Drop a dowel to determine dust level
A pre-marked dowel helps know when cyclone dust collector is full.
Advertisement
I love my cyclone dust collector, but I could never tell when its collection barrel needed to be emptied. So I epoxied a PVC reducing bushing over the bung hole of the drum lid and threaded on a PVC ball valve as shown.
To check the sawdust level in the drum, I simply open the valve and insert a dowel. If I can see the "full" line I've scribed on the dowel when I feel resistance from the dust pack, I know it's time to empty the barrel.
Have a shop tip to share? Email us your tip, photos or drawings, and contact info.
Published tips earn money and tool prizes.