Dust Collector

[Alan Lombard]

Machinerie Plus in Montreal has a model called the Powersonic. It's 2 H.P., 16 amps, supposedly 1600 CFM. I take the figures with a large grain of salt. As usual the store doesn't know what the filter bags are. However they appear to be felt, not the thin material I saw on the Trademaster, Delta or King. Price is $380. The salesman was really high on the model, said I could have the Trademaster for $400 but he recommended the Powersonic. I note that KMS in BC sells the same Powersonic for $325, giving CFM as 1200.
I would like to know if anyone has experience with this dust collector (is it loud, are all the 2 HP models loud?). I'd also like to know where in the Montreal area anyone has found 6" S&D pipe or similar. Thanks for the help.

[Steve In Kemptville]

I believe I have heard of these before once. Just beware as you are likley being sold the one that carries the best profit margin for hte store!

A few things to look for:

Quality of motor
Fan diameter & number of vanes
Fan material
Construction of blower housing (compare to bigger brand names like Delta)

Forget the bags, replacements are manditory (IMO). Replace with the best quality felt bags you can get.
Stay away form plastic impellers, period! Also avoid aluminum ones if you can. Opt for a steel one as a push thru DC is subject to lots of material hits that can destroy aluminum fans. Plastic is 10x worse, dont' even consider it.

The motor is likely a cheap Chinese model. Remember that the DC will likley be the single most used and abused tool you own (lots of on/off cycles) and a good motor is worth some extra pesos up front. I think Delta is using all Baldor motors on thier units so a serious look at them is in order. Have a motor blow on you in a year or 2 and you'll quickly see any savings on teh unit evaporate.

Last but not least, consider a cyclone if you have room. Building a cyclone will be net you the last DC you will ever need as a hobbiest and much cleaner lungs and better health to boot. 5hp Leeosn motor, 14" Sheldons Engineering steel fan an Bill Pentz design and you have a winner.

Regards,
Steve

[Tom from Qualicum Beach]

One of our local tool sellers carries the Powersonic brand and one of the lads in the store said that he wouldn't recommend the brand.

fwiw, Tom

[Ken Ventress, Penticton,]

I personally don't have one but my buddy does. He paid $249 at KMS Tools when it first came out. It seems to work alright(doesn't use it that much) but it is cheaply made with the metal being of lighter gauge and the impellor housing is not a smooth transition into the bag area. Never got to see the impellor. There is no 'seperator' ramp in the bag housing. The main opening into the impellor housing is only 5" instead of 6". I would recommend the King or Delta by far over it! Just my opinion of course.
Cheers, Ken