Popular Woodworking 2002-10 № 130, страница 58

DUST

COLLECTOR

Dust collectors are rapidly gaining popularity with many home woodworkers for three reasons: We're more aware of the health dangers posed by fine dust, we're trying to reduce the risk of a fire and the dust collection machines themselves are becoming more affordable every year. This category is the fastest growing in our guide.

In fact, there's so much to know about this topic that you should read the revised edition of Sandor Nagyszalanczy's "Woodshop Dust Control" (Taunton Press).

The Basics

These simple machines have a fan pulling dust from a machine through a flexible or metal duct into a collection container. What sets the machines apart from one another is the wide variety of sizes, how they filter the chips and how they hold the waste.

The basic dust collector is a hose connected to the motor/fan housing, with two cloth bags attached. The dust is pulled through the fan, or impeller, then into the bag section. The smaller particles of dust are forced into the upper

DUST COLLECTOR Available in a variety of capacities, these machines are hooked to one or more machines to collect wood chips and dust. They can employ a bag or canister filter to collect much of the fine airborne dust. AIR CLEANER These box-like units are designed to pull very fine dust particles from the air. They're used in addition to a dust collector or collection system in a shop. An air cleaner is a true benefit, but it's possibly a luxury.

CYCLONE COLLECTOR Similar in purpose to a standard collector, cyclones add a collection stage to separate out larger chips and provide more efficient dust collection. Benefits include easier waste disposal and less need for ambient air cleaners.

CFM AND PRESSURE - NOT HP CFM (cubic feet of air moved per minute) and the static pressure (the strength of air suction) of a collector are statistics to watch for when evaluating dust collection systems, not horsepower. In general a 12" planer should be hooked to a collector with 500 cfm capability. With two machines being used simultaneously, 1,200 cfm is suggested.

BLAST GATES AND DUCTING To maximize efficiency, collectors can be connected to multiple machines using ductwork or hoses. Blast gates direct the air flow from one machine at a time to improve efficiency.

FILTER EFFICIENCY Collector efficiency is rated by the micron efficiency of the filters. A dot measuring approximately ¹/64" wide equals 615 microns. Dust smaller than two microns can remain in the lungs and cause health problems. In our opinion, a filter rated at 30 microns isn't efficient enough. Spend the extra money for 1-micron bags.

bag and trapped against the material; the heavier chips drop into the lower bag to await dumping later. This style is a good collector for most home-shop needs.

For more efficient dust collection, purchase better filter bags; better yet, add an air cleaner. These units scrub the ambient air to remove fine dust particles.

Some new dust collectors on the market have replaced the filter bag with a paper filter canister. These units are rated at about 2-micron efficiency.

For the ultimate, we're pleased that cyclone collectors (once only a commercial machine) are now becoming quite affordable.

Similar to a dust collector, a cyclone adds another separating stage, using centrifugal force to spin the debris. This action more efficiently divides the medium to lighter particles, trapping them in a filter canister or in dust bags. The heavier particles drop into a lower container. PW

PW

Recommends

If health is your driving influence in choosing dust collection, we strongly recommend you shop for, or upgrade to 1, or at least 5-micron efficiency bags.

OCCASIONAL USER

• Grizzly G8027. A great price ($130) for a basic dust collector for the small shop.

SERIOUS HOME WOODWORKER

• Penn State DC1B-XL. A

quality machine with upgrades that make it a bargain at $230.

• Grizzly G1029. For a few dollars more ($250) you can add a lot more power to your dust collection with this unit.

• Delta AP200. For better efficiency, this rugged air cleaner ($250) makes a nice partner for your dust collector.

ADVANCED WOODWORKER OR PROFESSIONAL

• Powermatic 75. Quiet, efficient and powerful, this is a good choice in a busy shop. ($650).

• Penn State DC4-5. For $550 this model offers more power and upgrades at a great price.

• JDS Air-Tech 750. At $260 these are premium air cleaners are designed for pro use.

• Cyclones. We've just started testing cyclones in our shop, but we feel they offer an affordable alternative for the busy woodshop.

These tools have been tested or used by

the editors of Popular Woodworking

and have earned their recommendation.

58

Popular Woodworking October 2002