HF DC

[clayandnancy]

I'm new here, I have read a lot of info on DC's and have some questions on the separator. Everyone I've seen runs 4" or 5" in the separator. I am going to buy the HF DC and as per Phil Thien (Thanks for your site unbelievable amount of info) are going to change the intake to 6". Will the separator work with 6". I want to run 6" to all my machines, TS, jointer, surface planer, CMS, drill press, and BS. Approx. how long of 6" pipe will still work.

[clayandnancy]

Chuck Lenz I'd like it to be stationary, don't like the idea of dragging it around the shop. The opening is 5". I've seen where guys have taken the intake plate and either cut a larger hole and inserted a 6" connector or just built a whole new plate.

[dbhost]

clayandnancy,

Yes what you propose will work, but a word of warning about the HF 2 HP DC, there have been several models and there appear to be different size impellers. I know the one in my shop has an 11.5" impeller, older models are reported to have impellers as small as 10". The 11.5 @ 2HP should be sufficient for 6" ducting, but just barely. The Grizzly that Chuck mentioned I believe is a 12.5" impeller model, which that 1" added really makes a difference in surface area, and total CFM @ SP numbers... While I like my HF DC well enough, I chose to stick with 5" split to 2 4" lines, one to the top side of my tools, the other to the bottom. Moves more than enough air, especially with the Wynn filter removing the restrictive OE bag (the HF bag for being so coarse a filter, is REALLY restrictive!)

[clayandnancy]

I've been checking ebay and craigslist for something larger than the HF. Saw some Grizzly 2 hps but they're not close by and shipping would be a fortune. The HF is on sale till 12/24 at $139.00 so I'll keep searching till then. dbhost I think I have the right number for the HF with the bigger impeller. Thanks

[pitbull]

Regardless of the numbers, I will also vouch for the Grizzly dust collectors. They work.

I modified mine...

I also bought it used on Craigslist for $125...

I then threw away the dusty cloth bags and mounted a big azz filter on it. I bought the cheaper paper filter, which used to be less expensive than it is now btw. I am using heavy duty clear bags on the bottom that are completely reusable over and over and over. I bought both of those here at
http://www.wynnenv.com/35A_series_cartridge_kit.htm

My unit is 1.5 HP...having said that I can say that it works great on all my big machinery.

Seems to suck very well using 6" lines.


Also of note...the "cheap" Taiwanese motor on this bad boy was made in 2004. Its still going strong and gets used all the time! But it is an E series which is pretty good. It definitely is more stout the the HF specials.