PVC Ductwork -- Some 6" Pricing

McRabbet · 10-24-2007, 11:02 PM

I am in the process of upgrading my dust collection system to a 5 HP ClearVue Cyclone that I'll get delivered in about 10 days. My old 4" PVC ductwork will be replaced with 6" and I'll be installing lots more outlets so I can eliminate moving hook-ups from machine to machine.

I'm using 6" 'Sewer & Drain' (aka S&D or ASTM D2729) because it is lightweight, comes with bell-end couplings and is very smooth on the interior. Fittings are solidly cast and smooth-walled, too. In addition, the 6" blast gates supplied with the ClearVue are designed for this pipe. However, the 6" S&D pipe and fittings are not real easy to find, although some Lowe's stores (mine does) do carry some of the fittings. Thanks to a tip from a Western NC Woodworkers Association colleague, I found a good supplier in upstate SC, only 45 miles to our south. And they carry most fittings at prices lower than Lowe's or McMaster-Carr, including sweep 90 degree elbows. The supplier is McRey Distributors, 1201 Boiling Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29304 (864-582-8106).

Here are some comparison prices (?? means I didn't check or price is equal to Lowe's; N/A means not available):

Code:

 
McMaster-Carr Lowe's  McRey   Fitting Description 
$ 28.72           N/A    $ 15.34   Sweep 90 Elbow
$ 6.58          $ 4.67       ??      6" Coupling
$ 8.82          $ 6.97       ??      6" x 4" Reducer
$ 10.27         $ 6.97      ??      45 Elbow
$ 15.24         $ 9.47      ??      Tight 90 Elbow
$ 14.01         $ 19.97  $ 16.89    6"x6"x6" Wye
   N/A          $ 19.97  $ 15.17    6"x6"x4" Wye
$ 28.16          N/A     $ 15.50    6" x 10-foot Pipe

Clearly, the fittings from McRey (except for the 6" Wye) are less expensive than either of the other suppliers (McMaster-Carr will add shipping, too). I will buy my couplings, reducers and any 45 elbows I might need at Lowe's. The biggest savings are with the pipe itself -- I brought back 140' today for myself and for Jerry Grant (Purple Thumb), who is also putting in a new ClearVue system. And I bought several sweep 90's and 6" wyes for us as well.

Alan in Little Washington · 10-24-2007, 11:26 PM

What is the radius on the sweeps?

toolferone · 10-25-2007, 12:24 AM

The price are great. I used 2 45's and a piece of straight pipe to make my corners. I felt it would flow better (faster) then the 90's. I am looking forward to seeing wip pics!!!!

dino drosas · 10-25-2007, 12:43 AM

Rob, You and Jerry are going to love the ClearVue. I just about keep my shop dust free since I installed my system.

McRabbet · 10-25-2007, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by Alan in Little Washington

What is the radius on the sweeps?

They are 6" inside radius and 12" outside radius. That's lots better than the tight 90's one finds at Lowe's, which are almost 0" inside radius.

PurpleThumb · 10-25-2007, 01:41 PM

Dino, you're the reason for this expenditure. I made sure to tell Ed that too! Wanted you to get credit if you ever need it. Rob has been kind enough to include me in the visit and now he picks up my pipe and fittings. This site is full of great people but Rob is one of the best!!! Hope some of you will visit me when I get mine up and running. You'll know when because I'll post pictures. Just don't expect immediate results because these days an hour in the shop is like gold.

Alan in Little Washington · 10-25-2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by McRabbet

They are 6" inside radius and 12" outside radius. That's lots better than the tight 90's one finds at Lowe's, which are almost 0" inside radius.

Thanks! I may need to get one or two because I'm contemplating adding on to my system.

So far I have avoided 90 elbows by having most of my turns 45 at a wye or making a 90 with a 45 onto a wye.

McRabbet · 10-25-2007, 10:19 PM

I went to Lowe's today and picked up a few 45's and some 6"x4" reducers because I know I'll need them. Also picked up 50' of 10/2 NM cable (>$50; ouch!) and two four pole circuit breakers (240 V with 20 Amp and 30 Amp breakers in a dual slot package). I'm waiting for the delivery of the Cyclone and 30 Amp relay I ordered with it to buy a junction box of the correct size. I'm getting psyched!

A little side bar news

. Ed Morgano and his son Matt (ClearVue's dual braintrust) are driving up to NC to be guest speakers at our next Western NC Woodworkers Assoc. Meeting at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Nov 3rd. They are not only bringing Jerry and my CV1800 cyclones with them, but they are also bringing their Mini CV06 Shop Vac Cyclone to do a live demonstration (and some to sell if folks are interested). This meeting is our Annual BBQ and we're adding a Tool/Wood Swap to the event. Members are bringing a side dish to pass and WNCWA member Steve Wilson is providing some of his great pork BBQ. Guests are welcome, but please contact me for details.

Alan in Little Washington · 10-26-2007, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by McRabbet

I went to Lowe's today and picked up a few 45's and some 6"x4" reducers because I know I'll need them. Also picked up 50' of 10/2 NM cable (>$50; ouch!) and two four pole circuit breakers (240 V with 20 Amp and 30 Amp breakers in a dual slot package). I'm waiting for the delivery of the Cyclone and 30 Amp relay I ordered with it to buy a junction box of the correct size. I'm getting psyched!

A little side bar news. Ed Morgano and his son Matt (ClearVue's dual braintrust) are driving up to NC to be guest speakers at our next Western NC Woodworkers Assoc. Meeting at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Nov 3rd. They are not only bringing Jerry and my CV1800 cyclones with them, but they are also bringing their Mini CV06 Shop Vac Cyclone to do a live demonstration (and some to sell if folks are interested). This meeting is our Annual BBQ and we're adding a Tool/Wood Swap to the event. Members are bringing a side dish to pass and WNCWA member Steve Wilson is providing some of his great pork BBQ. Guests are welcome, but please contact me for details.

