Hey everyone! I currently own a Hercules dust extractor, which has been pretty effective, but I'm on the hunt for a dust collector that offers better CFM for my jointer. Space is a major issue for me, so I'm looking for something compact—preferably a wall-mounted unit or a portable model that can be wheeled around or hung up. I only plan to use it for my jointer and maybe occasionally for my table saw, although the Hercules handles the saw fairly well. I'm considering the WEN model rated at 600 CFM and a similar Grizzly model that's a bit pricier. Are there any other options I should consider? I'd love to find something more powerful, but I need to balance that with how bulky and expensive these machines can get, especially since I won't be using it all the time.
2 Answers
The Harbor Freight Central Machinery dust collector gets decent reviews, but most folks seem to mod it to really get the best performance out of it. Every video I've seen goes something like, "Here's the stock unit; now let me show you my new version that I built from parts!" If you want something more affordable, check out second-hand options too. I scored a Laguna P|Flux 3 for $1250, and those usually go for around $4000! It was in fantastic shape and should last me years!
Yeah, it's pretty good out of the box, but it really shines with some simple mods. You'll save money doing it this way compared to buying a top-of-the-line unit with similar specs.
I’ve been using the Bauer model from HF, and honestly, it’s very similar to my Jet DC1100. It works great with my 8” Grizzly jointer, so I definitely recommend checking that one out! I can’t speak to the wall-mounted units, though.
I feel you! I love the Central Machinery model, but I simply don't have the room for it either. I'm just after something that will do the job for my jointer.