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Dustopper from Home Depot review

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33K views 38 replies 12 participants last post by  cmacnaughton  
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#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Dustopper - Dust Collector lid for a 5 gal bucket (Rating: 5)

The biggest thing I love about this dust collector is the size and simplicity of it. All you do is open the box and attach it to any 5 gal bucket and your ready to go. It even comes with a 36" hose with 90 degree elbow. That mean no dealing with sealer bolts drilling cutting and fitting. Its even 10 bucks less that it's competition. Made a little cart out of scrap wood in about 20 min for it all to fit. Had about a gallon of fine dust from sanding in my shopvac so I emptied as much out as I could and sucked it up with the Dustopper and little dust was inside the shopvac and it all got trapped in the bucket.
 

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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thanks for the review!

Curious if these shop vac setups work well for the big waste makers like jointers and planers. I had a 1HP dust collector before that could not handle my jointer and planer waste, and the hose was constantly clogged up. I don't mean a lot of time and sometimes not, I mean, all the time!

I eventually upgraded to a 2HP model that works like a champ, but it takes up a lot of room in my very small workspace.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
I use mine with a Dewalt 2-knife planer, and it works fine. You will need an adapter to I/F with a standard wet/dry vac hose. Probably wouldn't handle the load with a wimpy vac. I use a Ridgid 1450, which is marketed as a 6.0 hp model…whatever that means. We put up a 12-foot Christmas tree every year, so there's usually a big pile of needles to deal with in early January. I vacuumed up about 3 gals worth, and NOT ONE needle got past the separator.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
After further review, as they say on "Shark Tank I'm Out!"
Initially I was interested, until I did further research on other reviews of it.
For instance, a Home Depot product review-

"Verified Purchase"
I like the product but it doesn't seal against the lip of the bucket. There are two locking tabs that barely grab the side of the bucket to lock the Dustopper on top. Because of the poor seal, I have less suction and poor separation. So it was a waste of 40 bucks. I want to return it but I did use it so I guess I will keep it."

The material of the Dust Deputy is made of an anti-static resin as compared to Dustopper? From what I can ascertain from this review and other marketing photos- it appears to be awfully flimsy as compared to the picture of the original creator's pitch.

Image


Also, what actually is the material composition of Dustopper; for all plastics are not equal. I could not find out what type of "plastic" it is.
Not for me.
 

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#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
The one advantage I see is it will go under a table as it's much lower than a true cyclone.
My tip for any of these [built or bought] is to use a 7 gallon pool bucket that has a screw on lid, glue the hollowed out pool lid on it and all is good or at least usable.
One other idea is that Home Depot also sells a screw on lid that works with a five gal. paint bucket, but would take a little diy to fit it up.

But for less that $40 build your own out of scraps.
It's a little taller but has worked great for 3 years now.
Here's the blog.
Image
 

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#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
After further review, as they say on "Shark Tank I'm Out!"
Initially I was interested, until I did further research on other reviews of it.
For instance, a Home Depot product review-

"Verified Purchase"
I like the product but it doesn t seal against the lip of the bucket. There are two locking tabs that barely grab the side of the bucket to lock the Dustopper on top. Because of the poor seal, I have less suction and poor separation. So it was a waste of 40 bucks. I want to return it but I did use it so I guess I will keep it."

The material of the Dust Deputy is made of an anti-static resin as compared to Dustopper? From what I can ascertain from this review and other marketing photos- it appears to be awfully flimsy as compared to the picture of the original creator's pitch.

Image


Also, what actually is the material composition of Dustopper; for all plastics are not equal. I could not find out what type of "plastic" it is.
Not for me.

- Desert_Woodworker
Click to expand...
Desert Woodworker. I normally agree with everything you write.. except this time. If you read Home Depot's response they clearly question the type of bucket the user placed the unit on top of. They go on to say that their unit is designed to sit on top of a HOMER bucket. I plan to pick one of these up and use it as intended on top of a Homer bucket. I'll report back how well it works or doesn't work. As far as what kind of plastic the head is made out of, I seriously doubt its made out of antistatic plastic but we are talking shop vac here. Something that's on for at most 5-10 mins at a pop. I'm no expert but it's not very likely that a shop vac could generate enough static electricity to cause a spark and ignite material in a plastic homer bucket.

Here is their response if you want to read it as its quite thorough:

Response from Home Depot
THD Customer Service
April 10, 2018
Dear Valued Homedepot Customer,

Thank you for sharing your initial experience with Dustopper. We understand you have some disappointment associated with suction loss, and would like you to know the Home Depot and it's manufacturer are here to help.

