I have the JET DC1200 with cannister and a direct pickup at the lathe right where the dust and chips are being made. I also have a pre-separation trash can just before the JET. The JET has been modified with a Thien baffle inside the lower edge of the metal ring of the collector. My cannister filter stays 95% cleaner with the Thien baffle and nothing big can come close to hitting the impellers at all.
http://www.ptreeusa.com/dustacces.htm#401
I got mine from Woodcraft and cannot remember IF either vendor sells the lid with connectors ... so check out what is what from both places. BTW,
http://www.ptreeusa.com just about always has more DC collection pieces/parts in stock than all the others combined. Be sure to use these lids on a 30 gallon metal can as the vacuum will suck in an ruin a plastic can.
I must state that the DC filter stays clean and the bag collects nothing but dust now and is being emptied about 4-5 times a year, but the per-sep can gets emptied all the time. The pre-sep is also far easier to empty and there is nothing to disconnect ... aside from just lifting the lid up.
In reference to the Harbor Freight DC. It may not be top of the line as far as metal weight goes ... but it moves a large volume of air with great ease. I bought one several weeks ago when they were on sale and had a discounted price on the Internet. I also had the good fortune of having a 20% off coupon that the store was not going to allow me to use at first. When they announced that I couldn't use the coupon I stood in the check-out line, cleared my voice and read the 'mouse print' very loudly to everyone with in hearing distance ... It stated that the coupon was in addition to any already discounted pricing. Me 1 - HF - 0 and $$$ in pocket! I actually did HF a favor as I was armed with about 25 printed coupons and had not given them to anyone. After all, I want them to stay in business a while longer.
I walked out and got several "At-a-Boys' from other customers and a few, "Way-to-Go's".
SO, I walked out of the store with a spare DC and the cost was well below $135.00. As the manager said to me, "That is well below our cost!" I told him that was not my problem and to talk to upper management. I had called corporate prior to going to the store and verified the 'mouse print just for my own protection.'
With the discount price and combined coupon savings I bought the Wynn cannister filter that made the system a very efficient dust collector. It now sits and sucks quite proudly all that the lathe and belt sander can produce. I also protect it with a pre-sep can and Thien baffle. All the other equipment is attached to the JET set-up, table saw, planer, router, drill press, etc.
BTW, the Thien baffle is an excellent device that is so simple to make and install and it is so efficient when properly tuned. I highly recommend that you check it out ...
http://www.cgallery.com/jpthien/cy.htm
Cyclone theory can be studied up on here:
http://billpentz.com//woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm
Ahhhhhh ... life as an avid dust hater is good! I still have some dust left over from before any alterations were made, so life ain't perfect ... just much, much better and my health and lungs appreciate it dearly. :biggrin:
