Pleated cartridge filters are a great new development in shop safety, offering much finer filtration than bags, with enough surface area folded in to keep the suction strong. The trouble is that the pleats fill up with dust pretty quickly, knocking down airflow (measured in cubic feet per minute) by as much as 50%. Manufacturers have countered with internal flappers that rattle the pleats and dislodge the dust. It’s a fine solution if you remember to do it after each woodworking session.

Or you can buy one of Jet’s new Vortex Cone dust collectors, with an internal sheet-metal baffle just above the air inlet that’s designed to keep 98% of the dust from cycloning up into the filter at all. We tested the Jet DC1100VX 1-1⁄2-hp collector (with Vortex Cone) against its older brother, the DC-1100, identical except for the cone. We found that while the Vortex Cone dampened airflow a bit overall (600 cfm vs. 700 cfm for the coneless original), it kept the filter clean and the airflow level as we filled the lower bag to the top with dust, while the older collector’s flow dropped by 40%—until we spun the flappers.

Since 600 cfm is a bit low for machines like planers and tablesaws, and a length of flexible hose will dampen airflow even more, I recommend springing for the 2-hp version of the Vortex-Cone collector, the DC1200VX. Jet also offers 30- and 5-micron bag filters for their collectors, but you should opt for the 2-micron canister, which will keep much more of the dangerous fine dust out of the air. Go to vortexcone.com for more info.

Old school. The old-style Jet collector provides more suction, as long as you keep the filter clean by rotating the flappers.

New school. An internal cone on the Vortex collector keeps all but the finest dust from climbing up into the filter and clogging it.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Rikon 10-3061 10-in. Deluxe Bandsaw

The 1⁄2-hp motor has all the power needed to resaw at its maximum capacity of 5 in.

The saw has two speeds: 3,280 sfpm (surface feet per minute) for wood and 1,515 sfpm for soft metals and some plastics.

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Shop Fox W1826

The thick, felted bag on this Shop Fox is a plus and a minus. On one hand, it makes the unit much less expensive than collectors with canister filters, and also lighter and easier to hang on the wall. Without a separate plastic bag to catch chips, however, they stay in the felt bag, and the shortish zipper on the bottom makes it tough to shake them out. Otherwise, the W1826 is an excellent value.

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Makita LS1219L Miter Saw

This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.

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