What's the difference between these 2 Harbor Freight dust collectors?? Anyone using?

G

GrizzlyBear

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Dec 5, 2009
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I found these 2 smaller dust collectors that I think would work well for my shop considering it's a small sized area (10x12).

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31810

and

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94029

What is the real difference between the 2?

I know one is 12gal the other is 13gal. One is labeled industrial, but has a smaller CFM by 254 (660 vs 914). The industrial is heavier by 35lbs.

Difference in price: $99 vs $129

Wonder why the one with a lower CFM is $30 more than the other one and they're both 1HP?
 
I was looking at them myself I wonder how loud they are some dust collectors are very loud.
Anthony
 
I use a similar unit, but I vent it through my shop wall and into a water bucket so the swarf never even has a chance to hang around the shop. If I remember correctly, the filtration you'd need for indoors safety is something like .5 micron.
-Mark
 
Those are glorified squirrel cage blowers with bags attached to them.
I would avoid them. Plus they are very loud.

HF has a real dust collector in the 200s..even for a 10x12 shop you'd be better off with it than those above. I don't think they make fine 1 or 3 micron bags for them like they do the real ones.

Get your hands on a 15 or 20% off coupon and then it won't really be that much more.

Plus it allows for expansion later.

Dan
 
The small one seems very loud. Here are the specifications from the manual.
Electrical Requirements 120V / 60 Hz / 750 Watts / 1HP
Single Phase
3 Prong Power Plug
6’-5” Power Cord Length
Power Switch Safety Key Feature
Easy Access Carbon Brushes (Qty. 2)
Inlet/Outlet Dimensions 4” Diameter
Collector Bag Particle Filtration Capacity 35 Micron
Collector Bag Holding Capacity 12 Gallons
CFM Capacity 914 CFM
Sound Rating 107~112 dB @ 3 Feet
Overall Dimensions 13-1/4” x 12” x 12”

The manual for the large one does not have a sound specification. Here's what its manual says:

Electrical Input 120V / 60 Hz / 1 HP
3 Prong Power Plug
6’-5” Power Cord Length
Intake Diameter 4” OD
Collection Capacity 13 Gallons
Maximum Air Flow 660 CFM

6. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, nonskid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions
 
I have the green one and it works fine, I dont have the bag on it. I would go for the $99 one seems like more volume for same HP. Overall you dont know how much it will blow until it is hooked up, the volumes give are typically open without duct work. I have mine set up at 4 stations with a 4" pipe down to a 2" to the tools and a gate valve (that they sell) at each station. It has good suction but not great, bigger is better, but I dont see dust that is not captured so It seems work well. I still wear a respirator.

It is not loud at all, I use it all the time and sometimes I leave it on and dont realize that it is still running, however, it has to out howl Hank Williams to be heard.
 
I had the small one before -it's loud as heck and doesn't provide enough suction. Even the larger one at HF might not be big enough as I have have the equivalent Grizzly version.
 
I have the larger green one and it's ok for one machine at a time, i mostly use it for my woodwork area though, not metalwork, as I dont have a spark arrestor, so i dont know if the 'heavier' particles from grinding metal would pose more of a problem with the suction level.
 
i have the red one. It sucks more dust than not having anything, but it doesnt do much, and it is definitely pretty loud. Not ear muff loud, but you have to talk pretty loud to hear over it. Ill be gettin one of the others before long probably. About to reroute the 4" hose to 3" and see if that helps.
 
3" would definitely increase air flow resistance thereby creating more suction.

So, would the bigger green one for $30 more be the better choice?
 
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