Replies

1. 
   philip_r | Aug 13, 2007 11:46pm | #1

   What other large tools do you have?   TS, BS, Jointer, plainer?  What are you going to use the DC on?  Is your shop outdoors or indoors?  Have you looked on Craigslist.org?

1. 
   cheerg | Aug 14, 2007 02:52pm | #4

   table saw, miter saw, sander, router not a lot yet yet but eventally i will get them

2. 
   woodwish | Aug 14, 2007 04:14am | #2

   I am a firm believer that the money spent on dust collection and air filtration is the best money you will spend.  Look around and find some comparisons of the different brands.  Particle size for the filters is the major factor but also look for things like noise level (you tend to not use the noisy ones, plus keeping your hearing is pretty important also), ease of cleaning (doesn't work if it's not cleaned, and you tend to avoid cleaning the hard-to-clean ones), wiring (with switch or is it extra), and size of inlets.  If you are setting up a new shop once you get a basic tool layout get a DC system designed and let that be your first purchase.  You only have one set of lungs, make the most of them!

   Spoken like an ex-wood shop teacher that can still breath, and I know of many that can't!

   Ray W.

1. 
   cheerg | Aug 14, 2007 02:50pm | #3

   thank you for your advice

3. 
   forestgirl | Aug 14, 2007 07:33pm | #5

   The better filtration (smaller particle size) is definitely worth the extra money.  You want to capture as much of the dust at the source as possible, and the smallest particles are the most dangerous for your lungs (they stick in there forever; think oxygen bottle).  If you rely on  your air filter to pick up the <30  micron dust, you'll be leaving way too much of it circulating for your lungs to pick up as it travels to the air filter.

   I have a canister-filter model Jet, which filters down to 2 microns.  Even at that, I'm seriously considering housing it outside the shop so that the stuff that gets through isn't in my air.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
4. 
   user-1119429039 | Aug 14, 2007 08:10pm | #6

   Check the Tool Guide area of this Web site. You'll find at least two articles on dust collection, including a test of 1-1/2 hp machines and a dandy overview that can help you figure out the proper size and filtration for your shop.

   Good luck,

   David Heim

5. 
   Westchester | Aug 14, 2007 08:55pm | #7

   I don't think dust collection shold be your main concern when learning woodworking.

   Work careful - no matter what you do.  Many basic tools beginners use don't create dust -

    

   SA