DC1BXL

[mr.g]

I also visit the Wood magazine website (www.woodonline.com) and they are promoting a "summer sidewalk sale" for various vendors. PSI has a couple of dust collectors listed in this sale, including the DC1BXL with the .5 micron canister filter. The sale price is listed as $244.95 which is $25 off regular price (use coupon code WMSS8). Shipping is $44 flat rate for anywhere in lower 48 states.
I don't have any personal experience with the .5 micron canister setup, as I have the DC1BLX-1M which comes with 1 micron felt bags on top and bottom. I really like the model I have and was very happy with PSI's service.

[Bill in PA]

I finally bought a dc after more than a month of delays. I purchased the DC1BXL two weeks ago. It went together easily with no missing or damaged parts and nothing had to be worked around. My only complaint is the 10 & 12mm wrench that came with it is worthless.

I haven’t used it a whole lot, but I’m pleased with the way it’s worked with my BT3100, BS and router with mdf, birch plywood and maple. It’s a big improvement over a shop vac.

I went to PSI (29 miles, 45 min) with the intention of getting the DC2V2 with the bags and upgrading to the canister in the future, but after talking to the salesman, Jeff, I went with the smaller unit. He asked how big my shop was, if I was planning to run permanent ductwork, what tools I have, etc. I don’t have a lot of room and there is a height limit of 79” (at the high points) I have to deal with. The DC2V2 at 79” would be too tall. They have different units set up, including a couple of cyclones, so I was able to compare them side-by-side, and to run them.

I asked about the DC1BXL-CF (cartridge filter) but Jeff advised against it because it is a pain to clean. Like some other cf’s it has to be blown out with compressed air or vacuumed from inside and I don’t have a compressor. PSI’s cartridge filters for their larger dc’s have a crank you turn to rotate rubber paddles that clean the inside of the cartridge but I don’t have the height. Maybe someday they’ll do the same for the smaller unit.

The HF dc is a more powerful unit and at 75” it would fit, but I do not like what I’ve read about them, the bags that they supply are poor and the conversion kit that is usually used has the same cleaning problems as the DC1BXL-CF.

I looked at (on-line) several different brands, and for me the DC1BXL was the best choice. I can upgrade to the cf if I ever get a compressor or they start to make them with the paddles.

I don’t know if this belongs here, but I want to say a little about PSI from my perspective as a consumer. The two guys I talked to seem to know woodworking. They both have small shops at home but they get to work in a well-equipped 30’ x 30’ foot shop that is a cordoned off area in the store. I think they make the various jigs and fences I saw there. And they sell a lot more woodworking tools and supplies than their web site or on-line catalog indicate. I didn’t have a lot of time to browse. They stayed past their 12 noon closing time so I could get a few things, besides the dc, without trying to push me out the door like many stores do. Instead of letting me spend up to $200 more for a dc that I would not have been satisfied with they asked intelligent questions and made recommendations. I will be doing business with PSI again.

[Thalermade]

I must second Bill In PA's experience with PSI.

I bought the DC2.5 several years ago and upgraded it with the cannister filter a year ago. Several times in the years I have owned my DC I have called and asked for information and the guys there have been amazing. They have been willing to take the time to not only listen, but to ask good questions to help you make a better informed decision. One time I caught one of the guys just as he was about to leave his office for a meeting. He couldn't miss the meeting, but he took down my phone number and said he would call back in an hour. And he called back when he said he would and took care of business.

I really liked that.

Russ

[drumpriest]

Bill, that DC is spec'd a lot like mine, which is a Jet canister. I think you'll be happy with it, it's great in my small shop.