Harbor Freight has come out with a new Bauer cyclone dust separator kit that fits 5 gallon buckets. I would presume that it comes with a universal-style lid that works with their buckets as well as other brands’.
We just posed about new Dewalt cyclone dust separators, and it seems that Harbor Freight’s release is coincidentally timed. I suspected that perhaps one or more of Oneida’s Dust Deputy patents have expired, but that doesn’t look to be the case.
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Harbor Freight’s Bauer cyclone attachment looks a bit different compared to other like-sized models, with the intake port positioned much higher and with a distinctly shaped airflow path.
The shape of the intake and airflow path does resemble other brands’ larger cyclone attachments, and so it’s not dramatically different.
As with other cyclonic dust separator products, this one is designed to be a drop-in stage ahead of your shop vacuum or portable dust extractor.
Harbor Freight Bauer Cyclone Kit Contents
- Cyclone dust separator
- Modified 5 gallon bucket lid
- Collection hose
- Hose clamps (2)
- Reducer
- Hardware kit
The reducer fits hoses 1-1/4″, 1-7/8″, and 2-1/2″ in diameter.
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Price: $40
Compared to Oneida Dust Deputy
Harbor Freight says that their cyclone compares to the Oneida Dusty Deputy AXD001004, which is available at Amazon for $50.
With the Bauer, you save $10 but also get a hose, reducer, and lid. With the Oneida, you have to buy all this separately. Both also require the purchase of a 5 gallon bucket.
Discussion and Criticisms
Harbor Freight says in their user manual: Ensure Bucket Lid is completely sealed onto bucket. Any air leaks will affect performance. This is true. But based on the product images, I’m not convinced all users will have a perfect seal from the start.
The Bauer lid looks to protrude into the lid a little bit, as opposed to sitting flush, but I also don’t see much in the way of structural reinforcement. The Oneida kit comes with a gasket – does the Bauer?
The Bauer cyclone attaches to the included bucket lid with 4 screws, and the Oneida with 6. It’s possible for small air gaps to be created between the Bauer’s mounting holes if a gasket isn’t used. All of this is to say that if you get the Bauer and there’s flex in the mounting connection, be prepared to use some caulk or other sealant.
Onedia includes a special bucket lid in their cyclone kit (but not with their cyclone-only attachment).
From Harbor Freight’s product images, it looks like you get a modified version of their standard 5 gallon bucket lid. This isn’t great. Maybe it’s different or reinforced in some way, but I don’t see any indication of this.
If your shop vacuum or dust extractor vac is too powerful, be prepared to reinforce the lid with plywood or something else.
The Bauer system looks to make some compromises, but you do save quite a bit of money compared to other cyclone attachments.
I wouldn’t say these are deal-breakers, but just things to be aware of. If buying this, I’d be prepared to seal up the mounting ring, and also potentially reinforce the lid. 5 gallon buckets are strong, but standard lids aren’t designed to support weight at the center of the lid, or vacuum pressure that can substantially add to the pull.
I could be wrong – I haven’t seen this kit in person or tested it yet – but it seems that you’re saving money at the expense of more elbow grease. Then again, modifications or enhancements might not be needed, it all depends on how the dust separator will be used.
You could also ignore the lid and create your own dust separator assembly using the Bauer cyclone with other types of drums or containers.
Surprisingly, Harbor Freight gives you a lid with the kit, but not a 5 gallon bucket, but I suppose this keeps the price down.
Champs
Gotta wonder how much these companies spend on throwaway packaging to lower the price point instead of bundling a useful bucket.
Stuart
There are a couple of reasons not to include a bucket:
1) Shipping considerations – 5 gallon buckets tend to cost quite a bit to ship.
2) Cost considerations – why include a bucket when some customers might already have one? HF’s pricing creates a $10 differential compared to Oneida’s Dust Deputy. How much would a bucket reduce that by?
3) Some users might already have enough buckets and don’t need any more. Or some users might want to use different containers.
