Dust collectors vs. dust separators?

[cuyeda]

Making sawdust is just a big mess on the garage floor. Considering a dust separator.


$69.00

Can anyone comment how well this system works. There are various brands, and models of dust separators. Otherwise, I may have to consider a dust collector, which cost more, and takes up a bit more floor space (limited floor space). I already have to wheel things around to use the table saw.

Cheapo Harbor Freight dust collector, $189.00

[Rock]

Never used one of the little cyclones so I can't comment on how well they work, but don't know why they wouldn't work as advertised to separate the big stuff before the shop vac.

I do have the style of dust collector shown however. There's a big difference between that and the shop vac. The dust collector has an induction motor vs. the "universal" motor on the shop vac. Long story short the DC will be much quieter and last much longer than the shop vac.

If you're not going to spend a long time running the shop vac you could probably get by. But when running a lot of wood through a planer for example a dust collector is a must.

Eric

[eamarquardt]

My saw/router table/planer is on wheels and when I use them I wheel them outside and make the mess out there (as there isn't enough room in my garage to use them anyway). Before putting them away I blow them off outside where the mess is easily cleaned up. The garage stays clean (but still congested).



Cheers,

Gus

[asianflava]

I use this setup, I think the 4in hose cost more than the garbage can adapter. It works pretty well, I got it from Grizzly. Space is a big concern as I don't have much of it. I usually try to do my work outside, but sometimes I can't because of weather, I still have to sweep it up outside.

[len19070]

I only have a 620 Sq. Ft. Shop. And a dirty Shop at times is just a way of life for me.



I built a "sawdust Box" under my Table saw and it keeps 90% under control.



I tidy up at the end of each day and the Car goes in every night.



On Friday give it a real good Cleaning.



Then sit back, drink a Beer and Marvel at my accomplishments.

Happy Trails

Len

[doug hodder]

Cliff...you can also get the HF system and pick up a 33Gal plastic trash can lid that has in/outlet ports in it, like others have shown. One port will make a cyclone type system out of the trash can. It keeps the big chunks from going through the squirrel cage on the blower, promotes longer life. Only the fines get trapped in the bags...much easier to empty. You can fill a bag pretty quickly if you're collecting everything into them. It's worked for me on my TWC unit. Doug

[cuyeda]

@Len,

I started to make a table saw cabinet, abandoned the project due to size, and I think the wheels were to small (my bad). I may still look for smaller cabinet design. Today I was wheelin' the table saw back into the garage, and almost took a dive forward catching a crack in the concrete surface. Those stock wheels ain't worth a darn.

@Doug,

When you say the HF system, do you mean the dust collector that posted a photo of? So you recommend using both dust collector, dust separator.

[doug hodder]

Yup....I find it's just best to separate out the bigger chunks first. If I'm doing a lot of resawing/ planing/ routing...the separator works great. It'll fill quickly in the bag on the machine, especially if using a planer. There are a load of different type pickup heads that you can use for whatever tool, stationary or otherwise, that will suck it all up. Just stick them on the end of the hose. I don't have an "official" type shop with it all plumbed in, the saw is the only thing hard plumbed. I use aux. hoses and heads with clamps for different applications at the bench or tool.

For me...the main unit is kinda buried back behind some tools, so the trash can separator works easiest and can be emptied without a big hassle. I get a couple of fills on the trash can before I empty the bag on the sucker.

Whether or not this is the way for you to go, kinda depends on just how much material you run and whether or not you are wanting to build up a wood shop with tools. Most of the larger stationary shop tools come with a housing to accept a vacuum hose now. There are size adapters so you can neck it up or down depending on size. I don't clamp the hoses...just stick them on.

For a simple home shop type system that you only use once in a while..the shop vac. method might be for you...Doug

[zapj]

I have used both methods starting with the separator and now use the Harbor Freight 2hp. I did upgrade the collection bags to a 2.5 micron from the regular 5.0 standard bags. The replacement bags were purchased from Grizzly Industrial Inc. I agree with Doug's comment about maybe considering a separator in conjunction with a collector. I cringe every time I hear a chunk of wood hit the impellers of the collector.

Jim

[cuyeda]

Thank you for the useful comments! I will get a dust separator, then add on the dust collector when budget constraints are lifted.

Most of my garage concerns are floor space. My immediate projects are building small tool towers to organize stuff for immediate access. A small outside shed besides the one I already have to get a few more things outside. Most everything is already on wheels.

My latest wood project:






Making post caps.


Look ma! No more lawn! The ENTIRE front yard was stripped of lawn, and replaced with water wise plants.

[doug hodder]

Nice treatment Cliff! Very nice...Doug

[Larwyn]

After much research into dust control/collection, I settled on moving the woodworking tools outside to use them. Everything is on wheels anyway and if there are more than just a couple of operations it is no real problem most of the time. I also have a 4 foot door on one end of the shop and a 6 footer on the other so with a good fan I can make the tools "believe that they are outside" even if they are not. If the weather is too bad to work with woodworking machines outside or with the doors open I just go out the garage and do a bit of metal fabrication/welding. One reason I work with metal more often than wood these days is that the metal seems less toxic to my system. Metal "dust" tends to sink to the floor before entering your lungs. Of course some metal fumes are more toxic when heated than hardwood sawdust, you have to be careful either way.

Anyway, I quickly came to the conclusion that effective dust collection in my little woodworking shop would be cost prohibitive.

[satch]

After using my surface planner for the first time, I soon realised the importance of dust colletion. I built this cyclone years ago and never regreted it


I have it hooked up to my table saw and jointer with extra ports for other machines via 4" plastic pipes. A note to anyone that wants to do this is make sure you have the tubes grounded. If you go with plastic (pvc) like me, I ran a bare copper wire inside for a ground. Vacuum creates static electricity and any spark can ignite the fine dust particles in side.

[cuyeda]

Rick,

Nice collector! I wish I had room in the garage for the 60 gal. air compressor, let alone a nice dust unit like yours. I can't tell from the photo. Is that PVC used for the compressor line?

[satch]

The small 1/2" line runs down to a 12 gal air compressor, the 4" is the vacuum tube for the cyclone.
Here's afew more pics



Here's where they hook up to the machines

It's abit messy in my garage, but it's the only way to work!