Sounds like no one is using metric sized main ducts, which is sort of what I expected to hear.? I'm a little concerned about going from a 160mm inlet to a 7" duct (~175mm), as I don't know how to estimate what the impact of the constriction at the collector would be.? But perhaps that just means I should pay a professional company to do the math for me.? Going from a 160mm inlet to a 6" main duct is easier to wrap my head around, but the increase in static pressure, combined with my altitude, is a bit problematic.

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I definitely don't want to run 8" main ducting, as I'm a one man operation, and all of my tools will constrict airflow enough that I wouldn't be able to maintain the right velocity in the main 8" duct without having extra gates open.

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I did get a fan-curve for the RL-160 from Fergus Cooke at Felder Sacramento, but I guess I need to double check as to whether that's for 50 Hz or 60 Hz power.? I haven't yet settled on a specific collector.? I'm biased towards a euro-style negative pressure unit, and I'm looking at Felder, Al-Ko, Spaenex, and Hocker Polytechnic units.? Unfortunately, none of them sell high pressure dust collectors until you get into physically larger units than I need for my shop, so I may have to fall back to a American cyclone unit.? The Oneida folks sell a 5HP high vacuum SMART Boost system that is rated for 1000 CFM at ~18" WC, which would more than meet my needs.? The price is attractive compared to the Europeans, but the downside is a much higher noise level.? I'm pretty noise sensitive, so going that route will probably force me to think about building a containment closet for the collector, and baffled or duct silencers for the exhaust.

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-Michael Wolf

Tahoe City, CA