I'm ready to upgrade from my shop vac and dust deputy setup and I've narrowed it down to two options at Harbor Freight. They have the Bauer dust collector on sale for $382, which includes a canister filter and has a powerful airflow of 1200 CFM. The other option is the 2HP Central Machine priced at $299, offering 1550 CFM but lacking the canister filter. I'm torn between the more expensive Bauer that's all set up versus the more powerful Central Machine where I would need to invest extra in a canister filter. Which one should I go for?
1 Answer
I think you should go with the Bauer. It's well-built and having that canister filter means you'll avoid the mess that comes with filter bags. Plus, those bags can let a lot of dust through after some use. Also, keep in mind that the Central Machine might not be rewired for 240v if you have that option in your shop, so that's another plus for Bauer.
I don’t have 240v available, so that’s not a big issue for me. I noticed the canister filters cost around $100, making the price difference not that significant. Is the jump from 1200 CFM to 1550 CFM really something I’d notice?