Keep or sell the DC3300?

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:57 pm

Lately I have been re-arranging my garage/shop. I have three bays, only one of which is really "mine", and have been trying to make that work while taking over more space on weekends here and there. I am trying to focus in on the things that will allow me to be the most productive in the short bursts of time I tend to get in the shop. Naturally, space is a consideration, but I also want to spend limited ammounts of time moving tools just to get to other tools.

As a part of this, I have been taking a hard look at how much space various things take - especially floor space. For example, I sold my standalone OPR setup to go for a Mark V mounted one so I could save on floor space. I am also slowly swapping out my various routers from different brands to standardize around porter cable. Basically, just like the Mark V in general, moving away from uni-taskers and focusing on multi-taskers.

Seeing the stuff around vortex seperators, I am beginning to wonder whether I should just sell my DC3300 and use a shop-vac/vortex type solution instead. I already have a shop vac taking up floor space, but at least it can tuck under a bench or whatever. While there would be extra space used for the vortex can portion, it would take up the same ammount of space as the DC3300 if stacked, or could be stored under a workbench. Further - the shop vac is presumably great at shop vac stuff and good (enough) at woodworking dust-collection stuff.

I know the big thing with the DC3300 is supposed to be CFM vs. static pressure, but if both get enough of the dust, seems like at some point its performance comparisons that are beyond the needs of most scenarios perhaps? Thoughts?

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:40 pm

I'd like to see what people 'cough up' here....

Very informally I thought a shop-vac was as good as my DC3300 for the jointer. But for the bandsaw, I thought the DC3330 beat the shop-vac pretty well.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:29 pm

damagi wrote:Lately I have been re-arranging my garage/shop. I have three bays, only one of which is really "mine", and have been trying to make that work while taking over more space on weekends here and there. I am trying to focus in on the things that will allow me to be the most productive in the short bursts of time I tend to get in the shop. Naturally, space is a consideration, but I also want to spend limited ammounts of time moving tools just to get to other tools.

As a part of this, I have been taking a hard look at how much space various things take - especially floor space. For example, I sold my standalone OPR setup to go for a Mark V mounted one so I could save on floor space. I am also slowly swapping out my various routers from different brands to standardize around porter cable. Basically, just like the Mark V in general, moving away from uni-taskers and focusing on multi-taskers.

Seeing the stuff around vortex seperators, I am beginning to wonder whether I should just sell my DC3300 and use a shop-vac/vortex type solution instead. I already have a shop vac taking up floor space, but at least it can tuck under a bench or whatever. While there would be extra space used for the vortex can portion, it would take up the same ammount of space as the DC3300 if stacked, or could be stored under a workbench. Further - the shop vac is presumably great at shop vac stuff and good (enough) at woodworking dust-collection stuff.

I know the big thing with the DC3300 is supposed to be CFM vs. static pressure, but if both get enough of the dust, seems like at some point its performance comparisons that are beyond the needs of most scenarios perhaps? Thoughts?

I don't have a DC3300 so I would be happy to accept donation of yours.

I don't know what your shop looks like so I can only be very general... Don't forget to look up. There are many items that do not have to sit on the floor. Maybe you have a little loft/attic/gable space where you could place a DC or maybe even a cabinet/shed/bump-out outside of the shop. About any shop has stuff that you want to have available but need not be right at hand if you use it 6 times a year.

Be imaginative... For example if you only do a certain operation when your wife is at home maybe you could store that batch of stuff in the trunk of her car. Maybe not...

Don't overlook a nearly empty cabinet in the kitchen.

.

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:56 am

robinson46176 wrote:I don't have a DC3300 so I would be happy to accept donation of yours.
I don't know what your shop looks like so I can only be very general... Don't forget to look up. There are many items that do not have to sit on the floor. Maybe you have a little loft/attic/gable space where you could place a DC or maybe even a cabinet/shed/bump-out outside of the shop. About any shop has stuff that you want to have available but need not be right at hand if you use it 6 times a year.
Be imaginative... For example if you only do a certain operation when your wife is at home maybe you could store that batch of stuff in the trunk of her car. Maybe not...
Don't overlook a nearly empty cabinet in the kitchen.

.

I know that a more general storage/usage pattern is the overall goal...thats something that I am actively pursuing. However, this seemed like obvious duplication that perhaps does not yield significant benefit.

My space is a little unique because I have the third bay of my garage. It has a pitched cieling that goes from ~12' on one side to about 8' on the other side across the span of a little more than a standard car.

forrestb · Post by **forrestb** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:29 pm

When my 25 year old ShopMate died, I plonked for the DC3300. Since my 'shop' is 1/2 of a 2-bay garage when my wife's car is not there, I decided to put the DC on 'my' side, behind my workbench and route a hose over to the other side with a right-angle connector pointing down. This put it where I roll my SS (for all uses) and roll my CMS (also stored behind my workbench). I mounted an I-vac on a rafter and ran a 14AWG extension cord over to the DC right-angle connection. I no longer ever move the DC and find its power is more than adequate to clear chips from all power tools (except the darn SS jointer before the adjustment side fills up).
Forrest

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:48 pm

forrestb wrote:When my 25 year old ShopMate died, I plonked for the DC3300. Since my 'shop' is 1/2 of a 2-bay garage when my wife's car is not there, I decided to put the DC on 'my' side, behind my workbench and route a hose over to the other side with a right-angle connector pointing down. This put it where I roll my SS (for all uses) and roll my CMS (also stored behind my workbench). I mounted an I-vac on a rafter and ran a 14AWG extension cord over to the DC right-angle connection. I no longer ever move the DC and find its power is more than adequate to clear chips from all power tools (except the darn SS jointer before the adjustment side fills up).
Forrest

It seems that filling the collection port on the jointer faster than the DC can clear it is normal. I have the dust collector located within four feet of the jointer and the jointer has a dedicated hose. When through with a real work day in the shop, I find chips still located in the jointer. When working steady, the jointer puts out a lot of chips. If you need proof, do a days jointing without the DC connected.

forrestb · Post by **forrestb** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:52 pm

It is a pain to have to pull, blow and coax all the chips out of the SS jointer after a day (or less) of jointing, especially when you have a DC connected all the time. But I do it in the hopes that it will minimize rusting on the inside.

Does anyone know if SS is working on a mod to the jointer to correct this? I am not in the mood to pop for a new jointer (since retired my hourly wage has been significantly reduced) but sure would consider buying a mod.

Forrest

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:41 pm

forrestb wrote:It is a pain to have to pull, blow and coax all the chips out of the SS jointer after a day (or less) of jointing, especially when you have a DC connected all the time. But I do it in the hopes that it will minimize rusting on the inside.

Does anyone know if SS is working on a mod to the jointer to correct this? I am not in the mood to pop for a new jointer (since retired my hourly wage has been significantly reduced) but sure would consider buying a mod.

Forrest

It has not been changed since 4E days(1947). I doubt they are considering it now - but - since this 'problem' was created by 'them' when they added the chute, then maybe there is hope.

forrestb · Post by **forrestb** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:31 pm

I asked SS Cust Serv if there were any plans to improve the chip removal from the jointer. They emailed me: "We do not have plans to redesign the dust collection for the jointer."

New jointer maybe? After developing the Pro, I doubt there are many $$ floating around for that.

Forrest

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:59 pm

Let the in-feed side fill up.

Shopsmith Forums

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