| Review by Scott Bryan | posted 184 days ago | 620 views | 0 times favorited | 20 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
- Powermatic 1200
- Brand: Powermatic | Category: Dust Collection

Installation
Assembly of a tool could not have been simpler. The only real assembly consisted of attaching 4 anchor eye bolts to the tool’s cabinet. I chose to mount it to the ceiling in order to control fine dust within the shop. This is definately a two person job since the assembled cabinet weighs about 70 pounds. The unit has three fan speeds and can be set for either continuous operation or set via a timer for 1 to 4 hours.
Performance
The cleaner will remove 99 percent of 5 micron particles with the outer filter and 85 percent of 1 micron particles with the inner filter. The size of the outer filter is 12×24x1 which is a commonly available size and is easily replaceable. The inner filter is cleaned with either compressed air or washed out. The unit comes with a battery powered remote for activating the cleaner.
From my experience with the unit it operates well and does a good job of removing the really fine dust that poses a heath risk when inhaled.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.


























20 comments so far
blackcherry
home | projects | blog
712 posts in 702 days
posted 184 days ago
Nice addition to anyone shop, enjoy the clean air thanks for sharing Blkcherry
woodworm
home | projects | blog
7845 posts in 469 days
posted 184 days ago
This is one of shop’s necessity that enables a woodworker to work happier and healthier.
Healthy woodworking!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
dlcarver
home | projects | blog
259 posts in 609 days
posted 183 days ago
Very nice machine Scott…wishI had one. I see those little particles floating in the sunlight.
Dave
-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com
adeptr
home | projects | blog
43 posts in 232 days
posted 183 days ago
That was also my experience when I got my Jet Model AFS1000B Air Filtration System. Just the four I bolts and an extra body to help do the “hanging”. You will be pleased with this piece of equipment. After a night sanding you can just leave the unit on and leave the shop and know that it will shut down later. Congrats on the new unit.
Dave
-- Dave Haynes, Indiana, http://www.oldaveswoodshop.com
sharad
home | projects | blog
686 posts in 683 days
posted 183 days ago
A very important addition to a woodworking workshop and thanks for sharing it. What is the cost of the unit?
Sharad
-- patanjali
Woodchuck1957
home | projects | blog
950 posts in 643 days
posted 183 days ago
Ofcourse a good dust mask should also be used. I’d also be a little concerned about all that exposed fiberglass insulation blowing around, thats not exactly good for you either.
HokieMojo
home | projects | blog
1136 posts in 607 days
posted 183 days ago
just wondering how you decided on PM vs other brands. this seems like an item where the PM price premium might not be worth it, but you seem to think this stuff out thoroughly before buying . Just curious.
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20080 posts in 701 days
posted 183 days ago
Good point, Woodchuck. I have considered putting up a ceiling of some type in there but simply have not gotten around to it. One of the problems that I have is that there is only 92” of clearance to the bottom of the joists. The joists had to be notched 1/2 inch to provide clearance for the garage door opener. But it definately is one my list.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Woodchuck1957
home | projects | blog
950 posts in 643 days
posted 183 days ago
Scott, even some thick mil plastic would be an improvement, or better yet if your not strapped for cash, ceiling tiles between the joists.
Roper
home | projects | blog
718 posts in 592 days
posted 183 days ago
i also just purchased the jet afs , wood craft has it on sale right now for $259, i couldn’t beat the price ,and as a turner i sand alot.
-- Roper - Master of sawdust-
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20080 posts in 701 days
posted 183 days ago
HokieMojo, as far as selecting the Powermatic I will freely admit to being a Powermatic fan. Whenever I look to purchase a tool I generally start the comparisons with Powermatic and have to have a strong reason to buy another brand. With this purchase they sent me a Powermatic sign, which I was more than happy to mount on my garage door. :) (CPO Powermatic listed it as a $69.00 freebie but even I would not pay this much for a sign!!)
I have always had excellent service from both the company and the equipment. And on-line reviews for this cleaner have all been positive. So part of the reason for buying is simply due to customer loyalty- the same reason I have always bought F150s. But another reason for buying the Powermatic was due to outer filter being a standard size that is readily available from Wal-Mart, Lowes, etc. I read reviews about the Jet, for instance, which uses an odd size filter that either requires modification of a standard filter (usually with duct tape) or buying it from Jet, which adds significantly to the cost. Not a big issue in the long run but just another reason, at least in my mind, to buy the Powermatic.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
HokieMojo
home | projects | blog
1136 posts in 607 days
posted 183 days ago
That is a perfectly fair answer in my opinion. Actually nice to see when cost isn’t the only factor. I’ll reward quality or excellent service with loyalty as well. Its not always an easy choice, but in my short time on this planet, I think it has paid off far more often than not.
MedicKen
home | projects | blog
406 posts in 341 days
posted 183 days ago
Did you just come into some cash form an inheritance or did you rob the local bank?LOL…... Sawstop and PM aircleaner at the same time. What else have you recently purchased?
-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com
Woodwrecker
home | projects | blog
469 posts in 454 days
posted 183 days ago
Great addition to your shop for safety week!
That’ll help keep the old lungs clean.
-- Eric
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
15600 posts in 456 days
posted 183 days ago
Good tool but it’s best if you don’t let the dust in the air to start with.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20080 posts in 701 days
posted 183 days ago
Ken, it helps having grown children. Not that they miss a chance to hit Dad up every now and then but I do have one more review coming.
Jim, I absolutely agree with you. I paired this with a PM1300 to handle dust both at the source and any airborne emissions as well.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Durnik150
home | projects | blog
536 posts in 200 days
posted 182 days ago
Scott. A very good review. I’ve upgraded to a good DC and now am looking to a good filtration to pick up the stuff that gets airborne no matter how hard I try.
One thing. You never answered the “How much” question. Unless I missed it somewhere.
-- Behind the Bark is a lot of Heartwood----Charles, Centennial, CO
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20080 posts in 701 days
posted 182 days ago
Durnik, sorry about not posting the cost of the tool. It was $470 plus shipping. CPO Powermatic shipped the air cleaner and dust collector for $79.00. Tools-Plus would have delivered it to a commercial address for $6.00 but they wanted $125.00 to ship it to my home address.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
hairy
home | projects | blog
264 posts in 411 days
posted 181 days ago
Wow! You’re getting serious about the dust. Way to go.
-- I'm a lumberjock and I'm ok, I sleep all night and I work all day!
pitchnsplinters
home | projects | blog
252 posts in 317 days
posted 16 days ago
FYI, same PM1200 now on sale at CPO for $439.99, and free shipping.
-- Just 'cause a cat has kittens in the oven, it don't make 'em biscuits.