If I ever get around to it, I am going to make a mini-cyclone, although Ed's current price is getting pretty tempting. Tell Ed he needs to market my high dust alarm!!!

I sent him pics and a description last year and he said he would discuss it with his son and get back to me. Oh, well

McRabbet · 10-26-2007, 02:29 PM

Alan,

I'll be happy to talk to him about your alarm -- I'm planning to incorporate one on my system because it will be out of sight like yours. I'm also going to talk to him about discounts for WNCWA and North Carolina Woodworker members on all of his products.

scsmith42 · 10-26-2007, 08:39 PM

Rob, most commercial plumbing supply houses should stock those fittings. Check to see if there is a "Ferguson Enterprises" in your area; they are a large chain with stores all over the place.

Scott

McRabbet · 10-26-2007, 09:43 PM

The Ferguson's in Hendersonville sent me to their main store in Asheville and they wanted nearly double the price for 10' lengths of 6" and all of their fittings were higher than Lowe's prices. I have a friend who is a professional plumber and I'm sure he could have gotten better prices.

Trog777 · 10-26-2007, 10:59 PM

Due to the cost of the 6" stuff, I've decided to run dual 4" runs instead. Looks like I can do it at about 1/3 the cost. I'm sure, even though the area of two 4" vs one 6" is about the same, there will be a less flow, but I think it will work fine. We'll see. The 6" is just too high for me. Just the initial run and transition from the cyclone to go from 6" to two 4"s cost me dang near a hundred bucks. The whole works would bust my budget all to hello. Plumbing will be a lil harder though. May look like a Blue Man Group stage show when finished, but I got more time than money.

Got the motor up and wired today. Had to hoist it with a rope since it's just me and the wife, but we got it done. Remote works through the wall and across my whole shop. Now if I can keep up with it...

On a side note, I purchased the CV when they were having their anniversary sale last month and the kit included 6 blast gates that I'm not going to be using. McRabbet (Rob?) or anyone else who comes up needing an extra or two, let me know.

McRabbet · 10-27-2007, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by Trog777

Due to the cost of the 6" stuff, I've decided to run dual 4" runs instead. Looks like I can do it at about 1/3 the cost. I'm sure, even though the area of two 4" vs one 6" is about the same, there will be a less flow, but I think it will work fine. We'll see. The 6" is just too high for me. Just the initial run and transition from the cyclone to go from 6" to two 4"s cost me dang near a hundred bucks. The whole works would bust my budget all to hello. Plumbing will be a lil harder though. May look like a Blue Man Group stage show when finished, but I got more time than money.

Got the motor up and wired today. Had to hoist it with a rope since it's just me and the wife, but we got it done. Remote works through the wall and across my whole shop. Now if I can keep up with it...

On a side note, I purchased the CV when they were having their anniversary sale last month and the kit included 6 blast gates that I'm not going to be using. McRabbet (Rob?) or anyone else who comes up needing an extra or two, let me know.

I'm sorry to hear that you're not going to run the 6" pipe -- it has 2.25 more cross sectional area than 4" pipe and lots less frictional loss. And I'm not sure if you really save all that much. Lowe's price for 10' lengths of 4" here are $7.35 or $14.70 for 20 feet -- 10' of 6" was $15.50. The biggest expense is for wyes -- 6" one are nearly $20 at Lowe's. But, there is more than one way to skin a cat (with apologies to the feline lovers) -- here is a link to a real useful calculator online that allows you to make templates for cutting the joint intersections of two pipes at an angle. You could run a 6" main and have as many 4" pipe intersect it without any fittings (downside is cuts must be accurate and all joints must be glued).

If you don't need the blast gates, I'd be interested -- At this point, I'm planning on making 2-3 extra gates.

Trog777 · 10-27-2007, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by McRabbet

I'm sorry to hear that you're not going to run the 6" pipe -- it has 2.25 more cross sectional area than 4" pipe and lots less frictional loss. And I'm not sure if you really save all that much. Lowe's price for 10' lengths of 4" here are $7.35 or $14.70 for 20 feet -- 10' of 6" was $15.50. The biggest expense is for wyes -- 6" one are nearly $20 at Lowe's. But, there is more than one way to skin a cat (with apologies to the feline lovers) -- here is a link to a real useful calculator online that allows you to make templates for cutting the joint intersections of two pipes at an angle. You could run a 6" main and have as many 4" pipe intersect it without any fittings (downside is cuts must be accurate and all joints must be glued).

If you don't need the blast gates, I'd be interested -- At this point, I'm planning on making 2-3 extra gates.

Yes, 6" has 2.25 more cross sectional area than a single 4", but with a combined area of 25.12 for two 4" runs, vs the 28.26 for the 6 inch, I don't think I'll see much of a gain vs the extra expenditure. Close enough for me anyway. May not be quite as good as 6 inch, but it'll be twice as good as 4". Situations where dual collection ports are used will be a breeze, (Sliding Compund Miter Saw station, router station... )and adding a port where possible or, coming together in a reverse wye at the machine port when necessary, should work as far as I'm concerned. (though it will double my home built dust ports) The pipe cost (if purchased retail) is actually about the same for double the 4" amount, but the fitting savings is unreal. Less than half the cost for twice as many. Plus I got a deal on some used 4" stuff another guy locally was replacing. Not to mention the anorexic availability of 6" locally.

PM me your address and how many of the gates you need and I'll send them to you.

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