Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 09, 2009 09:34am | #1

   Personally, I would go for a pleated filter rather than a bag -- "have gone" as I have the Jet 1.5HP with the cannister filter.

   A vacuum doesn't move a whole lot of CFM anyways, but I think a few folk here are using them with some success.  They'll pitch in soon, I'm sure.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
2. 
   BG | Jul 09, 2009 10:30am | #2

   pbl,

   I too have a small shop and have tried the shop vac/separator approach before buying a canister type 1.5 DC. To me, the key benefit of the separator was convenience in emptying the chips. For the planer it worked quite well. For other equipment, in a small shop, lots of moving of hoses for marginal returns. But, that is only half the story.

   Air quality, that gets to your micron issue. The finer the micron the better the air quality and that is more important than the dust collection. I don't think the separator has any real impact on air quality.

   In the final analysis you'll need the shop vac with the DC for general clean up. Why not experiment a bit by buying a fine filter for your shop vac and see how it changes your air? While I have the DC, I'm still thinking about using the separator for the planer cause of the chips it generates. I suspect you see more clearly what FG was alluding to about cannister type DC verses bag type with your experimenting.

1. 
   pbl | Jul 09, 2009 06:46pm | #3

    BG:  I really appreciate your comments.  I understand that my shop vac (it’s actually a 6HP Ridgid) doesn’t provide a lot of air quality filtration.  The vac does a good job keeping up with my planer and I would like the convenience of emptying the bucket.  For air quality control I actually put together a real neat air filtering system.  I purchased a high volume, three speeds, with 1,2, or 3 hr automatic turn off and remote control from Sam’s Club.  I removed the guts of the fan (motor, squirrel cage, and controls) and fabricated an air filtering system.  I currently have a two filter system that will filter down to cigarette smoke size particles.  It does a great job for air quality, and best of all it cost me under $80.  Again, thanks for your comments.  Pbl

3. 
   Carya | Jul 10, 2009 04:44am | #4

   pbl,

   I also have the Ridgid vac. You might want to check out the Phil Thien design: http://www.cgallery.com/jpthien/cy.htm. I built a similar one yesterday. Suction seems to be fine, even after the can and two extension hoses. Mind you, I use a 1.5hp DC for some machines (also with a separator).

   So far, there are chips in the metal can and none in my vacuum.

   Andy

1. 
   CHRISWALL | Jul 10, 2009 05:41am | #5

   hi

   I use a jet 1100 dc connected to all of my equipment AND I supplement it with a shop vac connected to a Clear-vue cycle separator CV06 mini cyclone. The shop vac's higher suction is connected to the 1.5 ports on the RAS, Miter saw and, through a standard vacuum cleaner nozzle just under the band saw blade. Works great, the HEPA filter on the shop vac never needs cleaning.

   Chris<!----><!----><!---->

4. 
   Ray | Jul 10, 2009 07:35am | #6

   I use an old Sears shop vac and the "bucket lid" separator from Woodcraft.  It removes the bigger pieces and works well with the planer.  If you have a big vac. with lots of suction, the trashcan separator might work.