Thread: Pleated Filters - what are the best? Is there a "best"?

The best....https://wynnenv.com/woodworking-filters/

The industrial filters like the Wynn, Chris mentioned and like those made by Donaldson Torit are the best types to fit to a dust collector. The Asian ones with the flapper are not anywhere near the same quality and are an unknown as to the actual filtering capability. I have mentioned it before but I took a bunch of Donaldson Torit filters to be cleaned at a filter cleaning company and the owner told me he won't touch the Asian ones because they disintegrate in his cleaning machine.

Pete

Clearvue stock Wynn filters AFAIK.

It's fascinating that there is very little info on such a critical subject.

I can't imagine any more important line of thinking for woodworkers who want to look after their health.

It strikes me as almost criminally negligent of companies that sell these not to display their characteristics. It doesn't take much of a stretch from a woodworker who gets lung cancer (and doesn't smoke) to say "my XYZ dust extractors filter is the cause".

Either way, I'd like the very best, but the best neither advertise their expertise and they are also almost impossible to find. Their web presence is terrible.

Originally Posted by woodPixel

It strikes me as almost criminally negligent of companies that sell these not to display their characteristics. It doesn't take much of a stretch from a woodworker who gets lung cancer (and doesn't smoke) to say "my XYZ dust extractors filter is the cause".

Interestingly there is no definitive link between "lung cancer" and wood dust.
Wood dust is known to cause Sino-nasal and stomach cancers and this is why it sits on the NIH Annual report on cancer as a material known to cause cancer.

Like all fine dust, wood dust also increase risks of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases like strokes.
And smokers have compound risks on all of these.

Fine dust was a recently "upgraded" from the 8th leading cause of death worldwide to the 5th leading cause.
However, it's probably because fine wood dust exposure is tangled up with general dust exposure that a direct link for just wood dust has not been established.

Individuals seems to have a different tolerance to different types of dust, and non-wood dust exposure varies so widely around the world.
If you live on the west coast of Tassie your general dust exposure will be very low so you may be able to tolerate more wood dust than a wood worker that lives near an industrial area of Beijing.

Back to the filters.
Having super good filters is still fraught with problems. The DCs and filter seals will leak sooner or later. Constant monitoring of seals and DCs is a PITA. You will need a particle counter and it takes time to do the monitoring, and even if you find a leak fixing them is not easy.

Remind us again why you cannot enclose the DC inside the shed and vent the DC outside through a vent/window or chimney stack?

Hi, try looking at the Camfill-Farr website they have filters of the same style as Wynns and Torit.
I bought a couple a few years ago but recently forgot to clean my bin out under the cyclone and it filled up the filters as well. Think I may need a pair of new ones.
Ozzie

Good lead Ozzie: https://www.camfilapc.com/served_industries/woodworking

Good lead. I'll give them a ring today but, from what I've seen, their filters seem to filter from the outside in, not the inside out (over bags, mesh grills on the inside not outside etc.). I've been looking for an alternate supplier for months but suppliers I have contacted don't have filters with the 490mm OD diameter to fit my DC.

Originally Posted by Lappa

Good lead. I'll give them a ring today but, from what I've seen, their filters seem to filter from the outside in, not the inside out (over bags, mesh grills on the inside not outside etc.). I've been looking for an alternate supplier for months but suppliers I have contacted don't have filters with the 490mm OD diameter to fit my DC.

You'll need to be real lucky to find something 3rd party that fits your DC so you will need to make some sort of adapter.

Well BobL - someone makes the filters and by the look of the variations it's more that one place or one place is making a heap of varying/ different quality.
Spoke to a rep from Camfil today and sent him some pictures and dimensions. Like many places, the height is not a problem it's the width. Also the fact that it filters from the inside, out. He's making some enquires for me and will get back. They certainly have a wide range!
I'll probably pick up one of their larger filters as I'm making a further modification to my DC to reduce the back pressure and drop in flow.

It's a good question BobL asked about why it can't be outside.

Its the result of several accumulative decisions with heating and air conditioning placement. The house heater is outside the front door of the garage (my studio!) which would have been perfect, but it can't be moved now (not without considerable cost).

The same with the aircon installed in January. It was placed in literally the only place it could be.

This limits the placement of a "dust" shed outside as I no longer have convenient external place to put it.

I'm still thinking about it, but at this time it must be inside (which I don't really like as it takes valuable space)

If it's just a physical location thing, why can't you enclose it inside and vent the enclosure outside?

Imagine a shoebox. Fold it in half, then stuff it with tissue paper... thats the space I have (Visitors will confirm it is cozy - good for heating as it doesnt take much!)

I'll get there, one day, but not right now.

Its ironic. There is a huge yard, but the area near the studio is suffering from bad design, poor layout, terrible decisions and useless additions. One day I'll put a bulldozer right through it and start fresh