Which Dust Collector

[tgiro]

I'm looking at dust collectors, but it has to do more than just cover the scroll saw & sanders. It has to handle the table saw, bandsaw, thickness planer, and jointer planer, and maybe a couple of ports I can use4 for various things.

After doing a lot of research, I'm leaning towards a Jet DC-1100, but I have yet to reach out and touch one of these things. I tried a local (within 100 miles) Woodcraft store, but they didn't have nay for display or test.

So, knowing that I'll get a lot of differing opinions, which is what I'd like, what are the rest of you using - aside from the fan box with filters attached? I have one of those now, too.

Thanks for the info. THis group seems to have a lot of good information about such things.

[Scrolling Days]

I've been kind of looking around as well. Home Depot told me they don't carry the vacuum systems anymore (at least locally). I was wondering how far a plain ol' ShopVac would get me?

[lucky788scroller]

I have a delta (I think 650 cfm) that is real nice, and I also have a Shop Fox 1280 cfm dust collector for my planer. The reason I have two is because one is in the garage, one is in the basement. The Delta was part of a package deal I got it when I bought my Performax sander off craigslist.I havent heard of any bad things about the Jet collectors.
As for Shop vac, the reason most people dont like them is because they are so loud, although I know Rigid has a real quiet one , but for a real quiet vac, look at a Fein, but, they are very pricy (in my opinion). The dust collectors arent quiet either though.

[Barefoot1]

i have the low end Delta that I bought a couple of years ago, it works. If I had to do it over i would have spent more and gotten a cyclone system with finer filtration.

[marshall]

Tgiro : I'm going to add my two cents in to this also , I went with the Grizzly 2 HP system with the separator that puts the big chips in a 55 Gallon barrel . Now at the time I thought that it was over kill it has I think at least 1200 cfm , but since then I'm sure glad I went a little over board . Now its a heavy duty set-up but I would advice anyone that there money would be well spent on the Grizzly system , good luck .......Marshall....

[tomsteve]

my opinion is 1100 c.f.m. is right around what you want at the least. an important thing here is the size of the ducting to each machine. keep them as large as possible for as long as possible, preferrably right up to the machine.
ya might wanna think about a chip seperator also. that is one of those lids that fits on a trash can. it will save wear and tear on the impeller.
the Jet is a very good d.c. for the price. delta, jds, grizzley, oneida, are afew other with very good reputations.
although i wouldn't purchase some of their other tools, Shop Fox makes a reasonably priced d.c. that is good quality.

[Bill Wilson]

Check the woodworking forums at Woodnet. DC discussions are a regular topic over there. Careful though, it sometimes gets pretty intense. Lots of information, some of it is good. You'll have to determine which for yourself.

Also WOOD magazine did a review of budget priced DC systems just a few months ago. Not sure, but you may be able to find some info on their site.

[greatdane2]

Wood Magazine put out plans for a home made cyclone in their Dec.2001 Best Ever Workshops. It takes a cheapy 2 bag dust collector and for about $100 you end up with a great cyclone system. I used a 1 hp unit for both of mine. The first one goes into my small room where all my scroll saws and sanders are. I have 8 machines hooked to it with 4" hoses and a blast gate at each machine.
The other one I made last year and it is on a mobile base with my 18" bandsaw. It has a 30' X 4" hose and can reach all my larger machines. This one has a proper pleeted air filter with a crank to knock the fine dust off the inside of the filter.
These units from the store were a joke but with a days work to change them now they do a good job for me. and for less than $275. each are worth looking at.

[utbva]

Talk about overkill, this is what I have. Clear Vue Cyclones Home and a picture of mine in my shop. It has a 5 HP motor and uses 6" ducting and really moves a lot of air. The cycolone is so efficient about removing dust and fines that I have never had to clean the filters yet. I still have to purchase more ducting to go to all of my machines but for now I just move hose to what ever machine I am using. It is pretty noisy so I am going to have to put some sound insulation around it so it will at least be somewhat tolerable.

[Mike Crosa]

I think that would be a bit much for my scroll saw...