Determine Dust Loading in Dust Collectors

Knowing how much dust will be collected in a dust collection system is very important. The method below is what is as good as any:

Let’s use the example of an 18-bag dust collector on typical woodworking dust from two table saws. We expect a large portion of the dust to be sawdust.

Each table saw requires about 660 CFM, therefore we need 1320 CFM at the dust collector.

Assume a loading of 10 grains per cu.ft. (from experience; woodworking is 10-20 grains, Material handling transfer points is 3-5 grains, fumes is 10grains per 1000 cu.ft.)

1320 CFM x 10 grains = 13200 grains/min

13200 / 7000 grains/lb = 1.89 lbs/min x 60 min = 113 lbs/hour

A 55 (45 imperial) gallon drum is 9 cu.ft. volume.

From a dust collection selection chart, density of wood is 10-30 lbs/cu.ft.

Therefore, a drum will hold 20 lbs/cu.ft. x 9 cu.ft = 180 lbs/drum

We will fill 113 lbs/hour / 180 lbs/drum = 5 drums per 8 hour shift.

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