1.5HP dust collection. 1 stage or 2 stage?

[Mike Wilkins]

Check out the wall-mounted dust collectors tested by the folks at Fine Woodworking Magazine in their latest Tools and Shops issue. Most are within your budget and would work fine for short runs of duct on one machine at a time.
I have had a Delta 1 1/2 horse power single stage DC which has worked well for years. Only modification since initial purchase was the installation of a pleated filter to allow the use of heavy duty trash bags.
For a small shop with limited electrical power, a single stage 110 volt unit should serve you well for a long time.
Time to start planning for a larger shop with dedicated electrical service.

[Andy D Jones]

I believe the "efficiency advantage" of a long, narrow cyclone over a short stubby one, refers to the separation efficiency. Stubby cones may have less pressure drop, but they let a lot more dust through to the filter, clogging it more quickly.

I have a 1.5 HP Oneida Mini Gorilla cyclonic collector, with a 10' long 5" diameter flex hose, that I roll around to each machine. It works very well in my garage shop (where almost everything rolls around anyway), and has excellent HEPA filtration. Very little dust gets past the cyclone to the filter. It is available for either 120VAC or 240VAC power. It also takes up less floor space than most any cyclone system I have seen.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[Tom Hoppe]

Ron, thanks for that electrical advice. I didn't even think this was a possibility, so I never thought about it. My, by far, best bet would be to get an Oneida Supercell, as that would take care of all my collection needs. Sounds like I need to get an electrician out here to get some advice. If I can get 1, 220 circuit for a Supercell and 1, 110 for everything else, that would be super rad. And at that point, the $2500 for the Supercell is worth the money, as it's my long term solution for everything.

The Mini Gorilla is something I considered, but at $1400, I can build something that is arguably better (HF 2hp + 12" impeller + 5" SDD) for $700, since if I stay with 110v, these are all temporary.

[james manutes]

Before you go down the HF road , at least look around for a used single stage . If located , that is a better building block than a harbor freight in my view . Jet , Powermatic , Grizzly , or Delta . I don't know the diameter of the HF shaft , but it's likely 3/4" . The other choices will transition to 7/8" shafts when you get up to 2 HP and larger , which allows for better impeller choices . They will vary on this as they are different makers , ages , etc. I have seen older 1.5 HP motors w/ 7/8" shafts . It doesn't cost to look around . Impellers can be found at ereplacements.com , Grizzly , and other sources as well . Another advantage to an older blower is the blower housing itself is likely deeper , allowing a "taller" impeller . The Rikon on the HF blower is the most common route taken , but it is not the only choice .

[michael langman]

I bought the harbor freight 2hp collector and made the thien baffle for it which goes on top of a 30 gallon plastic trash can.

I mounted the wynn filter for the fine dust on top of the dust collector and mounted the dust collector and the trash can onto a roll around platform so I can get closer then 10 feet to my planer and jointer. Being in the basement I do not have to move the collector or my bandsaw,planer or jointer more then a few feet which I also have on rolling platforms.

Hooking up to each machine as I need them does not bother me because it only takes a minute or so, and the collector works very well in this situation.

[Andy D Jones]

Snip...

The Mini Gorilla is something I considered, but at $1400, I can build something that is arguably better (HF 2hp + 12" impeller + 5" SDD) for $700, since if I stay with 110v, these are all temporary.

The SC could not handle my A3-41 J/P (or the smaller, 12" A3-31), which need 480 CFM @ 3" H2O, and have a 5" port. This is within the OMG's curve, and with 10' of 5" hose, works well.

Add the cost of the HEPA filter to your home-brew configuration ($210 with silencer and flame guard).

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[Tom Hoppe]

What is "SC" in your post?

My current build list for my 2 stage 1.5hp setup is this:

- HF Dust Motor - $150 - https://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-i...tor-97869.html
- 30 gallon plastic drum - $75 - https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-1601MB-.../dp/B0025QI4XC
- 5" SDD - $170 - https://www.amazon.com/Oneida-Air-Sy.../dp/B00BEXBWS6
- Amazon Filter - $150 - https://www.amazon.com/Cartridge-Col.../dp/B01I5X7B28
- 4" collar for filter - $10 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NCG7C6
- 6" collar for HF collector - $10 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058IUUDG

Should be right at $600, and I'll use scrap plywood to put it together. Since all my tools are on wheels, I'll stick with the ~10-15ft of anti static hose on the machine and either just move the hose from machine to machine, or move the machines closer to the hose.

