Recommends on air filtration system - Grizzly, Jet, Penn?

[Don Jeansonne]

I read a lot about building your own air filtration unit from a box fan or furnace blower but I am still looking at manufactured one to get the extra features like timers, etc. I think that if build your own and buy 2 or more levels of filters and bags or electrostatic filters you are approaching the cost of a factory made one ( I maybe wrong?).
I would like to know if you have any experience with the Grizzly G0572 or G9956.
Do these have equal performance to the Jet or Penn?
What are the critical performance criteria to look for?

[Chuck Isaacson]

Don, Not sure if you are interested, but WOOD Mag did a review of these a while back. The best one that they tested was the JDS AirTech 750 ER. This is the one that I am planning on getting and it runs about $350. I have heard nothing but good things about this air filter from others. I am pretty sure that it has all the features that you would want. Check it out.

Chuck

[Montgomery Scott]

The most efficient AAC is the JDS based on testing. I bought the Jet AF-1000 as the difference in efficiency did not justify spending 50% more on the JDS. I find it to be very effective even if I'm doing heavy sanding on the disc sander or lathe it only takes a couple minutes to clear the "foggy" air.

[Chuck Isaacson]

The most efficient AAC is the JDS based on testing. I bought the Jet AF-1000 as the difference in efficiency did not justify spending 50% more on the JDS. I find it to be very effective even if I'm doing heavy sanding on the disc sander or lathe it only takes a couple minutes to clear the "foggy" air.

Where do you get your 50% more from? A new Jet on Amazon is 329.99. The JDS new from Woodcraft is 339.00. I can definitely see spending 10 buck to get the cleaner air.

Chuck

[Dave Lehnert]

I own the Delta model and it works well. Not sure how one would filter better than the other as they are mostly built the same.

I belong to the camp that believes that a shop air cleaner should only be run after you are done for the day. Why would you want a blower keeping the harmful dust suspended in the air as you are working.

[jason lambert]

I have the jet and have been happy with it, it does well to clear the foggy air and keep the dust down around the shop. I like the pre filter I can get at home depot, same size as a furnis filter easy to repalce. Trouble is once the dust is in the air you are already brething it, a real dust collector at the source is much better.

[Nathan Yeager]

I have the Jet.

Based on the collected dust on the filter, I know that it works well. Based on the soft blanket of dust on my shop, I know that it doesn't work well enough. I bought the Jet on the spur of the moment once while in Rockler. If the JDS has better reviews, I'd probably go with it.

Tip: Don't place your air filtration remote anywhere near a dust collection port, else you may forever be tip-toeing to turn it on each time.

[Chuck Isaacson]

I have the Jet.

Based on the collected dust on the filter, I know that it works well. Based on the soft blanket of dust on my shop, I know that it doesn't work well enough. I bought the Jet on the spur of the moment once while in Rockler. If the JDS has better reviews, I'd probably go with it.

Tip: Don't place your air filtration remote anywhere near a dust collection port, else you may forever be tip-toeing to turn it on each time.

Sorry but I have to say that the thing about the remote and the dc is funny. I will have to remember that. Being in a wheelchair, it would really suck if I lost the remote.

[Larry Frank]

I have the Jet Air Filter and am pleased with especially as previously noted the replaceable pre-filter. It is a bit noisy but all of them are. I also have a Jet dust collector piped into the shop. Between the two of them, it really keeps the dust down except when I am sawing something like MDF. If it gets too dusty, I just take a break and leave the shop for 10 minutes. I am using the Jet remote for the air filter and an aftermarket on the dust collector as it needs to work through the walls. I typically hang them from the ceiling near where I am working so that it is easy to turn them on or off.

[Thomas Knapp]

I have the Jet.

Tip: Don't place your air filtration remote anywhere near a dust collection port, else you may forever be tip-toeing to turn it on each time.

