Well I can see I am going to have to do some research into this if I want to do it "right". Today isn't the day though, I have stuff to do. Actually a camper to fix the roof on. A match might be a good choice to use as the main tool on this job......
I may just get "something" for today. Better than nothing right? And build a shop system down the road. Money is tight with doing a remodel on 1000 square feet of shop including heat, along with a paint booth installation.
But with what has been posted here, the shopsmith dust collector seems a bit shy on the cfm since it is rated at 330? (please correct me if I am reading this incorrect) While the HF is rated at 1550. Now before ya jump at me, that is ratings, I have not personally tested them! Also it has been stated that the HF unit is not really a 2hp (which I believe), but the amp rating (again if true) does justify a 1 1/2 hp rating. Everyone that I have found that advertises a 1 1/2 is actually pretty close to a 1/2-3/4 hp....... at 10 amps. So HF is actually "less inflated" than the name brands?
I get the impeller size, and that is going to take power to turn. I get velocity also. I work with setting up paint booths occasionally, (jack of all trades, master of none comes to mind!) and we deal both with cfm, air flow velocity etc.
Looks like I missed the delta. He sold it, it was an "OK" deal. That is why I asked questions before jumping. Since it was a lower end delta it wasn't that impressive of a collector anyway with a 30 micron filter. Glad I did some thinking before jumping on that one. Not sure I want a SS smith due to the low cfm. So this thread has been informative and eye opening.
Really from a "cheapness" point of view, I am thinking the HF unit can get me going today, and tomorrow the filtration system might be able to be upgraded? "IF" it truly pulls 1550 of cfm that is actually pretty impressive. Not saying I am going there, just throwing it out for discussion.
I see a brand that I hadn't seen before. "Pennstate" appears to have some decent stuff along with cyclone setups. Long term, a cyclone system may be what I want/need? Just isn't happening today due to the ca ching needed to purchase. But, sometimes I am able to find stuff reasonable when the ear is to the ground looking. I just picked up a $1,800 dollar air conditioner for my shop to replace the unit that seized up 2 years ago for $125.00. Looks like new also. Took me 2 years to find the right deal, but I am a scavenger!
In reality, I am not producing as much dust as many of you since I don't do that much "wood" work. But I can see where having a central system could help me in many instances on activities that I am involved in. Making a hood for polishing to grab some of the crap produced in that activity, cutting polycarbonate with a router to pick up some of the shavings as that is MESSY, having a vacuum source for hand operated sanders, and of course the shopsmith for my cutting of wood for patterns. That is why I would like a "shop" vacuum versus a mobile system for the long term.
Thanks for the help, and feel free to ad more info.
Oh, and rbursek, I think I need some of your "denatured alcohol" just to follow your posts! LOL I do like olives though, stuffed with jalapeno's.