: Setting up a new shop. Deciding between a "shop vac" that is
: tool-activated to use for dust collection, vs. a "dust
: collector". Then again, I need to install a central vac for the
: house, and the central unit will be in the workshop area anyway, so the
: question is: Is there any reason NOT to use a household central vac unit
: as a workshop dust collector--i.e., with hose that connects directly to
: tools? Are there units that work particularly well for such dual purpose?

: Roger Turgeon
: Orr's Island, ME

Two big problems with either the central unit or a wet vac is the hose is too small and not anywhere near enough airflow. You might get 200 cfm from either the central unit or the wet vac, you need at least 600 cfm in the workshop to handle wood dust effectively. You'll never get those airflows with a hose smaller than around 4".

With the central unit you'd have to dump the filter every day and would be constantly unplugging the hose, wood scraps easily get sucked into it and with the average 1 1/2" hose it'll have stuff stuck in it daily. Same problem with the larger wet vac hose, too small.

Prices for dust collectors aren't wildly expensive and are very much worthwile in my view, I'd look for at least 1 hp and one with an upper and lower bag.

If you're planning on a built in system, I'd suggest a unit with at least 1000 cfm. 600 cfm works ok for a mobile unit that is plugged into each tool as you use it.

Bill H.