Dust Collection Options. It can be difficult to decide between the various options when considering your next dust collection solution. Is a simple shop vacuum enough, or does a small dust extractor make sense for some tools? Often, woodworkers find themselves overwhelmed with sawdust because of their inadequate collector, and need to make an upgrade.
Shop Vac. For some small hobby shops, a simple shop vacuum may be the first thing they try. Although they have high suction (air velocity) they typical don’t move enough volume (CFM) for larger power tools such as a table saw, jointer or planer. Another frustration with shop vacs is they are single stage, meaning the chips and dust are not routed separately from the filter. This is ok until the filter clogs, which drastically reduces suction. As a final blow to shop vacuums, the filter is difficult to clean.
Aftermarket Gimmicks. This may lead some occasional woodworkers to try an aftermarket dust separator. This helps keep the filter clean, but the separator isn’t well integrated into the tool, and requires adding a clunky 5-gallon bucket. Typically, the shop vac is on wheels, but the bucket isn’t, leading to difficulty moving the setup from one tool to another.
Dust Extractors. Here my four-legged friend sits with another small shop option, a dust extractor. These typically have some nice features like a tool actuated power plug, variable speed, and self-cleaning filters. However, the small 1-7/8” diameter hose doesn’t have enough suction or volume to work on most tools. I find them useful with a handheld sander or biscuit joiner. Despite the self-cleaning feature, the filters do clog over time and require maintenance. Like a shop vac, a dust extractors filter is difficult and messy to clean.
Single-Stage Dust Collector. The next natural progression as your shop grows, and acquires new tools is a true dust collector. These typically use moderate air velocity and high air volume. The flexible dust collection hose is typically 4”, such as this Laguna BFlux 1. This type of mobile dust collector is great for small shops that move the collector from tool to tool. Plus, the larger hose size means you can collect from larger power tools that throw off more chips and dust. Any single-stage collector will eventually accumulate some dust in the filter, but luckily this one is simple to clean. Just rotate the onboard handle to knock dust into the bag. No more cleaning shop filters with compressed air!
Cyclone Style Dust Collectors. Cyclones are two-stage collectors that let chips and dust drop into a waste bin, before passing clean air to the filter. This may be the ultimate improvement for keeping the filter clean for long periods. This CFlux-1 uses a special rolling drum that’s completely integrated into the unit. It handles an impressive 25 gallons of material at a time.
Easy to Empty. With or without a plastic liner, the octagonal drum is easy to roll and dispose of the chips. A heavy rubber seal between the drum and the lid seals in dust for a cleaner shop environment. Just make sure to empty the bin before the dust reaches the “Max” line for best results.
Lock it In. Maybe the best part of this cyclone dust collection system is the lever that engages brackets on the drum, and lifts it in place. Whether the drum is full or empty, it’s an effortless one-hand operation. I love a well-engineered system, and the Cflux-1 definitely qualifies.
Knock it Off. If a little fine dust eventually finds its way to the filter, just rotate the integral handle. Two or three rotations in each direction is all it takes to knock the dust down into the catch bag. Just like the BFlux-1, the filter cleaning feature is much appreciated on the CFlux-1.
An Easy Mod or Two. I’m notorious for making modifications to my power tools. Luckily with the CFlux-1 there are only two small changes I made. First, I use a few small magnets to hold the catch bag in place. This keeps the bag steady until I can close the band clamp to permanently secure the bag.
Hose Storage Clip. I usually have a 10-foot length of 4” flex hose attached to my cyclone dust collector. To help wrangle the hose for storage or transport, I added a small spring clamp to the dust collector near the filter element. Luckily, the clamp mounts to the frame through an existing threaded hole with a small machine screw. It’s the perfect way to keep the hose from dragging on the floor, and it’s a simple addition to make.
High Frequency Remote. It seems like a luxury, but I love the included remote control. Just clip it to your belt, and fire it up whenever needed. My CFlux-1 comes to life with the remote from any corner of my shop.
Cyclonic Action. The specific shape and size of the cyclone lets chips and dust fall out of the airstream before they ever reach the filter. It’s a smart design that’s become so popular, even household vacuum cleaners are using it. The CFlux-1 hits that sweet spot between portability and efficiency. It does a great job collecting dust from difficult machines like planers, yet stores in a relatively compact footprint.
The Heart of the Beast. The 1.5hp enclosed motor is mounted to the plenum with heavy duty brackets, and spins a 13.5” impeller. This generates a maximum 1314CFM and 10.1”maximum static pressure. That’s more than enough to efficiently collect from one 6” trunk, or two 4” lines using blast gates. You may still have a shop vac in your garage for cleaning out the car, but nothing replaces a true dust collector. The 1 micron pleated filter will keep you breathing easy, and the simple cleaning feature will keep your shop looking great.
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Willie Sandry is an Author for woodworking magazines, blogger, and tool tester with an affinity for Arts and Crafts style furniture. Equally comfortable behind a table saw, camera, or industrial sewing machine, he builds in white oak and leather whenever he can. Check out his cabinet building videos, or latest tool review on his YouTube channel The Thoughtful Woodworker https://www.youtube.com/c/TheThoughtfulWoodworker |
