- Messages
- 6,938
- Location
- Austintown, Ohio
For the past couple years I've had a 2 hp Penn State dust collector, with the canister filter, in my shop.
I've really been pretty dissatisfied with it overall.
First, it was LOUD(!) - about 92 dB(A) at 3 feet - much louder than the advertised sound level. Penn State's customer service rep said "Oh, sure. The canister models are much louder than the bag ones." Of course, they don't mention that in their catalog or on their website. This thing was the loudest tool in the shop - even louder than the planer or tablesaw!
Second, the canister, even with the flapper mechanism inside, kept clogging up. I was having to remove it and take it outside for (messy) cleaning at least once a month.
So, after much thought, and concern about price, I decided to get a new top bag to replace the filter cartridge. I contacted American Fabric Filter and gave them my DC model, and my space constraints, and they designed a custom bag for me. The new bag is a singed felt, one micron model that funnels out to 32" diameter from the 20" mounting flange, then extends upward for six feet. It has loops on the top of it so that I can suspend it from the ceiling.
The good news is that:
First, it dropped the noise level by an almost astonishing 18 dB(A) at 3 feet - down to 74 dB(A). It's now way quieter than the tablesaw or the planer.
Second, the bag doesn't clog. After about a month of use, and emptying the bottom bag twice, the top bag shows no signs of clogging.
I'm really happy with this setup now, and the cost wasn't even too bad. The custom bag was about $160.00, including shipping. I think it was a pretty good buy.
I've really been pretty dissatisfied with it overall.
First, it was LOUD(!) - about 92 dB(A) at 3 feet - much louder than the advertised sound level. Penn State's customer service rep said "Oh, sure. The canister models are much louder than the bag ones." Of course, they don't mention that in their catalog or on their website. This thing was the loudest tool in the shop - even louder than the planer or tablesaw!
Second, the canister, even with the flapper mechanism inside, kept clogging up. I was having to remove it and take it outside for (messy) cleaning at least once a month.
So, after much thought, and concern about price, I decided to get a new top bag to replace the filter cartridge. I contacted American Fabric Filter and gave them my DC model, and my space constraints, and they designed a custom bag for me. The new bag is a singed felt, one micron model that funnels out to 32" diameter from the 20" mounting flange, then extends upward for six feet. It has loops on the top of it so that I can suspend it from the ceiling.
The good news is that:
First, it dropped the noise level by an almost astonishing 18 dB(A) at 3 feet - down to 74 dB(A). It's now way quieter than the tablesaw or the planer.
Second, the bag doesn't clog. After about a month of use, and emptying the bottom bag twice, the top bag shows no signs of clogging.
I'm really happy with this setup now, and the cost wasn't even too bad. The custom bag was about $160.00, including shipping. I think it was a pretty good buy.