Pleated cartridge filters are a great new development in shop safety, offering much finer filtration than bags, with enough surface area folded in to keep the suction strong. The trouble is that the pleats fill up with dust pretty quickly, knocking down airflow (measured in cubic feet per minute) by as much as 50%. Manufacturers have countered with internal flappers that rattle the pleats and dislodge the dust. It’s a fine solution if you remember to do it after each woodworking session.

Or you can buy one of Jet’s new Vortex Cone dust collectors, with an internal sheet-metal baffle just above the air inlet that’s designed to keep 98% of the dust from cycloning up into the filter at all. We tested the Jet DC1100VX 1-1⁄2-hp collector (with Vortex Cone) against its older brother, the DC-1100, identical except for the cone. We found that while the Vortex Cone dampened airflow a bit overall (600 cfm vs. 700 cfm for the coneless original), it kept the filter clean and the airflow level as we filled the lower bag to the top with dust, while the older collector’s flow dropped by 40%—until we spun the flappers.

Since 600 cfm is a bit low for machines like planers and tablesaws, and a length of flexible hose will dampen airflow even more, I recommend springing for the 2-hp version of the Vortex-Cone collector, the DC1200VX. Jet also offers 30- and 5-micron bag filters for their collectors, but you should opt for the 2-micron canister, which will keep much more of the dangerous fine dust out of the air. Go to vortexcone.com for more info.

Old school. The old-style Jet collector provides more suction, as long as you keep the filter clean by rotating the flappers.

New school. An internal cone on the Vortex collector keeps all but the finest dust from climbing up into the filter and clogging it.

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