Replies

1. 
   JeffKurtz | Dec 01, 2002 02:00am | #1

   I have the 1100 and have just ordered the canister filter for it.  My only complaint is that I find it rather noisy - but it's still a lot quieter than a shop vac.  It should provide you with plenty of power for your needs.  I'd suggest using schedule 40 PVC sewer pipe and fittings (grounded, of course) as a cost efficient way to pipe-up the system.  Buy the flexible pipe to go to each machine from an RV dealer.  The prices for metal and plastic at woodworking dealers are a real rip-off.

   If you plan to have the collector running for long periods of time, re-wire it for 220 volts to save wear and tear on the motor.  (Instructions and diagram are in the owner's manual.)

   Jeff

2. 
   MajorWool | Dec 01, 2002 09:27am | #2

   Just a thought, but for about the same amount of money, one could buy a DC650 and an AFS1000. Since it is a basement workshop, which implies "in the house," I would want the system which generates the cleanest air that I will also be sharing with my family.

   For those keeping score at home, the DC650 has now sucked up 880 lbs of rockwool insulation from my attic, with another 100-200 lbs to go tomorrow to finish the job (woo hoo). It will then retire to the garage where it will join the 3HP jet cabinet saw that I picked up today. After moving a 600 lb benchtop mill on a heavy bench by myself (with the assistance of a movers dolly and my hydraulic roller jack), getting the saw out of the truck and into the garage was actually trivial.

1. 
   ccampbell | Dec 01, 2002 10:09pm | #3

   Thanks for the replies.  I actually already have the AFS 1000.  What I need now is good DC at the source.  I'm looking for a machine that will handle pretty much anything I want it to in a small hobby shop.  I like the idea of the 2 micron pleated filter with built in cleaner and the ease of changing the lower bag that doesn't have the hose-type clamp.  Price wise it's pretty close to the Delta 850 if you upgraded the bags.

   Any other experiences or suggestions?  I have a small, cramped basement shop - mobility is a must.

   Also - a side question - can a downdraft sanding table be made that I can hook up to it?

1. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Dec 06, 2002 02:18am | #17

   I would recommend a DC with less than 1 micron bags if you want to use a downdraft table- I have teh Delta 50-850 with oneida bags, works great with my downdraft table

3. 
   LD | Dec 02, 2002 02:13am | #4

   I have the Jet 1100.  I like it a lot.  Because I wanted to discharge the air back into my shop, I equipped it with the 5 micron bag and I would highly recommend doing that especially if your working inside your house.  The DC is portable, but I seldom move it except when I need to dump it.  That chore can make quite a mess, so I do it outside.

   I have not  done any plumbing for it.  I use 4" flexible hose and just drape them across the floor as I'm using them.  I have one hose for my jointer and planer, one for my TS and one for my band saw.  I just change to the one I need to use at the intake of the fan.  Not the most sophisticated dust collecting system, but it works for me.

   I haven't found the noise level to be bad.  Sure a lot quieter than my Crapsman shop vac.  I normally use hearing protection most of the time anyway, so I hardly notice the DC when its on. 

   Hope this helps. 

1. 
   ccampbell | Dec 02, 2002 09:45pm | #5

   Does anyone else have any comments on brands or sizes?  I am trying to decide between the Jet DC-1100CK (new cannister type) and the Delta 850 with upgraded bags.  By the time I upgrade the bags, the prices are only about $50 apart.  The Jet filters to 2 micron out of the box.  I was also told that adding the upgraded bags to a standard collector reduces the cfm unless you also increase the bag size.  Any thoughts?  The new Jet looks great, but is it too new to tell if it's any good?

   Also, do I need one that powerful?  I'm most concerned with air quality in my shop, but if a smaller unit will filter well and still get the job done I'd consider it.

   Edited 12/2/2002 1:46:49 PM ET by CAMPBELLDUST

1. 
   Azeddie | Dec 02, 2002 10:15pm | #6

   You might consider the deal HF is offering ...I got it!

   2hp unit for $119.00 + 5.95 shipping..Its works great attached to my saw and PLaner, I don't usually buy power tools from them but hearing about this one I did. and I am pleased with it so far. Looks exactly like the Jet except motor is a bit bigger

   makinsawdust

1. 
   strider7tk | Dec 04, 2002 12:14am | #14

   Ed

   Sorry for my ignorance, but who is "HF"? And while I am asking duh questions, where do you folks shop on-line for good prices? I subscribed to FWW for a long time, but gave it up a while ago, so I am out of the loop. Noticed that neither FWW or Fine Homebuilding carry ads for tool discounters- is that because of some evil alliance with Amazon to sell tools?

