should be careful when working with a vendor who only manufactures a single type of system. 
   
   For example, a cartridge collector manufacturer might only be able to provide a solution that suggests a cartridge collector, when a baghouse or other device might be more suitable for fibrous or heavy dust.

Collectors In Use