Harbor Freight dust collectors

[mike93lx]

Who is using one? I finally got sick of using a shop vac for woodworking dust collection and will be picking up one of the 2hp HF units. Also getting a MERV15 filter from Winn right away, but no cyclone to start.

Not excited about the space it will eat up in my garage, but I need something better, particularly for my miter saw.

Also planning to get a hood from either Rousseau or Fast Cap

 

[never enuf time]

Yes I have one. Works better than a vac for large shavings from planer or jointer.

I removed bag & vent directly outside. No bag changes, more room, & no dust in barn.

Plenty of ideas on net to modify a dust collector.

I would recommend it.

 

[Firebrick43]

Neighbor has one and it’s a joke.they lie about the amp draw/ hp. Its only about 3/4hp as it pulls about 12-13 amps
They lie about the Cfm and the lie about the micron rating.

It does work for chips/shavings, that’s it.

You can not draw enough cfm (especially if you kill additional cfm with a cyclone or a duct system)with one to actually collect fine dust with one, especially with a tool like a miter saw.

Get a real 2hp collector with a steel impeller like a powermatic or a jet. Even then you need to hook up the collector directly to the tool and not a duct system or cyclone. One doesn’t have enough cfm for those systems until you get to at least 3hp if not 5hp.

 

[mike93lx]

Neighbor has one and it’s a joke.they lie about the amp draw/ hp. Its only about 3/4hp as it pulls about 12-13 amps
They lie about the Cfm and the lie about the micron rating.

It does work for chips/shavings, that’s it.

You can not draw enough cfm (especially if you kill additional cfm with a cyclone or a duct system)with one to actually collect fine dust with one, especially with a tool like a miter saw.

Get a real 2hp collector with a steel impeller like a powermatic or a jet. Even then you need to hook up the collector directly to the tool and not a duct system or cyclone. One doesn’t have enough cfm for those systems until you get to at least 3hp if not 5hp.

12-13 amps is far more than 3/4 hp, even on a ****** motor.

Filtering doesn't matter to me, if you read my post instead of seeing Harbor Freight and just wanting to bash it.

Considering my shop vac does decently on the miter saw, just not well enough, even a cheap dust collector will be an improvement.

A bigger 3-5hp unit is absolutely not in the cards until I have a bigger shop

 

[Firebrick43]

12-13 amps is far more than 3/4 hp, even on a ****** motor.

13.8 fla is 3/4hp. http://www.elliottelectric.com/StaticPages/ElectricalReferences/ElectricalTables/Amperes_Single_Phase_Alternate.aspx
Further more it has a fifteen amp plug and does not trip 15 amp circuits. I can provide other links if helpful

Filtering doesn't matter to me, if you read my post instead of seeing Harbor Freight and just wanting to bash it.

i see you have bought a reputable filter, that doesn’t absolve Harbor freight from lying about the filter they include and the detriment it will cause people whom believe it. I “bashed” it because they lie about every meaningful specification except weight, and the terrible experience I have with my neighbors. Since I worked on his cars he let use his wood shop for 5 years before I built my wood shop. So am I to have no opinion except for praise and adoration for your choice?

Considering my shop vac does decently on the miter saw, just not well enough, even a cheap dust collector will be an improvement.

i highly suggest you look up the effects of fine dust and the science behind collecting it for you and your families safety

A bigger 3-5hp unit is absolutely not in the cards until I have a bigger shop

??? I mentioned 2hp units as well, real 2hp units, because they actually pull enough cfm to work properly if hooked up directly to a machine. The 3-5 hp units are for cyclones or ducts as these kill a true 2hp DC cfm below where they are effective, and you mentioned a cyclone, did you not?

 

[mike93lx]

??? I mentioned 2hp units as well, real 2hp units, because they actually pull enough cfm to work properly if hooked up directly to a machine. The 3-5 hp units are for cyclones or ducts as these kill a true 2hp DC cfm below where they are effective, and you mentioned a cyclone, did you not?

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Not interesting in arguing over a dust collector. It is far from a perfect unit, but it is well regarded for the cost

 

[polhub]

I have one and it works great for my small shop. I didn't use it as intended, I added better filtration and a separator. Plenty of air moves at the table saw and jointer. At the far end of the line I have a miter saw that is enclosed and the DC gets pretty much all the fine dust (not an easy task on a miter saw).

 

[mike93lx]

I have one and it works great for my small shop. I didn't use it as intended, I added better filtration and a separator. Plenty of air moves at the table saw and jointer. At the far end of the line I have a miter saw that is enclosed and the DC gets pretty much all the fine dust (not an easy task on a miter saw).

Pics aren't working.

What filter did you use? A Wynn?

 

[Minnesota Steve]

I have one of the HF 2hp dust collectors. It's decent. I use mine with a retractable dust right hose, and it collects dust from my drum sander, table saw, planer, jointer just fine. It's not super powerful, but certainly adequate. It draws more air than the Dust Right 650 cfm wall mount collector I also have. Takes up more space, but costs about the same as that Rockler unit.

It's technically not 2hp... It's got a 15 amp plug on it. But I would suggest putting it on a 20 amp circuit, just because it pulls high on startup.

The only modification I have done is replacing the top bag with a POWERTEC 70001 Dust Collector Bag, 21" x 31", 1 Micron Filter off Amazon for $30.

My main complaint is changing the collection bag. It's kind of a pain to get it around and clamp it. I haven't found a great solution, although I think some strong magnets may help.