1. 
   Azeddie | Dec 04, 2002 01:15am | #15

   HF stands for Harbor Freight....YES most of their tools are LOW QUALITY and I generally stay away from them..BUT so happens the Dust collector is a good deal, after all it is a dust collector not a precision woodworking tool. makinsawdust

2. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 04, 2002 01:29am | #16

   Campbelldust,

   Don't feel too conflicted on my account.  Opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody has one, me included.  In a home shop scenario the Jet will do what you need and then some I'm sure.  2 microns is probably just fine.  If I remember correctly the .5 micron number is for occupational exposure.  Maybe those giant systems that look like a small 2 story buildings at AWFS show do use pleated filters.  Who knows?  Not me.  The biggest system I've seen in use is at the cabinet shop where I go for wide belt sanding.  They have a big blower that pulls through a large plenum box that sits on a dumpster.  the top of the plenum box has 8 felt bags that must be about 10 -12'ft tall.  This system is dedicated to the 48" widebelt and keeps the place amazingly dust free.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

4. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 03, 2002 12:36am | #7

   What's the premium for the cannister?  And how much will it cost to replace it?  I don't see industrial systems using big cannisters, there's probably a reason for it.  Besides 2 microns isn't enough to eliminate the health hazard.  For that you need to get to 0.5 microns.  The felt bags get down to 1 micron and actually improve your cfm over a somewhat dirty conventional bag because their porosity increases the effective surface area, or so I'm told anyway.  Think of it like a pleated filter vs. a flat filter.

   John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

1. 
   ccampbell | Dec 03, 2002 12:55am | #8

   Wow, now I'm really conflicted.  What I was told at my dealer was that many of the "big" systems already use pleated filters and have for years.  They are just now trickling down to home use systems.  The Jet unit has a built-in "cleaner" that is a crank arm you turn that's attached to a flapper that shakes the dust out.  Jet claims something like 6 times the filtering capacity.  The filters aren't supposed to need changing until they physically wear out.  Here is a link to some info:

   http://www.jettools.com/JETWood/ProductPreview/DC-1100CK.html

   Everyone I have asked (granted they wanted to sell me things) have told me that 2 microns should capture most of the dust I am concerned with.

   The price on the Jet is $425.  The other model I was considering was the 1100 bag-type filter and it was around $259.  Upgraded bags would add $80-$100 I think, so they aren't too far apart at that point.  I actually picked up the Jet today at lunch, but it's not too late for someone to talk me out of it if there are good reasons.  It's still in boxes in the car.

1. 
   bakesale1 | Dec 03, 2002 05:09am | #9

   You might search for Bill Pentz's web site on dust collection.  It may change your entire approach to your DC needs, especially about the informational value of the data provided by the vendors.  He thinks the Jet cannister model a step in the right direction and doesn't believe the claims of filtration of the bags to stand up to analysis.  

   Eric from Oakland, CA

2. 
   forestgirl | Dec 03, 2002 05:27am | #10

   This model is so new, it's hard to find people who have used it!  There's someone who has posted either here or at WWA who has one and raves about it.  Not only much better filtration than the bags, but the easy-disposal feature of the lower bag is a huge plus -- no big dust ball from having to empty out a bag.  Just tie it off and plump it in the trash.  Reportedly, the cleaner mechanism for the filter works nicely too.

   Personally, I'm glad I didn't buy a DC this past summer, because this new Jet is the ticket for moi.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   ccampbell | Dec 03, 2002 05:55am | #11

   Thank you for your input, forest_girl and bake sale.  I was really hoping that someone would come on and make me feel better.  I did some homework and became convinced that was the way to go, and then ran out and bought it and started second guessing myself.  It's more money, and probably more power than I need, but it seems like a nice design.

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 03, 2002 06:02am | #12

   Ahhhhh, even if it's more power than you need now, we all know there are more tools in your future, yes???!  One less thing to worry about when you're wantin' to add one more sawdust maker, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 03, 2002 06:19am | #13

   CAMPBELLDUST

      I agree with Echoholic about the felt bags on the one stages. The woven material doesn't get it done. The bigger the bags, the better. Inlets have much to do with cfm also. The larger the inlet the more cfm attained. A 1 HP with a 5" inlet pulls better cfm than a 1 1/2 HP with a 4". 6" is preferable.

      My wife suggested I get a DC yesterday, I ordered this morning. A deal I couldn't refuse. I will connect to one tool at a time and add a 1 stage separator like the one they use at Highland Hardware here in Atlanta on their system. I wanted large, oversize Felt bags, large inlet and lower amps as I will have direct hook-up with a tool and move the system out of the way when not in use.

      As far as I'm concerned, there is only one that fits that ticket at a reasonable price. Penn State Industres. I chose the 1 HP with 1 micron felt bags at $249.  Their 5 micron is $229. Because of the larger, more efficient felt bags and larger inlet, Woodworking mag says it is best buy. It's pulling better cfm than more expensive models. Felt bags are triple stitched. I will add the 1 stage separator to pick up chips and large stuff b-4 it gets in the vacuum itself. This means less filling of the bag and more efficiency at keeping the cfm high as a empty bag is most efficient. Cfm drops as bag fills. With the separator. I hope to pull off 0.5 microns at a reasonable price. BTW, their 1 1/2 HP is $300.

      I think your Jet cannister will work. Time will tell. I just didn't have the money at the time after a new jointer and thickness planer within the last 3 weeks. The Penn State is more machine without having to add the elements I wanted at an additional price than it's comparable competitors.

   Good luck with the Jet and inform us of your opinion..

   sarge..jt