Replies

1. 
   OldSaw | Mar 09, 2009 09:49am | #1

   to be clear, I'm looking at  the Laguna 2HP Cartridge, not the cyclone.  In a 22x22 shop, footprint matters.  (Also, $2400 vs $600 matters a lot!)

   "Honey, will you please make some sawdust and track it across the carpet?"

   "Yes, dear..."

1. 
   zolton | Mar 09, 2009 03:16pm | #2

   For that six hundred bucks, or maybe a little more, you could get a Penn State cyclone. Add some more for ductwork and you've got an excellent system. The footprint would be about the same, or maybe even a little less, for the cyclone versus the Laguna unit. With overhead ducting and blast gates, you won't have to drag around a dust collector every time you want to cut something...

   ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

1. 
   OldSaw | Mar 09, 2009 11:19pm | #3

   Zolton-

   Thanks for the response.  Just curious:  The 2HP Cyclone from Penn State generates 650 CFM, whereas the 2HP bag-model generates 1500CFM.  Assuming that the canister filter works well, aren't I better off with the bag style and the greater CFM?  I'm somewhat concerned by the note on the cyclone page that says it's good for a 15' run. 

   Thanks.DJS

    "Honey, will you please make some sawdust and track it across the carpet?"

   "Yes, dear..."

1. 
   zolton | Mar 10, 2009 02:47am | #4

   I don't know how the specs calculate out on those two dust collectors. But I do know the Penn State works fine for me, operating one machine at a time; 12inch planer, 6 inch jointer, tablesaw, 14 inch bandsaw. I've never had a shop so clean.

   I'm particularly impressed with how the cyclone vacuums up chips from my planer, even doing a very wide board. The only chips I've got under and around the machine now are from when I forget to either turn the cyclone on or when I forget to close the jointer blast gate and open the planer one. The jointer, because of its design, sometimes will let a chip or two fly astray. But compared to the way these machines used to just dump everything onto the floor (and in the air), well, it's a great thing.

   When I was looking at doing this upgrade to my shop, I looked carefully at everything that was out there - two bag collectors, cyclones, pleated filter collectors - and by carefully calculating and configuring my duct runs I was able to purchase a not-oversized unit. I've got just under a grand into everything; cyclone, ducts, blast gates. I know a lot of people might think the Penn State unit would be underpowered or too small to do the job. But, as I said, with the maximum chip-producing machine a 12 inch planer, and running only one machine at a time, it works very well. A larger, more powerful cyclone would show no improvement over what I've got. And the physical size of the cyclone was an issue as well. The Penn State is pretty slim compared to some of the others on the market, and I was able to shoehorn it in right next to my tablesaw.

   The one (minor) issue I have is that the chip bin fills up pretty quickly when I'm planing anything. But, again, that stuff used to wind up on the floor and in the air. In fact, I'll bet the cyclone takes up quite a bit less space than my chip pile behind the planer used to...

   ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon