anyone have a HF Dust Collector??

[emackrell]

I got the latest HF flyer yesterday and noticed that they've got their 2HP dust collector on sale ($169 and another 15% off). Anybody have one of these? How do you like it, how well does it work? And did you upgrade it with the fancy filter, or leave it as is?

I need some sort of dust collector in my itty bitty shop (read: walk in closet). This would be overkill now but would save me buying a little twinkie one now and a big one when I move in a year or so.

Appreciate any info from those who have and use this model (or had it and threw it in the trash, whatever).

cheers Eileen [8D]

 

[Monty]

Don'd have the HF brand myself, but I've heard they are pretty good for the price.

 

[Dario]

If you are talking about this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45378 I also heard some good things about it.

I don't have it but have something similar from ShopFox (only mine is 1.5 HP). Mine also came with a 30 micron bag filter which is a big joke and a health hazard. I lined the lower bag with heavy duty 45 gallon trash bags (from Walmart) and replaced the upper bag with this http://www.grizzly.com/products/g5556

Works great after that.

Again...I am only relaying my experience which may partly apply. Whether the HF DC is actually comparable (or better?) I have no idea.

 

[emackrell]

Dario, thanks. Ignorant question: are all the bags interchangeable? Or did you have to modify the Grizzly bag significantly to make it fit a non Grizzly DC?

cheers Eileen [8D]

 

[ctEaglesc]

I have one of their smaller ones hooked up in tandem to a Delta.
The HFDC usuall advertised on sale for around $179.00 is a highly touted sleeper deal from HF that has a plug on it.
Personally when either one of my smaller ones goes belly up(knock on wood), I will get the HF model.
Woodnet has a lot ofinformation but their search function is no where as good as the one here on thte IAP.
Check woodnet tools discussion board.
(It is a large unit, how big is your closet?)
YOu will have to upgrade the bags but that is something you would nned to do with most all of them.

 

[Dario]

Originally posted by emackrell
<br />Dario, thanks. Ignorant question: are all the bags interchangeable? Or did you have to modify the Grizzly bag significantly to make it fit a non Grizzly DC?

cheers Eileen [8D]

Not all bags are interchangeable...but in this case the Grizzly bag was actually a bit bigger (both diameter and length) than my Dc had. Nothing that the band cannot easily handle though []...it had little wrinkles on the side but no leak that I can see (believe me it will be easy to find after running the DC a few minutes).

 

[Draken]

I have the HF unit, you're welcome to come over and check it out if you wish. You can see the JoolTool at the same time. [] I haven't yet upgraded the bags on it, but I really should. I plan on doing that as part of my workshop renovation and enlarging.

Cheers,
Draken

 

[beamer]

Never seen a bag that could do any real good collecting after a few minutes of caked-on fine dust. So I called Rick up at Wynn Environmental and ordered their canister filter. It easily doubled my airflow, without question. More expensive, but worth every cent.

http://www.wynnenv.com/cartridge_filters.htm

Rick's a really great help, they know their stuff there. I got the fabric one, hoping it'll outlive me

 

[jrc]

I had one like that and never could stop the dust leaking where you fastened the bag and sold it. I just got this one http://www.pennstateind.com/store/dc3-1m.html and very happy wilt it. The sucktion is on the hood is louder than the motor running. It cost more but worth it

 

[TellicoTurning]

Eileen,
I have one.. bought it last fall when we moved up to TN... works great, has good air flow.. I have it set up with only two tools on it right now.. still need to get another hose to attach table saw.. don't think I'll hook miter to it.. I move that around too much.

I did have a problem with mine last week.. don't think it was fault of the DC, but my switch shorted out.. think we got a power surge and zapped the switch. I called HF for warranty since this was only 10 months old... I was thinking at the time it was the motor since I had power to the plug, but it wouldn't come on... silly me, never thought about the switch.. anyway, the young girl sent me a new motor, sans switch, so I pulled the old one and discovered the real problem... cost me for a new switch, but now have a spare 2 HP motor.... I'm pleased with mine.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Jim,
If you have the room, I put my DC outside the shop in a separate closet and ran the hose through the wall. Helps on the noise tremoundously.
I don't have any problem with the dust leaking, but I think I will be wise to buy a more efficient bag..

 

[jeffj13]

I have this DC and it works just fine. It is clearly one of the hidden gems at HF. I swapped out the bags with the Grizzly bags and they fit fine.

If you want more discussion about this DC, woodnet.com has many members who have one. A search of HF DC should bring a wealth of information.

jeff

 

[Woodnknots]

I also have this DC and am quite happy with it. I keep it upstairs in my shop, so I don't have any problem with any dust leaking, and probably wouldn't even know if I did, being upstairs. I have my planer, jointer, bandsaw and tablesaw all hooked up to it, with no problems. I have blast gates at every tool.