4) What if the cyclone and lid are manufactured in Asia? Harbor Freight’s buckets are made in the USA. Having the bucket available separately is easier and simpler. Even if they could commission buckets to be made elsewhere, it’ll cost a lot more to have them bundled and shipped with the cyclone.
It’s a minor annoyance, but I can’t really fault them for the decision.
BradWH
I imagine buckets are shipped nested.
Getting a coupon for a free bucket with purchase (so either go to the store or be there and grab one) wouldn’t be too hard of an ask. This would also get people in the store if they ordered online to buy more (how do you go to harbor freight and not buy more than you intended?)
Still is a cost, and it seems fine it isn’t included. I have the same concerns as you with the lid.
Adrian
Does Harbor Freight even do coupons though?
Chris
Is it possible to have too many 5 gallon buckets?? 😛 they’re so handy. I feel like I’m always looking for another one around the house.
Lance
These thin plastic separators have HUGE margins. Shipping and logistics probably costs as much or more than the parts themselves. HF has positioned themselves just below the established product since Oneida has paved the way for high profits on these.
Flotsam
agree with your points Stuart.
Here is the million dollar question for me. What is the reasonable height (w reasonable hose bend clearance) and a 5 gallon vac ? I would want to have it paired with a rather skinny shop vac and put under a table.
I see an advantage over the Dust Deputy with it being lower (yes i know Dust stopper is even lower)
Jack Heilmann
I just bought this set up and it fits directly under my side feed table of my tablesaw
Brandon B.
Still wonder why the Dustopper design isn’t copied more often. Patents, maybe? But performance is the same and the bucket doesn’t become almost 2x taller and top heavy.
G New
Have a Dustopper and it works great. On a few wood working projects I have emptied my shopvac, and emptied the Dustopper. Over the course of a few days I filled the bucket, shopvac literally had nothing in it. I am very happy with my Dustopper.
John
Dust Deputy’s full kit with bucket, lid, wheels and hose is $100+. That’s the kit to compare to HF $40 version. Oneida keeps going bigger and more expensive solutions for larger wood shops so not sure if it matters that all these cy”clones” are hitting the market all at once.
I have the full DD kit and rarely use it since it won’t fit under a work table, limited space. I have multiple of the Dustoppers which do fine.
John
Disregard that comparison. I thought HF included the bucket.
David Zeller
It’s still mostly valid. A bucket only costs a few dollars.
Nathan
100 dollar dust deputy kit has bucket and wheels with the connection hose – setup .
the HF thing is probably 65 or more once you put it with buckets and wheels etc – and assuming that lid is strong enough and seals enough. the dust deputy has been around over 10 years hasn’t it. And it is known to seal well
And the dust deputy is made in America. Like said before the other good alternative is the duststopper which is also a quality kit and reasonable price. Duststopper with bucket – add wheels and that’s probably stil under 70.
Rob
I have the Oneida one and even a ‘regular’ 5 gal bucket such as an orange HD one gets deformed from the suction when in use which breaks the seal between lid and bucket. It requires a thicker walled than normal bucket to work effectively so I can only imagine what the really thin HF bucket would do if you tried to use it.
Brian
Put your cyclone bucket inside a second bucket, that will help stop it deformity under suction
Koko The Talking Ape
I guess you could add a narrow plywood collar around the brim. A PITA though.
Phil
I got my bucket from True Value and it works great
Addison
I have used the dust deputy for 4 years now, before that many years with Oneida cyclones, before that home built and various other cyclones. the lid and the bucket don’t matter, my guess is that the HF cyclone will work. In use, there is practically no dust going to the vacuum. I have a dedicated setup that allows me to connect the cyclone to the vacuum.
JoeM
…Showing my nationality clearly… but I wonder how many people will buy this, thinking it can be made into a home-rink mini Zamboni for when their kids need a place to practice their slap-shots while wearing and using their Bauer Hockey Equipment the parents just bought for them.
