Dust collection options. Help

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So, I have a 6hp shop vacuum and a HarborFreight dust collector. I have my Journeyman and a mobile table with saws in it. Which system do yall recommend I use for which tool set?

Should I use the shop vac with the CNC a,d the dust collector on my mobile cart/table for all the other saws? Or should i dedicate the Dust collector to the CNC and use the shop vac on the mobile cart/table for tools?

Is one system better at collecting dust for a specific type of tool?

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For me, the deciding factor would come down to noise due to the location of my cnc. I would probably put the less obnoxious system on the cnc as it’s likely to be the one running lengthy jobs and use the shop vac, which itself is mobile, with the mobile table.

I’m also biased. I’d give the onefinity the best and let the other tools have what’s left.

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Generally dust collectors are better designed for running long durations and may employ a brushless motor with a longer service life than a shop vac… Without knowing the specifics of what shop vac you have it is something to consider.

Dust collectors work more on volume of air moved so having the least amount of restriction in the hoses and dust shoe will be more important than a shop vac which usually works on speed of the air flow.

The other thing I’d think about is the storage capacity of each option, I have no issue filling up a 55 gallon drum of chips from the Onefinity in a weekend. If you plan for long carves with a smaller-ish capacity shop vac you might consider a cyclone separator and a external can.

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If possible, Plumb it so you can use the dust collector for both. Shop vacs are obnoxiously loud for any extended period of time and aren’t meant for that.

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That shop vac will drive you nuts. If you’re wanting something of similar size get the Fein turbo which is only 67 decibels.

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I have my Onefinity hooked up to a Festool extractor with a Dust Deputy in between. Great combo! The Festool is much quieter than my 1 1/2 hp dust collector. This also allows me to keep full suction on the dust collector for my other tools.

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Throw some MDF in there.

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Hey Auntjemimma,

right, but that’s not fair :slight_smile:. With MDF, the wood has already been plucked into splinters before it is even made! :slight_smile:

Paul @paulmcevoy75 is so right, if you produce shavings, then you know that you have adjusted your cutter speed very well.

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Hey Paul,

you are so right, if you produce shavings, then you know that you have adjusted your cutter speed very well.

However there is still wood dust produced, even if it is not the mass and especially because it may not visible, I would be careful, over time, it is harmful, I would use a dust collector in every case.

A solution for noise could be to put it into another room. That’s what I intend to do.

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image
image1920Ă—2560 371 KB

This is proof that an Oneida cyclone and a 2.5 micron bag will not contain mdf dust. This accumulated just from flattening my spoilboard and 1 small carving job

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Ok, now i am a bit concerned. I was planning on using my Oneida cyclone as a first line dust collector and then run that into a Laguna BFlux that I ordered about a month back (and still waiting for backlog).

I was hoping that the Oneida would capture most of the dust and then just the smaller particles would get filtered out by the cannister so that i didnt have to clean/replace the cannister filters very often. Seeing that picture now makes me wonder…

Also, will the Bflux be capable of filtering out all that MDF dust so as to not be a problem, or do I need to start looking at other options?

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Hey Blackhawk,

the B|Flux obviously has a pleated filter cartridge, like I mentioned one here, and it says on product page:

providing filtration of 99.97% of particles between 0.2 ~ 2 microns & features 17.2 square feet of polyester spun bond pleated filter to ensure maximum airflow. Hand crank cleaning prevents clogging of the filter

unlike Max’ dust collector, that just has a dust bag filter. The pleated polyester filter of the Laguna B|Flux is not as big as a big one or as the Felder, but I think it’s much better than a class “L” potato sack :slight_smile:, regarding the ability to filter fine wood dust.

Also one should be aware that a cyclone separates particles the better the more they weigh, so it will always tend to let the finest dust through. It is mainly to catch the chips. Also, one should be aware that an upstream dust separator, like any system that extends the air path, will reduce airflow, so this should be taken into account when choosing power.

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Aiph5u,

Thank you for posting the details on the different classes. That was hugely helpful, and the reason why I asked if the bflux would sufficiently filter out dust from MDF.

My workshop is temporarily going to be in my basement, not completely isolated and not far from my forced air furnace, including the return air duct. I went with the bflux because it was a cannister filter and thought i could use the Oneida to reduce maintenance and cleaning. But seeing the pictures posted here and knowing that the bflux filters down to .2 to 2 microns onstead of being Class M, now i am beginning to wonder if i need to get something even better

Given the nastiness of MDF, my bflux choice and my furnace being so close, should I be concerned?

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Hey Blackhawk,

I don’t know what exactly your furnace is, how it produces heat, so I cannot say something about this, but as for the rest I think it’s also a matter of cost (at least with me it is). I had a look at the Laguna B|Flux and at lot of dust collectors offered, and I found the B|Flux is a little small, I mean from CFM capability, since I plan to collect chips not only from Onefinity but from a thicknesser too, but I think for the Onefinity alone maybe it would be enough. I think you should ask people who tested it and especially who compared it to other collectors!

I have not yet bought one, but I think as soon as the money will be filled up I will buy a Felder AF 22 which is a Modular System which can be either movable, stationary or wall mounted, with a Dust Class “M” pleated filter cartridge, mainly because

  1. they are on the same continent where I live and they often have discount offers
  2. they have different motor sizes available from 2 hp to 4 hp.
  3. they offer three-phase motors which are induction motors (like spindles) which I can slow down if necessary by hooking them to a VFD
  4. with the AF 22 I can exchange dust receptacle bags during operation as shown here since it has two bags and a dust bag selector
  5. as said above, I plan to attach a thicknesser too, with air valves, and I think with its 3100 mÂł/h (1824 CFM) air flow capacity with a 120 mm (4.75") diameter inlet and a 80 mm (3.125") inlet the AF 22 would be the right thing (expandable for even more tools).

However I still can decide! I would still welcome suggestions. But I would be reluctant to buy something overseas because of the shipping costs. The shipping costs for the Onefinity were hard already :frowning:.

If I could afford it now, maybe I would buy a clean air dust extractor like the Felder RL series (class “H”). Such machines are of heavy weight but let out very clean air.

PS: Also, I believe that due to the design of its pleated polyester filter cartridge, the Laguna B|Flux may well be largely class M. These dust classes according to IEC / EN 60335-2-69 do not specify the dust particle size, but only specify

  • the type and hazard of a dust, and
  • the Threshold limit value (TLV) for the class, i.e. what exposure may be present at a workplace after filtration.
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I built a frame covered with window film around my dust collector and then installed good furnace filters in it. Hookey but it works