Without getting into a discussion about CFM, static pressures, ducting, etc.:
Any advice on what brand to by (or not to buy)? I’ve been looking at Grizzly, Delta, and Jet ~1.5 HP models. Does it really make a difference?
Does anybody have any experience with the Jet Cannister DC?
Thanks,
Paul
Edited 1/22/2006 9:16 am ET by GotAll10
Replies
Any of those should do great. There are so many variables in the ducting that the DC is just one aspect of the system. The impeller size and sufficient motor to spin the impeller are the more important parts of the DC.
I bought the 1.5HP Jet Cannister collector last year. Don't have it hooked up to permanent piping yet, just use flex-hose that gets moved machine to machine. I greatly appreciate how easy it is to empty the bag when it's getting full.
They're not perfect though -- no filter is going to get every little microscopic spec, unfortunately. But it sucks just fine, so to speak.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I got a Jet DC1100CK last year. Piped my shop and it works well. Shop and wallet too small for a Cyclone.
I just added a JDS 14040 collector and a JDS 750 airfilter. Huge difference.
How do you like JDS? I am looking at their line as I have a low ceiling in my shop and they may be a better fit for me. Any thoughts?
Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
G- I have a JDS also. Before I got it, I followed the infamous magazine reviews for a couple/three years. One of the mags went way beyond the usual methods and tested with partially loaded filters, did all kinds of measurements on leakage around the filters and such. As was the trend, the JDS came out on top. I think it'd be hard for a human to tell the difference between the big names, just walking around in the shop, but this test got my attention.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) Do unto others as you tell them they should do unto you....
I don't think too much ;-)
No complaints. I was concerned that the noise would be annoying at the very least (it is, at least for now, in the shop with me). It really isn't bad. I also have a little Fein vac, I can hear that over the DC. I don't know that it is really louder, but certainly a different frequency. Besides, when it comes to sounds, see my 1812 thread in the cafe, LOL.
From a general performance standpoint, and I prephase this with the following disclaimer, I've not been doing lots of wood butchering of late, there ain't no dust... How do I know? I've been doing some varnishing. I didn't go to half the lengths I previously would have done to get rid of dust on the bits. I used to blow them with CA, vac, wipe with MS, tack, etc, etc, and stuff still came out with naughty bits in it. This stuff I sanded, vacuumed and then varnished (first coat). Almost nothing in it. I didn't use a tack rag, either. What I did was run the air filter for about four hours, on high before doing the varnishing. While varnishing I ran it on low, and kept the work between the filter and me. When done varnishing, I set the filter to run for another four hours.
Same routine for the second coat, but I did break down and use a tack rag. I'm sold.
I have a contractor's saw, so dust collection from that is not all that great. I've closed up the back with door skin, and am thinking about making some sort of contraption that will allow me to tilt the blade, yet still keep things well covered. Maybe using Velcro or magnets. For the front slot where the blade raising wheel lives I made up a baffle with door skin and magnets to hold it in place.
The bandsaw project is nearing completion. I'm going to epoxy a modified waste gate into the collector I fabricated, run 4" line down from that, to meet with 2.5" line from under the lower wheel in a wye, then 4" to the collector. Preliminary says it should work great.
If I get my camera disaster sorted out I'll post some pictures.
Cyclones are the only way to go as far as I am concerned. I don't know what my static pressures or the efficiency rating for mine is but hardly anything gets by it. You cant ask for a cheaper system either..I built mine myself using a plan from a woodworking magazine.
When I first saw the article I brushed it off. Didn't bother reading it. I kept the magazine as I do all my torn and tattered woodworking magazines (mainly Finewoodworking) and went back to the article and decided to try it after reading that a lot of bag types collectors put the most dangerous particles back into the shop.
Before you make a decision you should go to http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/DC4Dummies.cfm#CFMRequirementsTable I will have to check to make sure the site is still there and the address is correct. It was the most complete site I found for cyclone and piping information.
I don't normally offer my advice but I was VERY impressed with the small amount of dust that made it to the filter! If your shop has the room and height you will never regret it.
Edited 1/26/2006 12:57 pm ET by coyoteebo
I've had a lot of contact with Bill Pentz over the years. He is the DC expert, as much as I can determine. I've had to upgrade my entire dust system over the last year, as my wife's allergies have gotten worse, and it was either upgrade or go without power tools. Plus I've had several different single stage dust collectors as well. Here is what I've found that works:For smaller tools, upgrade if you can to the Festool System. Their vac (the Fein as well) does the best job, but they will collect only as well as the tool will pick up, and the Festool sanders do the best at dust pickup (I've stripped paint, and sanded new coats with the Festool in a room with no barriers or dust masks and no problems). Also, make sure whatever vac you have will allow you to empty it without a dust plume--the Fein won't unless you trade up to a Hepa Filter and dust bag. The Festool is better at that part. Now...For the big dust collector, in descendin order, depending on your wallet and space, get the following>The Felder Unit, the big ones, not the one stage wall mount, but the big free standing $3 - 4,000 model. They will without a doubt do the best job, will empty the easiest, and are the quietest. Also the most expensive.A top quality cyclone. Oneidas are great, I have the Woodsucker, which has a smaller footprint, which I needed. Oneidas have Baldor motors, Woodsuckers have Leeson. Baldors are better, but the Woodsucker works really well.The one stage dust collectors, cannisters or not, are not really helpful. They do harm as they filter th elarger particles, but not the particles under 1 micron. Any unit will collect the dust from a jointer or planer. No matter what you use, you have to go way above the 4" outlet size that the industry has decided is the standard. Most machines need at least a 5" outlet to work properly, and the DC/cyclone inlet should be at least 6", 7" is even better. Woodsucker uses 6", Oneida 7". Both use neutral vanes inside, which improves efficiency.
yep, I have the Jet 1100, and I would say it is marginally acceptable in my situation. Mind you, the dc itself works fine, it is just the capacity, length of runs, etc.
If I were doing it again, I would add a few more bucks to budget and get the smallish Oneida cyclone.
EDIT to add: Oneida will design a system for you (no charge); and if I had spent those extra dollars, I would have a system that was specifically designed for my needs by someone who knew what they were doing. In my case, I designed the system, guessed that the 1100 would be about right -- but I was ("marginally") wrong.
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"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Edited 1/28/2006 4:59 pm by nikkiwood
I bought a Penn State 3HP cyclone about a year ago. It's worked fine; the assembly instructions weren't the best and the unit is awkward to mount (probably the same for all - they're top-heavy). The design service worked out fine; note that the ductwork for my approc. 38' x 14' basement shop almost equaled the cyclone cost.
All being said, the cyclone collects most of the dust - I've see the bag unit give a "puff" when they start up.
I have an older Jet 1200. I had to go out and get the oversized felt bags for it at first. They capture a lot more of the fine dust than the standard cloth bags. In fact, as most harm to you lungs comes from the fine particles (5 micron and below), manufacturers shouldn't really even sell them without the felt bags. Changing out the bottom bag was a pain, so I added one of the metal cans with cyclone lid for the line coming from my jointer and planer. It helped get rid of a log of the big stuff and made it so that I didn't have to empty the bags even half as often.
I went out and bought the canister filer for it a couple of months ago. I also got a ShopFox wireless remote. Best two additions for the dust collection system in years. The CFM pull went way up with the use of the canister (like having a second dust collector hooked up to the system!) and I could start the collector from the tablesaw or jointer stations.
However, if I was to ever upgrade, I'd buy the 3hp Oneida Cyclone. A recent review gave it and the Grizzle top honors as they have a type of pre-funnel that makes them more efficent.
Rod
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