HH
I have to assume with ClearView having some issues with DustDeputy patents a few years back that Oneida is either more open to licensing or those essential patents are expiring with all these new DustDeputy clones popping out of the woodwork so quickly in succession.
HH
Which I see you mentioned directly on the article now.
Whoops.
Stuart
It’s possible a critical patent is expiring or has expired, but the ones referenced by the Dust Deputy look to have a few years left.
MoogleMan3
IMHO, get the dust deputy to support the original creators as well as supporting something locally made (USA), and local labor. If none of that matters and you want to save as much as possible, get one of the clones from alibaba for $21.
The only import I’d consider is one of the new dewalts that include the dust bin. I like the steel drum version a lot.
King duck
I think the cheap looking hose set up kills the deal for me.
Nathan
that duststopper is a better alternative
course if you are in the HF store and buying the vac etc I could see a guy buying the entire kit setup.
DC
I have the Dust Deputy kit and it works awesome. Going to try the Duststopper someday since it has a lower profile and will fit under my work bench.
Tool Junkie
I have bought 3 Dust Deputy’s. Stuart, you said, “Onedia includes a special bucket lid in their cyclone kits”; however, I have never even seen these lids, much less received one with my kit. I have always made a round plywood cut out to mount the DD to, as the bucket lid tends to bend with the suction pressure.
I had a “Clearview” version before, which was made around 17 years ago or of clear plastic parts. The DD seemed to be a copy of that.
One of my DDs is mounted on a 30 gallon industrial waste bin, which is about the same footprint as a 5 gallon bucket, but about 3x taller. A similar 50 gallon drum is mounted under my Oneida Super DD (wood chip dust collector) , along with a woodchip height sensor.
I noticed that the HF version appears to be slightly shorter than the DD. I went on Amazon and found other recent cyclones added for about $30, which look similar to the HF version. The design on the HF actually looks similar to the larger Super DD top…
I would guess that one of the earlier patents had expired or was somehow compromised.
Stuart
The special “vortex design” lid is included in Dust Deputy’s $99 kit.
Drew M
That Bauer looks familiar…
https://discuss.toolguyd.com/t/chinese-cyclones/1709
DAVID
Seriously, I don’t get these things. Instead of a self-contained, mobile vacuum that I can easily move around my shop, I’ll have a more cumbersome two-part contraption permanently taking up space? For what payoff? Just to avoid emptying/cleaning my vac a few more times? Perhaps this makes sense to me if the setup was used as a dedicated dust collector on stationary shop tools, but as shown in the picture above, that’s completely undesirable to me. YMMV.
Stuart
Not everyone has the room or electrical setup for a large dust collector. Having two components that can be pushed under a workbench might work out better for those users.
Jared
There’s a version for sale at Home Depot now too. Spotted this on the USA and Canadian HD websites. $50 USD, $59 CAD. Comes with a hose and some elbows. Looks not bad actually. That’s a good price in Canada – I might just be tempted!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dustopper-High-Efficiency-Cyclonic-Dust-Separator-12-in-Dia-with-2-5-in-hose-36-in-long-with-2-Sweep-Elbows-HD12A/315749552
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/dustopper-dustopper-hd12a-high-efficiency-dust-separator-12-inch-diameter-2-5-inch-hose-36-inch-long-orange/1001631258
Andy C
Would this system work with a pet grooming dryer to collect the hair that is blow into the room?
Stuart
I’m sorry, I really don’t know. Dust separators like this tend to work best with high velocity vacuum hoses.
Andy C
Grooming dryers are high velocity air movers. They are more focused on the out out of air I stead of intake. That’s why I think it may also work to vacuum the hair blown around the room with the same energy.
Alex
Years ago, before I had a shop-vac, I built a dust separator out of a 5 gallon bucket and a pipe fitting to turn the inlet sideways. When I accidentally touched the inlet hose to the floor, the bucket lid was fine, but the bucket itself collapsed. (Miele vacuum if you’re wondering). It still worked okay, and was good for keeping cat litter out of the main vacuum bag.