The Grizzly G0860, a 1-1⁄2-hp portable cyclone dust collector, packs a serious punch. It’s a small unit that can handle two large machines at the same time. It has a super handy 20-gal. collection drum with quick-release handle catches for heavier, bigger material. And its pleated 1-micron filter catches finer dust. The unit proved so good I bought one for myself.
This dust collector is perfect for my small one-person shop. For starters, I was able to assemble it alone, with the exception of the large and heavy motor assembly. I needed five minutes of help from a friend to lift it, set it on the support legs, and secure it in place. The manual says you’ll need two others, but we made it work.
My shop is 20 ft. by 24 ft. This machine takes up just under 8-1⁄2 sq. ft. of floor space and has radically improved the air quality. I move the hose from machine to machine—tablesaw, jointer, planer, bandsaw—and it has worked well on all of them. One of my favorite features is the collection drum. Its bag is easy to carry and dispose of in my weekly trash, but the quick-release and sealing system means the whole process is no longer a dreaded task. It takes about three minutes, two of them to walk to the trash and empty the bag and walk back. The filter portion has a built-in handle that cleans the filter, dropping the dust into a collection bag that is just as easy to empty.
A well-sized bag. The 20-gal. drum is a perfect size for a one person to handle quickly and easily.
Never lose the handy remote. Kapsales’s favorite feature is the wireless remote, which she keeps attached to her shop apron for quick access.
Casters for easy mobility. The swivel casters move well, making it easy to move the machine around the shop without getting caught up on little debris.
For years, I tried to equip my shop with a convenient dust-collection system for multiple machines. First, I engineered a system with seven machines permanently connected.
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.
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.
With the shortages of just about everything you would expect price changes since the article was published close to 15 months ago as I type this. And that is the case with this unit. Rather than the $750 price mentioned in the article, the Grizzly site now shows $1,235 (and backordered). Understandable, but not a small difference. To me it still looks like a good deal at that price.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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Comments
With the shortages of just about everything you would expect price changes since the article was published close to 15 months ago as I type this. And that is the case with this unit. Rather than the $750 price mentioned in the article, the Grizzly site now shows $1,235 (and backordered). Understandable, but not a small difference. To me it still looks like a good deal at that price.
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