Dust Collector question

[jeff...]

Looking at a Harbor Freight Centeral Machinery dust collector, does this thing suck or what? is it worth the price or is it more trouble than it's worth?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45378

Thanks

 

[Travis Porter]

Bags don't seem to great, but they can be replaced/upgraded.

 

[Sweetgum]

Looking at a Harbor Freight Centeral Machinery dust collector, does this thing suck or what?
Thanks

Please forgive me, but I can't resist. :lol::-o

Of course it sucks...it's a dust collector:eusa_danc:eusa_danc

 

[DaveO]

I've heard it's worth the money. There isn't a whole lot to a DC, it can't get screwed up too bad. Get a trash can separator and you won't have to deal with the bag much at all.
Dave

 

[sapwood]

Jeff,

If you choose to go that route, and many have, don't forget about the 10-20% off coupons usually available. :lol:

Sapwood

 

[McRabbet]

Jeff, two things that you should not believe about this dust collector: (1) it is not 2 horsepower; and (2) 1,600 CFM might be the theoretical flow at the center of the intake. I would assume it is closer to 1 to 1-1/2 HP and 500 CFM through 10 feet of straight 4" PVC pipe. It should handle one machine at a time. As stated by others, the bag is a sieve -- 30 microns is the size of coarse silt! I would only use this DC on a planer or jointer and maybe a table saw with the existing bag. By comparison, it is comparable to the Grizzly G8027 which is about $195 delivered and it has a 1 HP motor that draws 14 Amps and is rated at 500 CFM. If it was my money, I'd spend $350 (delivered) and get a Grizzly G1029Z, which has a 2.5 micron bag, is rated at 1,550 CFM, has two 4" inlet ports, draws 12 Amps on 220Volts and will handle more than one machine easily. You may also want to check the G0548 with slightly better performance than the G1029Z, but it has a 1 micron canister filter and plastic chip bags (it is about $530 delivered).

Rob

 

[hpetty]

I bought the HF colelctor a couple of months ago. I then upgraded to the Wynn Environmental paper filter. I've been very satisfied with the results - especially when you consider I have less than $250 in the package (before adding the ductwork of course).

I can't say that I've used mine extensively yet due to an absence from the shop - but overall I think it's worth the money.

 

[Steve D]

Hugh has the right approach for this unit - couple it with the Wynn filter. They have detailed instructions on their site for this conversion.

I bought the HF colelctor a couple of months ago. I then upgraded to the Wynn Environmental paper filter. I've been very satisfied with the results - especially when you consider I have less than $250 in the package (before adding the ductwork of course).

I can't say that I've used mine extensively yet due to an absence from the shop - but overall I think it's worth the money.

 

[clowman]

I have a trash can seperator on my Grizz 1029z... I'll have to recommend getting one of those regardless of model you go with. Emptying those bags sure does suck. Emptying the trash can is much easier.

 

[jeff...]

Please forgive me, but I can't resist. :lol::-o

Of course it sucks...it's a dust collector:eusa_danc:eusa_danc

Brad, your the only one who picked up the ball and ran with it, thanks for the laugh:lol:

Anyways I got bored a few years ago and built a cyclone, think the plans were in wood mag. I ran the duct and played around with a few (free) blowers and never could get it to suck enough. until I put a 3 horse motor on I think it was a 20" blower and WHAM the blower flew apart when a wood chip hit the blades, it worked good for while. I know :eusa_hand but it was a play thing :eusa_whisYou know simple minds are amused easily.

A few weeks ago the wife came out to the shop (rare appearance) took a look around and commented how dusty the shop was. I said yeah I need to get a DC. Well lo and behold I went out to the shop Sunday and there's a shop vac in the middle of the floor :eusa_thin Not the dust collector I was thinking of, but OK, I get the hint!!!

I really don't like buying stuff from Harbor Freight; it's like playing Russian roulette. Take the air compressor I bought, that started on fire, while one of my teenager son's was using it, (now how does that happen? :eusa_thin) and it about caught my shop on fire. Good thing I have a fire extinguisher in the shop hu? Sure I took it back and they gave me a new one, which had a busted head. I took that one back and got my money back. Some of their stuff is not too bad, not the best quality but works never the less, other stuff is junk, like the (flaming air compressor).

