Jet DC-650 - is this worth buying @ $75?

[radhak]

found this locally on CL :

Complete dust control system to attach to your power tool application. Good as new hardly used. Perfect condition.
Jet Model DC-650 1HP.
http://miami.craigslist.org/tls/263473129.html

Seeing the discussion over all sorts of DCs recently here, I understand that this would come with the 30 micron bag which must be upgraded to the 1 or 2 micron bag (or cartridge?). Other than that, is this a good buy? I work alone, and never use multiple machines simultaneously.

As of now I only have a shop-vac, and if i wait to buy the best-of-the-lot, it will be a long wait. And anything the other side of $200 falls in that category.

With this, it might be possible to stay within $200, right?

[LarryG]

I think most people would tell you that a 1HP dust collector is marginal, but even a 1HP DC is a heck of a lot better than no DC at all, and better than a shop vac, and it sells new for $200, so from that standpoint ... $75, yeah, I'd say jump on it if you can't spend more.

If you add the Wynn paper filter, you'd be well within $200. Or even the top-of-the-line spun poly filter for around $150 shipped, for a grand total of $225, which is not too far out of your budget.

[Black wallnut]

Yeah what Larry said. Keep in mind the ducting can be expensive if you wanted to run to each machine.

[LCHIEN]

A DC that size is most suited to being attached directly to a tool with a short (<10 ft) flex hose. As opposed to being tied to a multi-drop with gates large duct system serving four-five tools, one on at a time.
So you'd have to move the DC from machine to machine.
The other distinct drawback to that specific machine as you noted is the 30 micron cut of the bags. Most people feel that it allows too many ultra fines to be pumped back into the air and breathed, in fact, the fact that it stirs them up is worse than simply not collecting them!
This can be remedied with aftermarket filter bags probably costing around $25 bucks. That fit the standard-sized 14" (or is it 15") rings of that collector.

[radhak]

Thanks guys. Yeah, we all know how the $200 can stretch 'just a bit more' so i might have to be ready for that.

Currently the way i use my vac is to pull the hose out of the TS, put it to the router table, then to the sander, etc.

Could i do the same with a DC, or does it mandate dedicated ducting? More than the money, i may not be able to put up duct pipes in the garage : SWMBO might yank away my license-to-ww I'd rather spend some extra effort and wrap up neatly every night.

[LarryG]

Yes, you can roll the DC around from tool to tool, connecting the hose as needed (keep it as short as you can). In fact with a 1HP DC this is probably the preferred method since long runs of ducts or hoses will sap its efficiency to a greater degree than a more powerful unit.

[LCHIEN]

Thanks guys. Yeah, we all know how the $200 can stretch 'just a bit more' so i might have to be ready for that.

Currently the way i use my vac is to pull the hose out of the TS, put it to the router table, then to the sander, etc.

Could i do the same with a DC, or does it mandate dedicated ducting? More than the money, i may not be able to put up duct pipes in the garage : SWMBO might yank away my license-to-ww I'd rather spend some extra effort and wrap up neatly every night.

It can be done, depending upon how you have your shop set up, so you don't have to move the DC too far for any machine.
They have quick connect 4" hose fitting that are basically wedge fit (and the vacuum holdes them on pretty well while running).
I think twith that size DC as i said before, does not lend itself well to a lot of ducting.

As its normally $250 for that machine at Amazon, $75 is a good deal.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

I have the Delta equivalent to the Jet. I use it on only one tool at a time. Moving the hose slows down your work progress, but like you said -- it's no slower than moving a shop vac hose. It has enough power to use with a trash can separator - which you will need if you connect to a planer, jointer, or floor sweep.

I bought mine for $75 on close out at Lowes a few years ago. Been worth every penny.

I think you will be glad to retire the shop vac. I feel that the noise generated by a shop vac interfers with your concentration and can become a shop hazard.

- Lonnie

[radhak]

What does Wynn offer, and how is it different from a 1 micron bag from Penn? Is that the cartridge, and is the price difference large between the two?

[radhak]

I have the Delta equivalent to the Jet. I use it on only one tool at a time. Moving the hose slows down your work progress, but like you said -- it's no slower than moving a shop vac hose. It has enough power to use with a trash can separator - which you will need if you connect to a planer, jointer, or floor sweep.

I bought mine for $75 on close out at Lowes a few years ago. Been worth every penny.

I think you will be glad to retire the shop vac. I feel that the noise generated by a shop vac interfers with your concentration and can become a shop hazard.

- Lonnie

what is a trash can separator? something i could rig up?

and looks like (from your post) the DC is quieter than the vac?

[jackellis]

I've considered a DC but much as I would like to have one, things are pretty crowded as it is in my shop so I use a vac.

To kill the shop vac noise, I wear a device that looks like a set of headphones. It's quite effective.

[vaking]

I have a Jet 610-DC, a smaller brother of the one you are looking at. Mine has 610cfm and 3/4hp. It is many times better than shopvac. I made a trash can separator and it also serves as Y-splitter for one 4" hose to 2 2-1/2" hoses. I am using it one machine at a time although router table and table saw use 2 hoses at once (shark and below table). Seaparator collects most of the dust.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Answer to your two questions ...

> Trash Can Separator (sp)
Yes - easy to make. You can buy a lid with two inlets from a number of sources. I made mine. Works great.

> Noise vs Shop Vac. Shop vac has a high shrill that drives me crazy. Dust collector has a lower rumbling sound.

- Lonnie

[eddy merckx]

"What does Wynn offer, and how is it different from a 1 micron bag from Penn? Is that the cartridge, and is the price difference large between the two'"?

Most of us get our info about the best options from Bill Pentz's site. If you haven't looked, it may be worth your time.

The idea behind using a filter instead of bag is a huge increase in surface area of filter. A dust bag has around 30 square feet, a Wynn filter has around 260 square feet. What the extra area gives you is better air flow, so your system works better. Also more filter area means less clogging with fine dust. They filter down to .5 micron.

There is a paper or spun poly version. The paper one works fine and costs $80.00. The poly filter is like $130 but you can wash it and it's more durable.

Whatever you do, you won't believe how much better a DC is compared to a shop vac.