I’ve been shopping for a new dust collector, and am now considering the Grizzly wall-mount G0990 with optional stand.
I figure I could add some leveling feet or maybe convertible caster feet.
I like the idea of the HEPA filter and can’t find any better options for a 110V 15A dust collector with the same.
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I considered going with the Grizzly Quiet Series horizontal unit, but it costs more, the filter size is considerably smaller, and it has lower performance as per the detailed specs.
I was strongly considering Rikon’s, but they don’t have a HEPA filter option. Grizzly’s Growl Tech Quiet Series dust collectors is very appealing, even more so after I took a look at the parts diagram.
I have 20A breakers and 12 gauge wiring, and so I can potentially change out 15A outlets to 20A to fit the Grizzly Growl Tech 1.5 HP machine.
I will eventually add more 220V outlets – right now I have just 1.
Both the Grizzly wall-mount dust collector and Growl Tech models have HEPA filters.
Even though Grizzly has a 1-year warranty, they seem to make it easy to buy parts. What I really like is their documentation.
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For example, the all-mount dust collector has a HEPA filter with nearly 39 square feet of surface area. I’ve looked at some other brands and can’t find such info.
Grizzly also provides more detailed specs for the airflow. I find info on the replacement filter and it provided some details about noise reduction panels within the filter.
That all said, I have also gone back to consider the Grizzly Growl Tech quiet dust collector, which require adding a 220V outlet or swapping 15A receptacles to 20A at least short-term (I have 20A breakers and 12 gauge wiring).
The Grizzly Grown Tech model has 2 filters and higher performance specs than the other 1.5 HP models I’ve been looking at, plus automatic motorized filter cleaning.
It has total filter surface area of nearly 295 square feet, with a lower efficiency canister filter mounted inside the HEPA filter.
They don’t provide a breakdown for the filter sizes.
The wall-mount HEPA canister filter measures 15″ x 33″. The Growl-Tech HEPA filter measures 16-3/4″ x 25-1/2″, but could have more pleats. Within it, the lower efficiency filter measures 12-7/8″ x 25-1/8″.
So, now I’m thinking about a free-standing setup with the wall-mounted dust collector, or spending (a lot) more for the Growl-Tech cyclone model.
The other option is to fast-track adding more 220V outlets, which unlocks a lot more dust collector options (including the Oneida Supercell readers have been recommending).
Shopping for 110V dust collectors always seems to be a matter of accepting compromises.
I did look at the Oneida Dust Cobra, which has a HEPA filter and operates at max 15.5A but uses a standard NEMA 5-15 plug.
But it’s essentially a high-performance HEPA shop vacuum with integrated cyclonic separator. It features a 2-1/2″ port but Oneida says it can be used with up to 4″ ports.
Oneida has a portable 4″ dust collector that works on 110V, the mini-Gorilla, but it requires 20A outlets. If I change out some outlets, then I may as well go with the Grizzly that can also be rewired for 220V operation later on.
Why not add 220V outlets and then choose a dust collector? That’s an option too, but would push things back months.
I’ve looked at dust collectors many times over the years. I went with a basic Jet, thinking that it’d get me a few years of use. I still haven’t added more 220V outlets, and I’m struggling to find a good HEPA filter dust collector that can plug into a 110V 15A outlet.
I might just kick the decision down the road (again).
Robert
Stuart, if you are going to kick the decision down the road again, why not add more 220V outlets during that interim? Judging from your musing, you seem likely to eventually add gear that benefits from multiple 220V outlets. Unless cost of installing the 220V outlets is your show stopper?
Bruce
A HEPA unit will always disappoint when pared with 110v power. It’s simply not enough power to move the air across that filter restriction. I do recommend you do full cyclone. Filter costs will quickly exceed the cost of the unit without removing the majority of the material before reaching the filter.
MM
I agree with both you and Robert. The HEPA filter is a massive flow restriction that really screws over the airflow. If you want meaningful airflow with a HEPA filter you need as much power as you can get, and that’s going to run into a bottleneck real quick with 110V.
I say go with a 220V machine. Ideally install the outlets first, they are useful for more than just the dust collector. If it’s too much work to install the outlets in their final location now then you might consider installing the simplest possible temporary outlet and using an extension cord.
KokoTheTalkingApe
Doesn’t the size of the HEPA filter matter too? The bigger it is, the less the pressure drop and the easier it is for the fan or impeller to push air through it.
I’m designing a chip box for my new planer, and because the fan is pretty forceful, it’s no 1-1/2″ HP impeller. So I’m using relatively big furnace filters so the back pressure isn’t too great.
fred
My home shop, and most of its stationary tools was put together in the early 1970’s. When I bought the current house, I first upgraded the electric service from 200A to 400A then set about remodeling. The basement shop started a year or so later, but I decided that all the main stationary tools would be 220V and planned accordingly. I also decided that both the air compressor and dust collection system would be located outside the house in an attached shed building that I added on. In the early ’70’s HEPA filters were still pretty uncommon – but exhausting to the outside air was OK for home shops – and I made sure the dust exhaust point and compressor air intake filters were adequately separated. I worked with some guys who did dust collection systems for small to medium businesses. They sized everything to deal with the machine that was furthest along the collection pipe run – and to handle what we thought would be the heaviest debris source (back then it was a Unisaw, jointer -planer, band saw, shaper, and RAS.) I took care of the drill press with a separate vacuum that could handle metal swarf. We seemed to concentrate on providing enough airflow rather than perfect particulate removal. That concept has done me well – albeit not perfect – and if I had close neighbors the dust emissions into my yard might have been an issue. Oversizing and making new (electrical, airline and dust collection) connections a possibility were also good choices – since I’ve swapped some tools around – and added others (horizontal band saw, radial drill press, scroll saw, miter saw, router table, benchtop mortiser, sanding station, surface planer, wide belt sander) over the 50 or so years of shop use.
A W
The idea of exhausting to a location outside of your main house/garage is very appealing from an air quality perspective.
I always appreciate your perspective, Fred.
Oarman
I wonder if it makes more sense to have a standalone air cleaner if you want filtration that fine on 115vac. I suspect the filter resistance + the CFM needed for dust collection is just too high. Benefit of a standalone unit is it can clean your air when you’re not actively running the dust collector. The obvious disadvantage is if you’re really sawing away, you air quality gets temporarily worse.
In general I find published specs for these kinds of tools for home use to be pretty lacking, but keep in mind the CFM and filtration level are interactive with the filters you use.
Andy
I don’t have much, if anything, that I can contribute to help with your decisions, just curiously following along for when it’s time to upgrade from my shop vac + 5 gallon separator setup.
The only 2 cents I can offer is that were I in your shoes, I’d take the time to swap the 15A receptacles for 20A. Based on the number of outlets you have to swap, it’s a reasonable DIY, and if nothing else, it gives you more flexibility with other equipment down the road, even if you don’t buy a 120V / 20A dust collector right now.
Alexk
My vote would be to fast track adding 220. Why wait? With all Toolguyd does, you shouldn’t have to choose what equipment to get, based on your 15A outlets. And while you are at it, upgrade the 15A outlets to 20A.