I think I'll hold out a little longer for a DC that really sucks and use the shop vac, my wife got me for a little while anyways. At least, till I feel like springing the $$$ for a real DC
[FONT=&quot]Thanks for the honest reviews, greatly appreciated:saw:
[/FONT]

 

[JohnsonMBrandon]

Jeff,

For the money you can't beat that dust collector. Its on sale right now, and with a coupon it would be next to nothing. You would definitely have to upgrade the bags, or I would in my opinion. I have this same model and it seems to do ok. I think its one of the few good buys from Harbor Freight. I buy very little from there as well. I

If it helps this question lit into the longest thread in woodnet history if I recall. There were over 200 pages of post. Quite a few guys on woodnet use this dust collector and have modified it. I would go with the wynn cannister filter, and a 0.5 micron bag, or a plastic bag on the bottom. What you get for the price cannot be beat. If you want an absolute true cyclone though it will cost you more. I have also heard the HF is the same as the grizzly 2HP dust collector. Hope some of this helps.

 

[jeff...]

Jeff,

For the money you can't beat that dust collector. Its on sale right now, and with a coupon it would be next to nothing.

Where / how do I get a coupon?

Thanks

 

[JohnsonMBrandon]

Jeff,

Here is the only available coupon right now its only for $5 off.
http://ww2.harborfreightusa.com/showpage_retail.taf?pageid=202

I would be willing to bet in the next few days they release a coupon for 10-20 percent off. Probably by the end of the week if i had to guess. The way to buy it is with the 20 percent off coupon.

 

[sapwood]

Jeff,

You can go to the HF website and sign up for emails that frequently include the $5 off, 10% off entire purchase, or 20% off one purchase. Of course, like Tool King . . . you will be getting an email at least 3-4 times a week :jealous:.

When the next 20% coupon comes out, I'll be glad to forward it to you. Canuk did the same for me prior to my signing up. Just print it out and apply to purchase. The coupons apply to any purchase, including discounted items.

Sapwood

 

[hpetty]

- couple it with the Wynn filter. They have detailed instructions on their site for this conversion.

Just as an FYI. Wynn has a filter kit:35A274BLOL for $91.00 that does not require any conversion. You simply remove the top bag from the DC and replace it with their filter. Turnbuckles are included. Not a bad deal.

Hoever, I must add that I can't get their plastic bags to fit the bottom of my DC. Mr Wynn suggested using a hair dryer to heat the bag before trying to install it. Haven't tried that yet though.

 

[gator]

Jeff -

There are many out there who say that the HF unit is equivalent to the Griz 1029Z. I don't know, I've never used the HF, but I do have the 1029Z with updated AFF bags and a seperator. I have it permenantly connected to my tablesaw, planer, router table, bandsaw and jointer. If you want to see this set up in action, drop by. I should be home next Weds, most of Thursday and Saturday. Give me a shout.

George

 

[jeff...]

So would I need to upgrade the bags if I hooked it up to the cyclone and built a seprate room for it out side of my shop? any dust that passed through the bag would be in it's own room, out side the shop.

Just a thought...

 

[gator]

Maybe I'm lost (not unusual for me) but if you set it up as a 'cyclone' you wouldn't need any bags. As far as a seperate room, all you would lose is conditioned air from the shop (heat or cooling) as it sucks in the room air and dumps it out side the shop without returning it to the shop.

George

 

[junquecol]

I have built many (50+) of the Wood mag. cyclones in workshops, without a single KNOWN problem. Mine is in corner of shop with a Grainger (made by Cincinatti Fan) blower on top. It is a 1HP unit.. I have seven of the 6"X65" socks from Onedia (same as Americam Filter Fabric) on it. The trash can sits on a plywood box that serves as a plentium for socks. The only time I have had any problems is when I was running moulding head for some siding, and forgot to empty trash can-DUMMIE! I need to add neutral vane, as this increases efficency, but as it ain't broke, why fix it? I used the plans from Aug 2000 FWW to build automatic sensor in panel box. Only modification was to add cube timer so DC runs for 10 sec. after tool cuts off. Sure beats the heck out of a broom and vacumm, plus no remote to lose.

 

[Travis Porter]

IMO you can pick up a good used one for a good price and save some dollars.