The photos you posted are very helpful in diagnosing the issue you have described. You are correct to point out a good fit between the Dustopper and the bucket it sits upon are essential for good separation performance, and to minimize suction loss. Let's focus on these do possible concerns one at a time.

Regarding fitment to the bucket: Dustopper was designed to fit ideally on a Homer Bucket. While most standard 5-gallon buckets work well when used with a Dustopper, some buckets may have been manufactured at the fringes of acceptable tolerance for "standard dimensions". This means there may be some leakage around the perimeter of the connection between the Dustopper and the bucket's top flange. Leakage around the perimeter will reduce separation efficiency and lower suction at the working end of your pickup hose. If you worry that air is entering around the edge of your Dustopper, we suggest the addition a gasket made 3/8" X 1/8" foam insulation tape. This works best when adhered to the surface on the underside of the Dustopper that comes in contact with the bucket. Another solution would be to purchase a Home Depot Homer Bucket which should work well in your shop.

More on loss of suction: Any device that works as a filter will cause some restriction to air flow. Going from a standard filter to a HEPA filter, for example, will result in a measurable amount of suction loss. It's also worth mentioning that ALL cyclonic separators are also restrictive to air flow. Generally speaking, cyclonic separators that are intentionally engineered for high separation efficiency, will be more restrictive to air flow than less efficient chip separators from years ago. We aren't certain why you chose to "daisy-chain" two high efficiency separators. The two separators in your photo, The Dustopper and a conventional cone-shaped cyclone, are both high efficiency devices capable of separating 99% of typical dust made in most workshops. This means that the first separator in your daisy-chain configuration will collect (in most situations) about 99% of the particulate before the air (with less than 1% dust) passes to the second separator. Since only the finest dust will enter the second separator, this dust has a higher likelihood of passing through to the vacuum's pleated filter. In other words, the second separator collects little, but ads significantly to the total restriction in airflow of the entire system. Daisey chaining of dust separators is generally not recommended in most shop applications. Suggest you try Dustopper on its own while fitted to a Homer Bucket. As you can see, those using this configuration are usually very happy with their results.
 

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#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Scott- then we have…
Notice the original prototype (looks well made)
Image


Then look at "OP"s actual mass produced product photo (appears to be a thin cheap plastic which would be susceptible to breakage)

This is substantiated by 2 additional reviews:

1. "This product is very thin plastic that becomes brittle with age and use. The clips break off and it is unusable. Should be better quality for the price of $40. My first one died in 2 weeks. The included instructions show a much sturdier version. Also NO seal around bucket lid included in package. Does not separate completely but definitely reduces the intake of debris to vac."

2. "The system does a great job collecting dust, however, I was disappointed with the quality of the lid. It's not a very thick plastic and it's difficult to snap in place. After the fourth time of emptying the bucket the lid cracked while reattaching."

Also, from a few YTube videos and HDepots marketing pics- nobody shows the area where the lid connects to the bucket- by "plastic snaps" :(
This product is not for me.
 

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#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
Home Depot's site has a ton of excellent reviews. Also, here's an independent analysis that's seems to be very fair on YouTube. Every review and blog site has a few outlier reviews that are 1 and 2 stars, even for the top selling brands. Clearly, there are a lot more people that like their Dustoppers than those that don't.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am sure that people will love this product-
The video above above, demonstrates and compares it, but he did not discuss the quality of the "build". Compare the product in the video and review the picture that I posted above- night and day. The plastic clips that hold it to the bucket- that is a no-brainer, that it will fail sooner than later.

The good thing is that, should you not like it- HDepot- they have a great returns policy.
Question: will it work with a Lowes bucket?
Image


p.s. Thanks a lot Scott :)
 

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#14 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a friend who has one, he had the same issue of the top not initially sealing. After speaking with the HD salesperson, they recommended just like the response from them above to use only a Homer bucket. No issues since the change he says and loves it. His is the darker orange unit, so there was a change at some point is the material used.
 
#19 · (Edited by Moderator)
Htl -yes they could be "just a different color" but my observation says it is a different material. For example, the photo that I posted looks like a Corvette as compared to HD mass injection molded version that they are marketing, which is comparable to a Yugo. Again let's look how it attaches-plastic flip tabs? Not for me.

Salty- " it's hard to find fault in something with a low profile that separates well, AND is plug and play with most 5 gallon pails."

How long do you think the plastic flip lock down tabs will last? I can only comment from what I see and read- I have not been convinced so far from what I have seen or read. Yes to what you said about HDepot being on to something.

