Dust Collection

[Los_Lobos]

Hello everyone, when I built my shop two years ago I purchased the Harbor Freight dust collector. I also got the barrel that sits on top, maybe 1-2 micron filter from I think Penn State, added the seperator and an accessory package of hoses and clamps. It still all just sits against the wall unused. Here is what I need to know, I have been using a large shop vac for most of my dust collecting needs, seems to work pretty well. I am thinking about selling the dust collection package and just going with a large ceiling mounted air filtration system instead. Tool use breaks down like this, table saw the most, chop saw, router and router table, band saw, power sanders, planers and jointer the least. I purchase my lumber from a local sawyer surfaced 3 sides, cost a little more but less time and work for me. Any reasons that I should keep the dust collector package instead of the filtration system?

Thanks, Les

[dicklaxt]

Sanding operations and sawing of certain toxic woods are the most critical times so in that matter I would have a system of DC.

Normal WW'ing and infrequent sawing operations, a filter system and a Personal Filtration mask should be adequte protection but that is only my opinion.

Now if you have respiratory problems then only the best money can buy is the answer.

dick

[TDHofstetter]

Whereas a filtration system allows you to throw fine dust into the air, then slowly gathers up all that air & filters it, removing the fine dust... until the air gets filtered, it's still laden with fine dust - there's nothing "instant" about it. A DC, on the other hand, gathers the dust right from the source, preventing most of it from getting into the air in the first place.

Look at it this way: You can start a wood fire in a potbelly stove and let the smoke go up the chimney (this represents a DC), or you can start one in an open pit and let it fill the room, then have a draft fan across the room that blows it out the window (this represents a filtration system). Which would you rather do?

[dicklaxt]

Excellent analogy,I've got to remember that one.

dick

[Joe Lyddon]

Welcome aboard, Les!

[Los_Lobos]

Tim and Dick, thanks for the replys, Tim that is a good analogy, I think I will keep the dc system and get it set up and operating, it will have to wait till after the holidays though

Hello Joe, great site and I think I will like it here

[woodmannie]

Just for better health, add the air scrubber (ceiling filter) with the DC system.
Once ya use the DC, you'll not want to deal with the shop vac. Way more dust collection at a time, less time setting up if ya pipe it in.

Tom