If I need to, I can upgrade to the 12" RIKON impeller for another $120, but I'll skip that when I start the build.

I *think* that setup above will be better performing than the Mini Gorilla, or equivalent Grizzly/Jet product. If the Mini Gorilla was like $1k, then I'd probably be in, but $1400 after tax and shipping is hard to swallow on it.

[james manutes]

Don't use a 4" collar on the exhaust side . Why would you "choke" your system that way ? That 6" fitting is $6 at Lowes . You want to get as much air thru it as you can . Try Air Cleaning Specialists ( sales rep. Chris Peanick ) . You can get a better filter for less money .

[David L Morse]

What is "SC" in your post?

My current build list for my 2 stage 1.5hp setup is this:

- HF Dust Motor - $150 - https://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-i...tor-97869.html
- 30 gallon plastic drum - $75 - https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-1601MB-.../dp/B0025QI4XC
- 5" SDD - $170 - https://www.amazon.com/Oneida-Air-Sy.../dp/B00BEXBWS6
- Amazon Filter - $150 - https://www.amazon.com/Cartridge-Col.../dp/B01I5X7B28
- 4" collar for filter - $10 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NCG7C6
- 6" collar for HF collector - $10 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058IUUDG

Should be right at $600, and I'll use scrap plywood to put it together. Since all my tools are on wheels, I'll stick with the ~10-15ft of anti static hose on the machine and either just move the hose from machine to machine, or move the machines closer to the hose.

If I need to, I can upgrade to the 12" RIKON impeller for another $120, but I'll skip that when I start the build.

I *think* that setup above will be better performing than the Mini Gorilla, or equivalent Grizzly/Jet product. If the Mini Gorilla was like $1k, then I'd probably be in, but $1400 after tax and shipping is hard to swallow on it.

Is this, with the addition of a 6" inlet modification, what you are planning?

DC.jpg

If so, note that the outlet hose is 5" so you will want a 5" collar for the filter.

Based on what I've been able to glean from various videos and forum posts on the SDD loss factor I think you can expect performance similar to this:

Hoppe Mod.jpg

[Tom Hoppe]

Don't use a 4" collar on the exhaust side . Why would you "choke" your system that way ? That 6" fitting is $6 at Lowes . You want to get as much air thru it as you can . Try Air Cleaning Specialists ( sales rep. Chris Peanick ) . You can get a better filter for less money .

Ahh, I got that wrong, apparently it's 5".

Is this, with the addition of a 6" inlet modification, what you are planning?

DC.jpg

If so, note that the outlet hose is 5" so you will want a 5" collar for the filter.

Based on what I've been able to glean from various videos and forum posts on the SDD loss factor I think you can expect performance similar to this:

Hoppe Mod.jpg

That's exactly what I was planning and was the picture that I used to plan my build. I did get my numbers wrong, thanks for the beta.

So I need a 5" collar for the air filter, and then a 6" to 5" reducer for the top of the SDD to HF inlet and a 5" to 4" reducer as well for the inlet of the SDD.

[David L Morse]

So I need a 5" collar for the air filter, and then a 6" -> 5" reducer on the SDD and a 5" to 4" reducer as well for the inlet of the SDD.

No, modify the inlet to the fan. Make it 6" and use 6" hose or pipe between it and the SDD. Isn't that what the 6" collar is for?

Also, don't use 4" duct. Use 5" snaplock or spiral. No need for 5"/4" transition.

[Tom Hoppe]

Ok, cool, I'll do that re: 6" collar. Was wondering if it was better to modify the inlet, or do a reducer.

And you're saying to use 5" duct from the SDD inlet to my tool, and then a 4" reducer on the tool itself? All my tools have 4" dust ports. I was planning on moving tools and moving hose between tools, so I do need flex hose.

[David L Morse]

Ok, if you're using hose between the tool and cyclone inlet definitely use 5". If all your tool ports are the same size then just put the transition on the end of the hose and use it as a connector.