HF Portable DC - Any good?

[jkristia]

Since I can't hook up the vacuum to my new saw I need some type of dust collector.
I would like to keep it small and cheap (my 'shop' will be 1/2 a garage). I just checked craigslist, but there is nothing interesting in my area.

So I'm considering buying the portable one from HF
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=31810 ($130)
Anyone has any experience with this on ?

It the HF is no good, then maybe I should go up one step and get the wall mounted from Rockler
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21255 ($200)

But then I might as well go up one step and get the Delta one
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/206...el-50-720.aspx ($300)

I really dont know. Any recommendations?, I'm fine with having it portable and only hooked up to one tool at a time.

Problem is a promised my wife not to buy any more tools until I have actually build something, but I can probably sell the DC idea as a necessary 'must have' tool for safety reasons.

Jesper

[sweensdv]

The HF model will be quite noisy, not so sure about the Rockler offering. The Delta will be the quietest of the three you listed but all will do the job. For a little less than the cost of the Delta unit you could step up in size and capacity with this one from HF.

[cgallery]

The HF model will be quite noisy, not so sure about the Rockler offering. The Delta will be the quietest of the three you listed but all will do the job. For a little less than the cost of the Delta unit you could step up in size and capacity with this one from HF.

That HF he linked uses a standard induction motor, I don't think it will be any noisier than the others. OTOH, the little red one from HF uses a universal motor is is quite loud (but has lots of static lift, kinda a cross between a DC and a shop vac). But it is soooo loud (the red one, again).

[poolhound]

I know you have asked about fully fledged DC systems (IMHO I would get the best you can if you go this route) however exactly why can't you hook up your vaccuum?

Before I got my DC I used a small ridgid shopvac that cost $30 NEW!! it did the job just fine and you can typically find used shopvacs on CL all the time. HD recently had an offer and I bought a new 12gal 5HP with a Hepa filter for around $70.

[jkristia]

>>however exactly why can't you hook up your vaccuum?
The dust port is 4" and the vacuum 2" (or is it 2 1/2"), maybe for now I can just use this adapter.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...t%20collection

[poolhound]

>>however exactly why can't you hook up your vaccuum?
The dust port is 4" and the vacuum 2" (or is it 2 1/2"), maybe for now I can just use this adapter.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...t%20collection

Ahhh, now I understand. Well if thats all an adaptor for the shop vac is certainly cheaper than a DC!!!

As it seems that you are still organising things I think it would make sense to get the Shop vac adapator until you know what room and $$s you have and how much DC you need, then you can go get the right thing. Those small things you were considering are not much better than the shop vac. They would probably work OK but not much help for higher volume stuf like planer/jointer, nor do they have options for a good filter-you need better than the 30 micron on the rockler unit. If you are consdering spending $200+ then get a good unit that ideally has plenty of CFM, capacity and a good filter. I have the 50-760 and am very happy with it but there are lots of options out there.

[master53yoda]

I use the 2 horse HF DC it will feed 2 4" runs to tools at one time if it is piped correctly. the Noise problem on the small HF DC is because the fan is turning about twice as fast and noise has to do with the tip speed of the fan blades. the HF DC can be had for about $165 including the 2 year warranty if you use one of the 20% coupons and get it on sale. The only problem i have had is the switch went bad, I wired around the switch and use the wall switch for control. This DC will be all that you need for a one man shop if it is piped correctly.

[crokett]

I have that exact one. For a TS it works great. For a planer or jointer that produces shavings instead of dust you need a separator for it. There is a plastic grid over the intake to protect the impeller. Shavings get caught in it and will clog it. After the new shop is done I plan to build a separator for mine.

[jkristia]

>>I have that exact one
the little HF one?

[Sawatzky]

I also have that little green DC. It does work well hooked up to one machine at a time and is quiet. The only downside is that the filter bag is not great. You will want to pick up a different filter, but by the time you do that you may want to just buy a bigger DC with a better filter. I recenlty upgraded to the Delta unit you are looking at when they were on closeout at Lowes. It is way better than the small HF DC. Even though the HP is the same on both units, the Delta pulls more air, has a 1 micron bag, and removable plastic bottom bags. I don't have a plumbed shop nor the need to, so the smaller Delta is fine for my needs.

[crokett]

>>I have that exact one
the little HF one?

Yep. I found it at a yard sale for 20 bucks a while ago. First time I used it was with my TS and it worked great. Second time it was with my jointer and I had to stop and figure out why the chips weren't getting cleared. They were all clogging at the screen on the intake. Eventually I will make a separator that will sit on the frame above motor.

[tellittojake]

Wall mount DC okay

I have the Rockler wall mount DC. It does an okay job for one tool and it's quiet. But The HF would do a similiar job, as all they are is a shrouded impeller run by a universal or induction motor. They are right, stay away from the universal motor unit from HF due to the noise alone. If I had it to do over again I would buy the HF unit and pocket the 75 dollars and put that money towards something else in the shop or towards more in terms of accessories. There certainly are more efficient and stronger units but when money and space are tight, the HF looks like a viable solution. The bigger HF brother gets generally good reviews and they are very simple machines. The Rockler unit is virtually identical to the portable one sold at Woodcraft. There is another portable unit sold by PennState but that has generally not gotten very good reviews by people who ordered them. The Delta and Craftsman portable DC systems are fairly substantial and appear to be the same units but the price makes them less desirable as the money they are asking for those would buy a larger DC system. Overall I am happy with the Rockler unit, it works well enough, was reasonable in price, is quiet and I believe will be durable as it is not flimsy and is smooth in its operation.