thanks for all the input on the table saw selection and dust collection discussion on my previous thread. I’ve been digging through the archives here and I’m ready for my next big purchase – real dust collection.
A few caveats… this is a basement shop, so I’m trying to control dust as much as possible (inside a budget, of course). I’m trying to keep everything to 110V without a dedicated circuit so I don’t have to get a new service panel and run new wiring (we’ve just moved in and other costs are stacking up – so that rules out the 2HP Grizzly I found earlier). Finally, I’d like a sub-30 micron bag; from what I’m reading, that sounds like a good rule of thumb to start with.
Option 1: Some dude is selling a Delta AP400 with the AP050 accessory kit on Craig’s List for $175. Thoughts on buying this and upgrading the bag?
Option 2: Penn State/Harborco – don’t know much about these guys but the price/spec ratio seems pretty good. Quite a few mentions in the archives here.
Option 3: Jet 708640 (DC-650) – on amazon for $249 minus 10% with a coupon code.
Option 4: ??
I’d like to stay inside a budget of $250. I’m figuring any dust collection is better than the shop vac approach right now.
As always, thanks for your expertise and help!
Matt
Replies
A shop vac with a good HEPA style filter cartridge can be an excellent choice, especially on a limited budget. A vac is quite effective for sawing and sanding dust when hooked up properly to a power tool that has good design for capturing dust at the source. Shop vacs are considerably less effective for dealing with the shavings from jointers and planers.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
Matt,
Let me second John's recommendation. For years I worked with a shop vac and hoses to my table saw and radial arm saw. I had mine set up with the older 2.25" plastic pipe, dust port kit and flex hoses. He is also right that it will not handle large production of chips from a planner but it will collect a the dust produced by saw blades. The HEPA filter is the secret, that and frequent emptying.
The shop vac will also serve as the DC for hand-held tools with dust ports. These machines - routers, POS's, and belt sanders - produce a lot of the dust that is as or possibly more harmful since you are using these tools standing directly over the source of the dust. Connect the 1" hose to the tool and vac 2.5" hose adapter and you have now substantially reduced one of the major sources of free dust.
So, for about $250 you have have a high-quality shop vac, plastic ducting and flex hoses and a remote RF switch to operate the vac from wherever you are working. Oh, add to the list dust masks :-)
Doug
I'll second Doug's remarks. I use a shop vac with a HEPA filter for all my portable tools. Works great. One thing I would add to Doug's recommendation, invest the $20 or so in the 12' 1.5" super flexible hose that you can buy through Woodcraft and a number of other WW sources. The added length and flexibility over the 2.5" hose will be worth the investment.Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
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