Thread: Best Bang For Buck Dust Collector

I bought one of the Carbatec 2HP extractors a few months ago. And while I don't know much about dust extractors the one you are thinking about works fine for me. If you do finally get one and it works for you like mine does then I imagine you would be happy with it. Perhaps the only thing about it is the noise. It makes a whole lot more noise than the table saw it is connect to.

I have the H&F version of the 2hp DC but bought it with the pleated filter cartridge.

I also have this muffler on it, it makes a huge difference to the amount of noise

Suppressor Dust Collector Muffler at Penn State Industries

Ultimately the whole unit will be located outside the shed, both for dust and noise reasons, that"todo" list never seems to get any shorter

Oh, and if you only have "a couple of hundred dollars" you may have to dig a bit deepr as the Carbatec one sells for $299 and the H&F one for $297.

By a few hundred I mean 3-4 hundred, but if I don't say a few hundred people tend to start suggesting stuff that cost a thousand. So yes $300 is perfectly ok since that is the price of the one I linked to.

Thanks for the hint on the muffler Big Shed.

Big Shed do you have a link to yours? and what does H&F stand for?

Headscratcher, Like BigShed, I too have just purchased a 2hp unit from Hare & Forbes. With the pleated filter option the complete unit came to $500.00

Ok better get all the facts before you spend your money.

What are you going to hook up to the extractor , as in machinery etc

This will dictate the size required as a minimum, then we can go from their.

Timbecon currently have a 3HP twin bag unit on special for $419.

I think that 3HP it is relatively poorly designed unit but it will still move more air than the the Carbtech and H&F 2 HP unit.

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

Before I go out and buy one of these Carba-Tec® 2hp Economy Extractor : CARBA-TEC I would like everyone's opinion on the best bang for buck dust collector out there.

Only looking to spend a couple of hundred so please don't suggest anything over the top or way outside the desired price range.

Speak up now or forever hold your piece because once bought there is no "you should have bought this" statements that will be entertained.

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

By a few hundred I mean 3-4 hundred, but if I don't say a few hundred people tend to start suggesting stuff that cost a thousand. So yes $300 is perfectly ok since that is the price of the one I linked to.

Thanks for the hint on the muffler Big Shed.

Big Shed do you have a link to yours? and what does H&F stand for?

You didn't actually say a few hundred, you said a couple of hundred, which tends to mean $200, hence my comment that you wouldn't get a 2hp DC for that amount of money.

This is the 2 hp DC I have from Hare and Forbes

W394 | DC-3 Dust Collector | machineryhouse.com.au

with this Pleated Filter cartridge, also from Hare and Forbes, or H&F for short

W328 | FC-10 Filter Cartridge | machineryhouse.com.au

I have used 4" PVC sewer pipe for most of my ducting, with only the last bit flexible hose.

I have blast gates at each work station so I can select which machine is actually connected to the DC.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/d...running-55101/

While the standard 2HP does represent fair value for money there are a couple of significant improvements that could be made by anyone that is a bit handy.

Getting rid of the 90º flexy bend is one, and opening up the intake to accept 6" ducting and the hardest one would be the other

Thanks guys much appreciated.... Big Shed you are correct a couple is two and three is a few and I should have said a few... mind you I tend to consider anything up to about $400 a couple of hundred, so I tend to be more figarative about money than strictly literal. I will look at all the sugestions made.

As for use... single tool use at this point in time, it is a router, but I occasionally need to use a circular saw free hand.

Would even consider just the pump for now as I plan to built a cyclone and will be using it outside.

Originally Posted by BobL

While the standard 2HP does represent fair value for money there are a couple of significant improvements that could be made by anyone that is a bit handy.

Getting rid of the 90º flexy bend is one, and opening up the intake to accept 6" ducting and the hardest one would be the other

I have noticed a few of the other guys mentioning how loud the DC is, so I was considering if perhaps I could put just the pump in my work bench and line all the surrounding walls with accoustic bats to dull the scream.

If I was to use a cyclone I could put a bucket of sorts under the outlet to catch any residual dust.

Some are quoting 80-90dB which is a fair bit of noise on top of the tool I am using.

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

I have noticed a few of the other guys mentioning how loud the DC is, so I was considering if perhaps I could put just the pump in my work bench and line all the surrounding walls with accoustic bats to dull the scream.

Yes it is loud (I have the Timbecon version) and it is as loud as my 3HP Carbatec DC.

The motor/impeller cannot be enclosed and it absolutely has to have air flowing over the motor otherwise the motor will cook.

The simplest way to do this is to have the whole DC (including the filter) inside an acoustic chamber so that the air that comes out of the filter also cools the motor. The other way is to create a leak in the inlet to the compressor which pulls air across the motor. The latter method is fine if you have heaps of HP or flow rate to play with otherwise the first method is better.

The air cooling the motor will of course carry noise with it so a muffler or baffle is then required.

What makes the actual noise? is it motor noise, or pump noise, or air noise?

Originally Posted by HeadScratcher

What makes the actual noise? is it motor noise, or pump noise, or air noise?

A combination of impeller, motor and air noise I suspect. However the air noise is perhaps the loudest as when I fitted my muffler, which basically redused the air noise, the overall noise level dropped markedly. To the point that my motivation for moving the DC outside diminished and it is still located in the shed.

Note though that if you are going to be using this with a router the noise generated by most routers exceeds the noise generated by DC.

On my router table I actually use 2 dust extraction machines, the 2 hp DC as well as an Aldi shop vac which is connected to the dust collection fitting of the Triton router and removes a lot of dust close to the router bit.
This Aldi shop vac is switched on and off by the Triton router. The total noise generated by those 3 machines is quite considerable and ear protection is certainly called for.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f70/ro...02/#post616416

Originally Posted by Big Shed

A combination of impeller, motor and air noise I suspect. However the air noise is perhaps the loudest as when I fitted my muffler, which basically redused the air noise, the overall noise level dropped markedly. To the point that my motivation for moving the DC outside diminished and it is still located in the shed.

The air flow noise volume depends on the type and size ducting used, the tortuosity and smoothness of the ducting and the machine port shapes and dimensions. 4" ducting has higher air speeds and may generate different frequencies than 6" so perceived noise levels may vary.