I have a 60s version 5 HP Powermatic planer to which I added a 1.5 HP dust collector on top of two 55 gal drums tack welded end-to-end to make a tall chip storage unit. As long as the storage unit is not full the dust collector really sucks the chips which collect in the drums with the fine particles exiting with the exhaust. (I'm far away from my neighbors so inhaling fine particulate is not a problem.) When the drums are full I would expect ALL of the chips to start exiting with the exhaust because there is no room for them to settle and the turbulent flow would carry them out in the exhaust. But this is not what happens - they exit the infeed side of the planer even though the dust collector is still sucking air as strong as ever. When I empty the chips via a cleanout door normal operation is restored. This has been going on for about 10 years. What gives? See pics.
Bob
Bob