I did that with my dust collector remote. I couldn't fit all the pieces back together, so I ordered a replacement remote. It was more economical to get it through my local Jet distributor than get it online. The unit's price was the same, but I didn't have to pay shipping
Tom.

[Curt Harms]

I have the jet and have been happy with it, it does well to clear the foggy air and keep the dust down around the shop. I like the pre filter I can get at home depot, same size as a furnis filter easy to repalce. Trouble is once the dust is in the air you are already brething it, a real dust collector at the source is much better.

What he said. I run an air filter but rely on the D.C. to get the vast bulk of the dust where it's created. Except on portable power tools like ROS's and routers, shop vacs don't cut it for me. More CFMs are better.

[Jerry Olexa]

I've had the Jet for several years and very pleased..Timer remote is a nice option...

[John M Bailey]

The blower on my shop built air cleaner cleans the air faster than I can produce the dust. I built my air cleaner using plywood and a 4 speed 100-4000 cfm fan that cost me $20. Two years ago, I found some thick 20" X 25" HEPA filters on clearance for $5 each, so that is the size I made the air cleaner. I use 2 cheap filters and one HEPA for prefiltering.
As for the timers and remotes, I have no need for them. It takes five to ten steps to reach the switch to turn the filter on or off.
There are disadvantages to building your own air cleaner. If you use plywood and a large fan like I did, it will be heavy. I wanted mine to be suspended from the ceiling and its weight made it difficult to get it 10 foot into the air. However, it is much quiter than sheet metal filter. All you can hear is a whooshing of air.
$20 fan, $10 in filters, $2 for switch, Free wires. Total of $32 for an air filter that outperforms the top rated JDS? No brainer for me!

[Don Jeansonne]

The blower on my shop built air cleaner cleans the air faster than I can produce the dust. I built my air cleaner using plywood and a 4 speed 100-4000 cfm fan that cost me $20. Two years ago, I found some thick 20" X 25" HEPA filters on clearance for $5 each, so that is the size I made the air cleaner. I use 2 cheap filters and one HEPA for prefiltering.
As for the timers and remotes, I have no need for them. It takes five to ten steps to reach the switch to turn the filter on or off.
There are disadvantages to building your own air cleaner. If you use plywood and a large fan like I did, it will be heavy. I wanted mine to be suspended from the ceiling and its weight made it difficult to get it 10 foot into the air. However, it is much quiter than sheet metal filter. All you can hear is a whooshing of air.
$20 fan, $10 in filters, $2 for switch, Free wires. Total of $32 for an air filter that outperforms the top rated JDS? No brainer for me!

I am still struggling with buying or building? Everyone knows theirs works because they visually see dust on the filters but is it collecting the really small stuff that is the real problem (1 micro or less)? Once you buy high efficiency filters, switches, timers, etc. you maybe approaching the factory units.
Can you install an electrostatic filter on a shop-made unit? I don't know how they work to know if they need any special considerations.

Right now if I buy one it seems that the JDS is a better deal at only $10 more than the Jet on Amazon. Better CFM, collection performance, warranty, construction gauge......

[John M Bailey]

Once you buy high efficiency filters, switches, timers, etc. you maybe approaching the cost of factory units.

I would agree with this statement except for the buying of the filters. You will be buying filters with the shop built and the factory units. As far as the switches timers remotes and such, you will be spending a lot for those little things. If you want to have all of these upgrades, then buying the factory unit would probably be better.
My way of thinking is that in my shop, I work slowly, doing as much thinking as actually cutting or sanding, and having to turn my air cleaner on and off and selecting the speed at the wall switch was not a problem. The timers and remotes do not add to the cleaning ability of the unit, so they are not priority to me. Another person my very well wish to have those convienences, and be willling to pay for them.
As far as the dust collection, which is the purpose of the machine, mine will collect 1 micron particals. My shop is 20 X 32 with 11' walls and it will collect dust as fast and I can produce it. I can sand, blow the dust off the piece and spray or brush on a finish without having to wait for the dust collector to clean the air.