Video Of New Harbor Freight Dust Collector

[kmmcrafts]

I posted about the new HF dust collector back late fall last year and I just run across this video of it that I thought others might be interested in.. Looks like a pretty nice machine..

 

[rjweb]

Thx Kevin, very interesting, like everyone is saying Harbor Freight is stepping up their game, RJ

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I watched the video and yes it looks like a solid machine but have to say. Just about any dust collector out there is good. The thing about dust collectors or dust in a shop in general is not the collector that is a problem, it is the tools and how you collect the dust from those tools. To have that large a dust collector for a scrollsaw is rediculous in my opinion. You can do as well with a shop vac. But if you have larger tools such as tablesaws, bandsaws, lathes, jointers and things like this that is where large collectors come into play. But again how are you collecting dust from those tools. Not only do you have to rely on enclosures around the tools but also what dust is coming off the tops of the tools and at the blades or bits that cause the problems. That is why his meter thing is so misleading. He is taking dust from one place and transferring to the bag on the collector. It is not spewed into the air like a tool will do. Plus most larger tools create chips and shavings and dust is a byproduct. Again that is where a large dust collector will prove beneficial. I just wanted to make a point when choosing dust collection systems. Air purifying systems will help alot in conjunction with dust collectors because it is the fine dust that is hard to see that can effect the lungs most. Plus when using dust collectors, sizing of hoses and distance of piping are all calculations that need to be considered to make them work efficiently. There are many books out there on this stuff. Many people think of a dust collector as a huge vac but it really is not. You just can not take the hose and place it near a tool and have it suck up all dust from the tool. They do not work like that. Anyway as I said just wanted to add a few things and hope everyone works safe.  

[Scrappile]

I have had a HF dust collector for many years.  Been a good one for me,  I do not have it plumbed in, I drag around a hose to where I need it.  I added an expensive filter on top.. Wow, If I had to get a new one, I would not hesitate to get this one shown,  Looks like they made every upgrade I would have wanted.  The on-off switch gave out on mine.  Probably could have taken it apart, cleaned it and it would have been okay, but I purchased a remote switch so I could turn it on and off from anywhere in the shop.

[kmmcrafts]

I also have the older HF dust collector.. as also don't have it plumbed to anything and just take the hose over to the plainer or table saw.. The DeWalt planer and table saw both have a blower already on them and then adding the dust collector hose in conjunction they do really well on those two tools.. I don't care for the bag style filter that mine has.. and the price to upgrade that to the filter like this new one has I'd be farther ahead I think to sell the one I have and just buy this one.. I'm not doing nearly as much woodwork as I did in the past so not sure I'll ever do that..

Agree with JT about using a better set up for at a scroll saw.. the seyco system I have on my scroll saw is just "okay" not great but better than having nothing too. I do run a box fan with filter by the saw and also a air filtration system that hangs from the ceiling.. My worst dust producer these days is the sanders.. I've heard mediocre results from a downdraft type sanding table.. I'm not sure how well the Festool sanders do for the dust collection but they sure aren't cheap to try to find out either.. plus I have no vac system like the Festool anyway.. one can spend an awful lot of money on those tools.. I was considering buying them but now heading off to the laser direction more and more so not sure it's worth going that route at this point.. 

I need to plumb the collector over to my CNC.. that machine makes a big mess in a hurry.. kinda like the planner does without hooking up to the collector, LOL.. I bought a boot hook up for the CNC but haven't installed it and don't use it a whole lot so I guess that's why I haven't done it yet.  

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I have a downdraft table that I use if I absolutely have to sand indoors but seems I can always take the project outside, even in the dead of winter to sand a project. Always did that. But I did buy a downdraft table and hooked to my 4" DC hose and it does capture quite abit of the dust but no dust collector ever made will capture all. As I said every tool has to be totally enclosed from top to bottom to capture all dust. Just not possible. Lot of this stuff is advertising hype.  Now again do not get me wrong a DC along with a air cleaner  or 2 are good investments but along with that a good filter mask. Trust me. You are not capturing all dust made in a shop. Just look around the shelves in the shop and wipe your hands across them and then come back here and tell me you would have no problem eating off those same shelves.  Just the nature of the beast. That thing is huge for me to drag around my small shop. My dust collector is located in a closet built for it and I plumbed in the piping to tools I use. Now My tablesaw and bandsaw share the same outlet so I have to keep switching but no big deal. I was actually looking at those new magnetic hose attachments. I might convert to that. Right now my attachments are sleeves that I slide on and off the tool. Not bad but just maybe i will try those new things. 

I just got back into the shop this weekend so will be doing some cool projects. have to make some neat jigs first. Just got my Performax 16/32 drum sander back together and dialed in yesterday so that job is out of the way. Talk about a dust maker. I tried hooking that thing to my large DC but not powerful enough so I have it choked down to 2-1/2" shop vac hose and use that with a hepa filter and works great. I had an older Sears 16 gal that crapped out on me so I pulled that apart a few weeks ago and think I got that repaired but in the mean time I bought a Ridgid 16 Gal vac with Hepa on it and that does well also. have to empty more but depends how much I use drum sander. I will be using it alot next couple weeks because I will be milling many woods for some boxes I will be making. Winter shop time. I love it.