Hey everyone! I'm back with my third and probably last question about setting up my shop, and I really appreciate all the guidance you've given me so far. I've got most of my upgrades sorted out, including my table saw, but I'm stuck on selecting a larger dust collection system. I've been losing sleep over the variety of options and conflicting info, especially with CFM numbers. I'm torn between getting a 2HP unit from Grizzly and hard-piping it (I have 220V available) or just going for a mobile dust collector like the Oneida Mini-Gorilla with a short flex hose to my machines. Some folks say units under 3HP are not worth it, while others think 1.5HP is sufficient. My workspace is about 10'x22', and I'm planning to connect it to the following tools: a table saw, a planer, a benchtop jointer (which I might upgrade in the future), and a router table. For smaller tools like my track saw or sander, I've already got a separate dust extractor. I wear a full-face respirator most of the time and have an air filtration system with MERV 14 filters, so I'm questioning if I really need HEPA filters for the dust collector. Any advice would be super helpful!
5 Answers
Don’t overlook the Harvey G-700. It's been fantastic for me!
I just picked up the Grizzly G0990, which is 1.5HP and comes with a HEPA canister. It was around $1200 delivered, and I’m really happy with its performance. In my small shop, I’m just using short lengths of 4” flex hose for now, and I also wear a mask and have a good air filtration system running.
I’ve got a small shop that uses the same tools you mentioned, and I’ve got a 1.5HP collector with a flex hose. I just move the hose around as needed, and honestly, it works just fine for me. I thought about running ducting for a more permanent setup, but it didn’t make sense financially for my situation.
If you're open to it, buying a used 2HP dust collector might be the way to go. I got a 20-year-old Harbor Freight unit for just $75 and made some DIY enhancements. I added a used Oneida Super Dust Deputy and a 30-gallon food barrel to it. Using flexible hoses to connect everything has worked out great, and I don’t even miss the automatic on/off feature yet. Check out my setup here!
I really recommend getting HEPA filters for your dust collector. The main goal is to catch as much of that hazardous dust right at the source. If you're solo in your shop, the Mini-Gorilla with a flex hose will do just fine. But if you’re planning on doing a lot of production work and moving between machines, a hard duct system would probably be a better investment in the long run.