Re: Dust Collection Comparisions
Dave Paine
There area number of ways to consider "performance". For some folks it is the ability to filter out the smallest particles. For some folks it is the ability to remove large particles and debris from a machine. For some folks it is the ability to be able to remove particles and debris with a long duct system.
Your links have a regular dust collector and a cyclone. These are very different designs.
A regular dust collector, i.e. without cyclone will have higher airflow and static pressure. The manufacturers do not often publish the performance curve so rarely easy to see how the airflow drops with static pressure. As the airflow drops so does the ability to keep larger particles in the air stream. These units normally do not filter out the smallest particles, so if you are sensitive to really fine dust these are not for you.
A cyclone dust collector will have lower airflow and static pressure. Some of this is due to the inherent energy losses in the cyclone flow. The more we force a fluid to change direction and / or velocity, the more energy the fluid will consume. Cyclones are easier to hook up the discharge to a HEPA filter, so the units are able to filter out really fine dust particles. Hence if you are sensitive to fine dust, these units are for you.
Oneida provide a performance curve, but without other companies providing the equivalent, then nothing to compare.
As others mentioned PSI may not be the best quality and may not have the best overall performance.
Which ever machine you purchase, I recommend minimizing the pressure drop in the duct system. I had a crusade to reduce the pressure drop in my system and I was able to greatly improve airflow and suction at the machines.
Minimize flex duct, use straight duct where possible. Avoid "Y" and especially "T" fittings if possible. Minimize elbows. Use long radius elbows vs short radius. Minimize length of duct. Use metal blast gates vs plastic.
My dust collector is a Jet 1 1/2HP with a 1 micron cannister, the Jet equivalent of the PSI model you linked. This provides good airflow and suction at the machines. It is able to handle the debris from my DeWalt planer.
You will find trying to collect debris from a wood lathe is not easy, since the debris mostly goes toward the operator and the duct opening is normally on the other side. I get decent dust removal when sanding on the lathe.
