Dust Collection

Greetings brianlsu43… I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those d.cs you’re lookin at are too small for a t.s. and a router. The one from Rockler is made to clean up your shop with, kind of like a shop vac… not powerful enough cfms to keep up….. the little 1 h.p from Hf is the same… both just not big enough for what you want to do. You need a good d.c like a Jet, Grizzly, Delta, etc…with a 1 1/2—- 2 h.p. motor with enough suction (cfms) to handle anything you throw at it….... just my opinion. Others on here will probably tell you the same thing…. one with 1100 to 1200 cfms…..

-- " Don't ever wrestle a pig in a mudhole....he'll be having more fun than you..!!

I totally agree with Rick. Are you ever going to want to add anything else?

Those that you listed, imho, are toys. If you want to get serious about dust collection ,and you SHOULD get serious, read this, then spend the money up front and do it right.

I have a Clearview 1800LH and love it.

-- Chip -----------http://www.penmanchip.com-----------------Micah 6:8

brianlsu43,
The bags for the two units are rated for 30 microns. For a little more than what the Rockler costs, you can get a more powerful motor with much better bags. I know you asked for help with choosing between the two you mentioned, but thought I add this. I have one of the Penn State's dust collectors , the DC1B-XL. The 1 HP motor is sufficient when connected to one machine, I haven’t tried it with two machines. The collector has casters on them and I move the unit when connecting to a different unit. For me, that’s not a problem but that’s based on each individual’s needs. What I liked about it is that the bags are rated for 1 micron filtering capability. Cutting MDF can make very fine dust. however, my unit is much bigger in size than the ones you are looking at, so if space is a constrain, then that’s another requirement.

Another vote to skip past those two. IMO, something in the 1100+ cfm range would be best, but a 650 cfm unit can work.

The mesh size of the filter bag is very important. 30 microns will pass a lot of the really fine dust and it will be all over the place – and in the air you’re breathing. One micron is far better, and a pleated canister type filter is better still.

I have a Jet DC, bur have heard good things about some of the HF units.

-- Adversity doesn't build character...................it reveals it.

Yeah, the Harbor Freight unit rated at 2 horse works great and a 20% off coupon is always available in most Woodworking, Mechanical (type) and Tool magazines plus you can Google for them and print them.

HF 2hp DC unit $179.00

I also think the 1 hp HF unit you have listed is a whole lot better then having nothing, it will catch most of the fine stuff that likes to cover the whole shop.

If you are near Central Oregon I have a used DC unit I can let go very inexpensively.

-- Ohh mann...pancakes and boobies...I'll bet that's what Heaven is like! ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Brian;

I agree with the above from Rick, Padre, etc.

Take a good look at the HF 2HP / 5 micron DC. There is a coupon, to buy it for $139.99, in the March 2010 Wood Magazine that is good until May 19, 2010. I have this DC and it works very well with every tool in my shop.

I put a 30 gallon trash can and the Woodcraft trashcan lid separator in front of the HF DC. So far, nothing in the DC Collector bag, everything stays in the trash can. I think this is one of the best values out there for shop dust / chip collection.

Good Luck!

-- Rick Gustafson - Lost Creek Ranch - Colorado County, Texas

brianlsu43—I don’t have either of the models you provided links to, but I have a similar one (ProTech 750cfm with a 1 micron bag), and would not recommend it … it is just not powerful enough. Even using a 4” hose, my thickness planer throws enough material to clog the inlet on the DC, which means a lot of time wasted futzing around.

Much better to go with some of the suggestions above.

If space is a problem (I don’t have room for a real DC solution in my shop), you might look at the Oneida Dust Deputy and a ShopVac. With a HEPA filter installed, that combo out-performs my 750cfm dust collector. The only time my ProTech gets used is when I am working out on the driveway.

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

It’s not as good a deal as the Harbor Freight model above but the Delta 50-760 comes with a 1 micron bag for $400 and I’ve seen it mentioned a few times by LJ’s.

I’m in a similar predicament. I don’t have the circuitry to run anything more than a shop vac while I run the table saw. I either have to bring in an electrician and promise them my firstborn or get a 100cfm shop vac with a trash can separator and hope it does enough. I don’t like my options.

-- "We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then is not an act but a habit." ---Aristotle

I have the 2HP Harbor Freight dust collector. Hard plumed to 6” pvc pipe. It works great, and the price is right. Not once has it bogged down, I have it plumed to a table saw, jointer, planner, band saw, spindal sander, and router table, lathe, and radial arm saw, oh and floor sweep. Each tool as it’s own blast gate. I am thinking of putting the collector on a remote control. I definatly would recomend the 2 HP dust collector, humm just had a look at HF’s sight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98872 this one I will have to keep an eye on. AThis one has almost twice the suction. as the 2 HP version.

-- Ray

Thanks guys.

As your responses are overwelmingly one sided. I will most certainly take your advise and go with a unit with larger cfm’s.

This is a great site. It’s nice to get other opinions before buying something and suffering the “buyers remorse”.

Thanks again.

I agree with Ray (and others)—though … the Big, Bad HF unit is 220V, for those who don’t have it….

Mine’s the 2HP HF with Wynn 35A cartridge filter, cyclone chip separator, and a remote control.

Love it. Works just fine on table saw, band saw, planer, jointer, and router table. It’s NOT plumbed, but … not a big deal.

-- -- Neil

One more question.

I operate from my garage. All outlets are on 15amp breakers.

I like the price the HF unit, but it requires a 20amp breaker.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a DC with 1100cfm capability that operates on a 15amp breaker?

I have seen a few, but would like your opinions. I would like to keep cost under $300 if possible.

Thanks in advance.

Billy

Billy:

I don’t think it’s quite that simple.

The HF draws a 20A peak load—probably at startup.

I can’t recall the exact #’s, or quickly put my fingers on the specs, but … IIRC … a 15A breaker can handle loads in excess of 15A for a specified period of time, without tripping. IIRC, there are even some breakers that have some adjustment capability FOR the transient surge delay (equivalent to a slo-blow fuse).

I’ll see if I can find the info, and take a shot at whether or not the HF unit would trip the breaker.

-- -- Neil

Just curious … how many circuits/breakers are you talking about?

Neil is correct … the HF’s 20 amp peak load would likely be at startup. But if you have a tool (e.g. 1.5hp tablesaw) that has a similar draw on startup, you may wind up tripping the breaker anyway when you fire up the saw.

If you are able to put the DC and other tools on separate circuits/breakers, you may be OK.

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

... and … since I don’t see all the relevant data … another possibility is to consult with an electrician to see if the 15A breaker could be replaced by a 20A breaker without exceeding total load.

If you’ve got the capacity, then … you’re golden.

I also agree with TheDane: high draw goodies (table saw, band saw, DC, etc) probably need their own circuits.

-- -- Neil