Replies

1. 
   SCFrankland | Apr 21, 2004 04:42pm | #1

   I just bought a new 3hp Dc but my old system that served me well over the last few years was a basic 1hp model. I added a chip separator to make cleaning easier. It worked great on my 15" planer which was by far the biggest chip producer in my shop.

   Scott C. Frankland

   Scott's WOODWORKING Website

   "He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."

   
2. 
   PlaneWood | Apr 21, 2004 04:52pm | #2

   Well, I wouldn't get anything less than 1200 CFM.

   If it will be inside, then get the tight weave bags;  1 micron or so.  May also have to get a room filter to help catch the residual dust that escapes.

   A separator of some sorts is in order to keep heavy stuff from getting sucked into the impellors.  Mine is home made from a 44 gallon Rubbermaid trash can bought at Lowe's.

   My DC is the Delta 1200 cfm.  It's been in almost daily use for over 2 years.  But, pull off the Start/Run capacitors and replace them with something better.  Also the circuit breaker.  If you have the DC on your own 20 amp breaker, then you don't need the one on the motor anyway.  The motor is a pretty good one, just some cheesy components were added.  It's advertised as TEFC, but the centrifugal switch is outside the housing on the end of the shaft.

   I use a 3 mil thick contractor plastic bag on the bottom of mine and the standard bag on top.  But my unit is outside.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

3. 
   DougF | Apr 21, 2004 09:37pm | #3

   If you add a chip seperator, be prepared to loose approximately 25% of the effective cfm capacity.  First, the vendor's cfm curves are notoriously inaccurate so I would look for indpendent test results for the effective cfm and then buy a product that, if you incorporate a chip seperator, will still delivery 600 cfm at the port.  You may be surprised at the resulting cfm required to adequately move dust as well as chips.   The quality of the bags can not be overstated.

   Doug

4. 
   CharlieP | Apr 21, 2004 10:47pm | #4

   I got the usual 2 bag collector.  With standard bags, it just puffed the dust into the air.  With the 0.3 micron bags, I lost most of the air flow soon after it was in use (the bags plugged).  So I went to a custom top bag with plastic bottom bag, and it works well, but the custom bag is huge - too big for a basement. 

   If I were doing it again, I would look at the Jet with the cartridge filter on the top, and plastic bag on the bottom.  I would only include the chip separator in the line from the planer and jointer (maybe even near those units), because it really does cause a big loss in the suction. 

   ________________________
   Charlie Plesums  Austin, Texas
   http://www.plesums.com/wood

5. 
   BenA | Apr 22, 2004 12:06am | #5

   Aquita; I would go for the Jet with the new 2 micron dust canister. Jet make three sizes 1100. 1200. &1900 CFM. These units do make a big difference in the air in the shop , and even cleaning the DC when needed. I would consider a air filtration also. After a while you won't belive home much dust you will breath in by the end of the day. Good luck. See web site below.

   http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/JETWood/ProductPreview/DC-1100CK.html

6. 
   WayneL5 | Apr 22, 2004 03:08am | #6

   For planers and jointers anything will work because they produce chips.  Table saws are very difficult because it's nearly impossible to attach dust collection to them.  Manufactures don't give dust collection any consideration at all in design, except in the industrial models.  Sanding produces the worst dust.  You certainly should purchase a sander with through-the-pad suction and hook it to your collector.  You'll have to crack open a gate to another tool or the small hose size for the sander will starve the collector for air.

   Oneida makes some very nice units which filter to a very low micron size.  But, they are tall, so you'd have to carefully check the height.  I had a 1½ hp unit in a 20' x 30' shop and it worked like a charm, except for the tools that I had to make homemade hoods for, like the tablesaw and chopsaw.  The muffler is worth every penny.

7. 
   AlanTurner | Apr 22, 2004 05:46pm | #7

   I had a similar problem in terms of ceiling hieght, and too many pipes, wires, etc., to run ducting.  So, a couple of weeks ago I bought the Jet 1150CK(?), the 1100cfm unit with the cannister top.  It seems to work quite well, and the noise is not unbearable.  I think it will do the 72" you need.  I know that the larger one was too tall for my space.  One thing that I like about it is the dust goes into a disposable bag, unlike my old one which sat on top of a 55 gal. drum which had to be emplited.  What a mess to empty that guy!  So far I have not filled up a bag, but I am pretty sure that its removal will be easy. 

   The replacement bags are $3@, which is unreasonable, but I have not yet gone shopping for a cheaper replacement.  The Woodcraft guys said it was a 6 mil. bag, and I thinkt he top diameter is 20".  If anyone has confronted this issue already, advice would be appreciated.

   Alan

   Alan

   http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com

1. 
   CharlieP | Apr 22, 2004 08:32pm | #8

   When I got my dust collector bag from American Fabric Filter they had the usual high price for individual plastic collection bags, but a very reasonable price for rolls of 50 or so heavy weight bags. 

   Since I use a separator, only the fine sawdust gets to the bag, which I have emptied (how do you spell cheap?)  I haven't bought the quantity bags, but plan to go back to them if needed.  You might give them a call. 

   http://www.americanfabricfilter.com/SO%20YOU%20WANT%20A%201%20page%201.html

   or 800-367-3591________________________Charlie Plesums  Austin, Texashttp://www.plesums.com/wood

2. 
   PlaneWood | Apr 23, 2004 09:34am | #12

   s4s -

   For the bottom bag on my Delta I use the 3 mil contractor bags purchased at HD.  The ones in the yellow boxes.  Works great.

   Just looked.  They are the Husky Contractor Cleanup bags.  32 bags in a box.  Works out to about 35 cents per bag.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

1. 
   SCFrankland | Apr 23, 2004 02:44pm | #13

   I have been using the same plastic bag that came with my DC for the past 3 years or more. Never needed to replace it as it never fills very often do to the chip separator.Scott C. Frankland

   Scott's WOODWORKING Website"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."

8. 
   timberrattler | Apr 22, 2004 09:06pm | #9

   I bought the 2hp Dustboy because of it's size and it's made in the good old USA

9. 
   WayneL5 | Apr 23, 2004 12:59am | #10

   Oh, yea, and make sure you don't fill your collection container so full it's too heavy to carry up the stairs.

10. 
    Dustmight | Apr 23, 2004 02:01am | #11

    Most of the better units are pretty similar. Regardless of which you choose you'll want filtration of 5 micron or finer. Larger impellers tend to move more air, and larger impellers tend to require larger motors, so that's at least some indicator. I'd go with at least a 2hp, 11" impeller. The CFM ratings are often suspect, and the hp ratings aren't always accurate either, so just take all those specs with a smile and find a deal/dealer you're comfortable with.

    Griz, Penn State, Jet, Delta, Shop Fox, JDS, Bridgewood are just a few of the good basic machines available.

    
    

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    Edited 4/24/2004 5:42 pm ET by scotty