Pellet Fan

Accessories & Essentials => Equipment -- grill grates, grill mats, brushes, covers, tongs, etc. => Topic started by: ScottE on June 01, 2021, 11:51:12 AM

Title: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: ScottE on June 01, 2021, 11:51:12 AM
I finally got around to building a pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption - I don't remember where I first saw this, it was probably 5-10 years ago. There are some videos on YouTube, but I seem to recall seeing this originally on a forum, maybe it was PH, I don't think it was here. Anyway, here's my build! It's all pretty self-explanatory (I think), so I'll just post the pictures and I can answer any questions that come up. It worked great! I got a number of small pellet chunks through the screen (shower drain), but I only rescued maybe a 1/2 dozen pellets from the 45 pounds I ran through it, and that is OK by me.

Now I've never worried about pellet dust before, but it's something I wanted to try out in my recent battles with my Camp Chef XT (see my Savannah Stoker thread there). I don't think the dust was an issue, but now that I have it, I will continue to use it as it is nice to get rid of that dust!

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: Canadian John on June 01, 2021, 12:06:57 PM

 I remember that.. There is a balance to be had between airflow and pellet volume. I just don't recall the detail. Something to do with the holes, size and or number.  Waiting to see how it works.
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: ylr on June 01, 2021, 04:17:43 PM
I remember seeing the thread on PH, but no details. Do you have a problem with dust with LJ pellets?
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: 02ebz06 on June 01, 2021, 05:31:31 PM
My belief is the longer you have them the more dust you will have.
The weight will cause some pellets to disintegrate. I'm finishing up LJ pellets I've had for 4-5 years and there is quite a bit of dust in these bags.
I don't filter it, it burns up.
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on June 01, 2021, 05:42:47 PM
My belief is the longer you have them the more dust you will have.
The weight will cause some pellets to disintegrate. I'm finishing up LJ pellets I've had for 4-5 years and there is quite a bit of dust in these bags.
I don't filter it, it burns up.

I find they work great in the Memphis and sometimes not so great in the MAK.
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: 02ebz06 on June 01, 2021, 06:01:01 PM

I find they work great in the Memphis and sometimes not so great in the MAK.

I've had no issues either in my Memphis grills or the Blazin' GridIron when I had it.

I don't think I have used anything but LumberJack pellets.
When I was in Texas (had the Memphis Pro and the GridIron then), I split a ton with some PH members in the area.
Shortly after moving to NM, I split a ton with my son and a neighbor.
Getting ready for another ton order shortly to split with my son and now ex-neighbor since I moved.
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: okie smokie on June 01, 2021, 09:44:16 PM
For me I have found the least amount of dust with LJ brand. They are so popular locally, that perhaps they are sit on the shelf for long. I buy them at Southerland's in Bixby, OK.  Hickory blend and Comp blend are best for me. Straight hickory produces  more ash than I like. They have several flavors I have not tried. I have never had a dust plugging problem with my Blaz'n or RT 590.  Keep them dry makes the difference IMO.
I see some great cooks coming to all this summer.    :bbq:
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: ScottE on June 03, 2021, 08:53:34 AM
I never really worried about pellet dust in the past either, but it was something I wanted to try and the Pit Boss pellets from Walmart have a ton of dust in them.

Unfortunately I'm limited on what pellets I can get locally here. One of the local farm stores does carry Camp Chef brand, and they are fine but a bit pricy. I just discovered Dicks Sporting Goods carries Lumberjack, but only comp blend (which is a good blend), I have to drive to the next town over to get them, and also pricey. One of these days I'll get down to the city 2 hours away and do a bulk purchase from a BBQ supply place. Shipping pellets is just so expensive!

The Lumberjack and Camp Chef pellets definitely have very little dust compared to Pit Boss. I swear there's a 1/2 pound of dust in a 40# bag of Pit Boss pellets! The 40# bags are worse than the 20# bags, too.

The pictures do have some Lumberjack bags in them, not really visible are the Pit Boss bags that I was the most concerned with cleaning up. :-)
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: Bentley on June 03, 2021, 03:26:04 PM
I am amazed at the innovative people on the site!
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on June 03, 2021, 03:54:55 PM
I am amazed at the innovative people on the site!

Bentgyver is one of the most creative
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: hughver on June 03, 2021, 04:54:01 PM
Admittedly I have limited pit exposure, but I've never paid attention nor had a problem with pellet dust in either my GMG or Traeger grills.  ???
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: pmillen on June 04, 2021, 02:17:29 PM
The pellet dust cleaner was first posted by AE Neuman on PH.  It was resurrected in this thread (https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=641.msg6501#msg6501) on PF.

You can see his drawing on page two.  I still have it if anyone wants it.

EDIT:  I'd vacuum more than a cup of dust out of every bag of pellets I bought.
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: 02ebz06 on June 04, 2021, 03:13:40 PM
The pellet dust cleaner was first posted by AE Neuman on PH.  It was resurrected in this thread (https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=641.msg6501#msg6501) on PF.

You can see his drawing on page two.  I still have it if anyone wants it.

EDIT:  I'd vacuum more than a cup of dust out of every bag of pellets I bought.

AE Newman is a name I've tried to forget.
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on June 04, 2021, 04:49:51 PM
The pellet dust cleaner was first posted by AE Neuman on PH.  It was resurrected in this thread (https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=641.msg6501#msg6501) on PF.

You can see his drawing on page two.  I still have it if anyone wants it.

EDIT:  I'd vacuum more than a cup of dust out of every bag of pellets I bought.

AE Newman is a name I've tried to forget.

I did until it just appeared here
Title: Re: Pellet dust cleaning vacuum contraption
Post by: ScottE on June 05, 2021, 09:22:23 AM
The pellet dust cleaner was first posted by AE Neuman on PH.  It was resurrected in this thread (https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=641.msg6501#msg6501) on PF.

That's it! Thank you. I searched but didn't come across it.

At any rate, the YouTube videos are a pretty good guide. I used 3" drywall screws in the last section to make it more exciting for the pellets (ok, it's to break things up so more dust is collected).  :-)