cyclone Comparison

[Everette Harmon]

I opened one of the magazines the other day and saw that Penn State had a 3.5 hp cyclone for $995.00 and I have been watching the Grizzly 3hp for $1195.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0441
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/temp1535s.html

I'm not a Grizzley basher, got their table saw, drill press and a few other items in my shop. But it seems like the Penn state is just as good for $200 less. I have tried to compare the two, but I think some of you that understand this stuff could compare it better.
I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on one of these so any help and information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks is advance

[Barry Beech]

Do a search on Penn State. It seems that someone had used them but were very unsatisfied with there customer service, however it could have been another name.

Most people on the board sing the praises of Grizzly products and customer service.

[Jim Hinze]

Last month American Woodworker did a comparison of all the new cyclones, the Oneida, Grizz, and new Penn-State tempest were amongst the ones tested.

From what I recall, the grizz and oneida got the best marks followed by Penn-State. The high points for Penn-State was the static pressure curve was a bit better, but the filter trap cleanout was difficult to handle because it was not removable, so you'd essentially need a shop vac with a hepa filter to empty it (if you didn't want to reintroduce fine dust to the shop air.



I opened one of the magazines the other day and saw that Penn State had a 3.5 hp cyclone for $995.00 and I have been watching the Grizzly 3hp for $1195.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0441
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/temp1535s.html

I'm not a Grizzley basher, got their table saw, drill press and a few other items in my shop. But it seems like the Penn state is just as good for $200 less. I have tried to compare the two, but I think some of you that understand this stuff could compare it better.
I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on one of these so any help and information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks is advance

[Everette Harmon]

Thanks for the replies, I've got more to look at than I thought.
Everette

[John Bailey]

It would be good to get the American Woodworker article. I read it and felt it had good information. I would use the information, but I don't think it would be my only source of info. The article did rate the Onieda and Grizzly as the two best. It seems to me I remember the Penn State being one of the better ones.

John

[tod evans]

something i seldom see mentioned is that the cyclone and pump are actually two separate animals. yes most companies sell them bolted together as a unit but you get a cost driven assembly for your money. ...02 tod

[john mclane]

I just started looking for a DC system for my dungeon/workshop and ran into the problem Tod brings up. My ceiling is only 80" at the bottom of the joist and none of the above mentioned cyclones are below 85".

A web site: http://www.woodmagazine.com/wood/woodmall/shell/chartShell.jhtml?chart=woodmall/charts/153twistertest/chart

has a chart on many of the features on 5 brands of cyclone dust collectors

I'm going to have to figure out how to make a 2 step system with a smaller unit. A question for another day:
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[Jim DeMarco]

Everette,

Check out the cyclones Oneida has to offer, they have very good fan performance curves (since static pressure is what you need). As an added bonus, if you buy one of their systems, they will spec out your duct work... and I believe even design at no additional charge.
I am not sure how most specify a system, but make sure you realize it is just that, a system. You can have the best unit in the world, but if it does not pull the pressure your duct work dictates... you will be very unhappy.
If you would like I would be glad to check your layout, and then spec a machine required from each company. For more information check some of my posts on onieda-air.com

[Joe Chritz]

I have to second the idea to check out Oneida systems.

I have the Super Dust Gorilla and I love it. They did spec out the duct work for me. Just had to send in a sketch of tool layout and they did the rest.

Even after swapping two tools, in effect giving me an undersize run to the downdraft it still pulls all the dust.

I run mine off an X-10 remote.

The motor sits on top and can sometimes be tucked into a joist cavity. Might be worth a call as the paperwork shows the oneida with 35 gal drum at 80.5 inches to the top of the housing sans motor.

Good luck with whatever you end up with.

Joe

[Bob Dodge]

I just started looking for a DC system for my dungeon/workshop and ran into the problem Tod brings up. My ceiling is only 80" at the bottom of the joist and none of the above mentioned cyclones are below 85".

Hi John,

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a good single-stage dc, especially if you don't have the height for a cyclone. The Delta 50-761 looks like a heckuva good dc for the money. 2hp motor, and Delta usually provides manual thermal overload protection, as well as motors rated for "continuous" duty-cycle operation.

The filters are probably the best quality I've seen on any single-stage consumer dc. They're oversized to 41 sq.ft. for low pressure-drop, and rated to 1 micron. The dc offers mobility, yet has the oomph to handle a duct network. Impeller is 12", with 7" inlet, and 37 sq.in. outlet. A very free-breathing design.

With twin waste-bags, you can run for extended periods without having to shut-down to empty a bag. Lots of bang-for-the-buck with that dc.

http://www.deltamachinery.com/index.asp?e=136&p=5816

Bob