DC3300 dust collector question

[trainguytom]

I recently scored a 520, bandsaw, jointer & DC3300 dust collector, all for $450. Seemed too good to pass up even though I'll need to thin out my SS stock to make room.
The dc3300 is new & not yet assembled, so before I do that I'd love some input about how well it works.
I already have a HF 2hp dust collector that works great. Because of space limits, the dc3300 would be a better fit for me shop space. The 3300 shows to be only 1/2hp, so I'm wondering if that's enough to do the job. I like the smaller size & Shopsmith quality.
I'm wondering which one I should keep. I only have Shopsmith based tools and a benchtop Delta planer.
For you guys who use the 3300, what do you think?
Thanks.

[algale]

I recently scored a 520, bandsaw, jointer & DC3300 dust collector, all for $450. Seemed too good to pass up even though I'll need to thin out my SS stock to make room.
The dc3300 is new & not yet assembled, so before I do that I'd love some input about how well it works.
I already have a HF 2hp dust collector that works great. Because of space limits, the dc3300 would be a better fit for me shop space. The 3300 shows to be only 1/2hp, so I'm wondering if that's enough to do the job. I like the smaller size & Shopsmith quality.
I'm wondering which one I should keep. I only have Shopsmith based tools and a benchtop Delta planer.
For you guys who use the 3300, what do you think?
Thanks.

First, great score!

On to your question.

I doubt you will find many who have had both the DC3300 and the HF so that they can make a direct comparison.

I own a DC3300, which I got used with my 520. It came with the small 12 inch filter hood. In that configuration, it recirculated too much fine dust so I upgraded to the optional 42 inch (1 micron) filter hood. Now it does a much better job of not recirculating fine dust and that frankly is what is most important. You can always sweep up chips with a broom. It's the nearly invisible stuff you don't want in the air and you don't want your collector putting more of the stuff back into the air.

The DC3300 has sufficient power to clean chips off the floor using an 8 foot hose and it does a decent job with the same length hose of collecting dust at the source from the Shopsmith tools; but because of design limitations of the lower saw guard of the Shopsmith, don't expect anything approaching perfect collection in table saw mode (something that has been discussed ad nauseum in other threads) and you will still find dust inside your band saw.

One of the best things I really like about the DC300 is it's small footprint and large rear wheels. Not only does it save space in the shop, but it also allows me to take the entire dust collector up the steps that lead from my basement shop to my garage and outside when I change the collection bag. That's important to me because it is a really messy job you don't want to do it inside if you can avoid it.

As for the HF, I've read good things about it overall but I've also read you need to do something to improve the filter it comes with (just as I did with the DC3300), otherwise you are recirculating small stuff. Also, I doubt that it is really a 2 horsepower motor. Max continuous hp if you are connecting to a standard outlet is 1.75 if I recall. I suspect the 2 hp rating of the HF is "peak output" at start up. Assuming it is closer to 1 or 1.5 hp it probably will moves more air at greater velocity than the DC3300 and will probably do a better job of picking up the visible and invisible stuff than the DC3300; but again, with the design of the Shopsmith table saw lower saw guard, I suspect you will still get chips on the floor.

[JPG]

Algale pretty much said all there is to say.

However whichever one you decide upon, a dust deputy is IMHO a desirable 'pre connector'.

If you decide to only keep one, the DC3300(new in box) would probably fetch higher $.