Jbay-
Having never used separators, I don t get it.
So it separates the bigger pieces and lets the finer stuff into the shop vac?
Both containers still have to be emptied regularly, what is the benefit?

It s trapping the same amount of sawdust, just into 2 containers?

- jbay
Click to expand...
Yes you have to clean both containers and the filter. I have found that the majority of the bulk waste goes into the separator, then to my premium filter bags and then I still have to clean the canister filter.
Three steps for a through cleaning. The benefit for me, by following the 3 steps- my 4 vacuum systems run great.
"It s trapping the same amount of sawdust, just into 2 containers?"
No the separator takes the bulk matter, the inside bag collects secondary material and finally the filter tries to protect the motor.
Then we get to "fine dust" that goes into the air which we breathe or travels throughout the shop. I'll stop here for we will get into the Bill Pentz stuff.

To others: The reason for my critique- I have been doing this for years. I have purchased many intro products that turned out to be unsatisfactory, but were touted as the next big thing.
Should you have and like this product GREAT!

Ps Thanks Jbay you saved me $50 bucks
Pss Thanks Scott :)
 
#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
How sad that opinions are often based on assumptions rather than facts. As a lifelong woodworker and nearly 10-year member of Jumberjocks, I never dreamed a day would come when something I created would come under attack from others sharing common love for woodworking. My name is Tom Huntley, and I am the inventor of Dustopper.

Out of respect to Lumgerjock's policies on keeping this forum information based, I am only going to share details that are factual, and promise not to post anything intended to promote or advertise anything. Hopefully those who make decisions on what is acceptable will understand that inaccurate information passed off as "facts" is equally as inappropriate to our readers as is using this medium as part of a marketing strategy. I promise to avoid any form of advertising or promotion in the commentary that follows.

Here are the facts on Dustopper:

  • Dustopper is made of Polypropylene, and is a translucent by design. While many users may never experience a clogged Dustopper, it is translucent so one can easily tell if they have a clogged Dustopper or a clogged hose. We suggested the color to our retail partner. It could just as easily have been clear.
  • Dustopper's thickness ranges from .090" to .115" depending on where the thickness measurements are taken. Experts in the plastics industry were consulted on materials selection and thickness. The ends of a typical hose cuff are generally thinner, and usually withstand years of service in tough shop settings. There's no reason a Dustopper should not perform equally as well.
  • The photo above that has a "Corvette-like" finish is fiberglass laid over a wood plug. The white Dustopper in the logo next to my name is a 3D print. Since 3D prints are very expensive, most of the 100 or so prototypes I made were from fiberglass. Only one was painted, and that is the one pictured above.
  • When compared with cone-shaped separators in side-by-side tests, Dustopper generally performs extremely well. Often they are said to perform about the same.
  • So far, independent comparisons of Dustopper's performance with other designs has been relatively fair. This is my first experience where rumor and allegory have been used against Dustopper. So far, YouTube has been a good source for this kind of data
  • Most wet/dry vacuums do not have gaskets around the perimeter of the collection container. A good fit is better than a gasket which can be prone to rips, gouges, and other physical damage.
  • Leakage tests have been performed on Dustopper when properly fitted to a pail having a 12" OD opening. Any leakage that may be occurring was so slight it could barely be detected on our instruments.
  • All flow-through separators restrict the flow of air. Separators optimized to collect fines are more restrictive than those which allow more material to be collected by the filter. Dustopper causes about an 8" loss in water lift.
  • Separators are not intended to do the work of a filter. They are intended to prolong the time between filter cleanings. Without a separator, it may be necessary to clean a filter every time the wet/dry vacuum is opened. With a separator, one may be able to vacuum up 50 gallons, often times much more more, without experiencing suction loss.
  • Of the 126 reviews for Dustopper on a larger retailer's site, 107 are positive. A handful are mixed, and a very small number point out varying levels of disappointment. Based on these overwhelming statistics, does it seem fair to take a comment from a one, or two-star rating and use that as a basis for discrediting a product that is otherwise noteworthy for its excellent performance?! This rationale seems so unreasonable that it's impossible to understand why someone with no personal experience using a Dustopper could be so convinced their position is either accurate or justified. That said, I think examples of this type of review are extraordinarily rare on Lumberjocks, so faith in my fellow woodworkers remains strong.
  • I have personally bootstrapped my business after loosing nearly everything in the last recession. This is not a product made by a large retailer or tool manufacturer. It's something any one of us on Lumberjocks could have contrived. I worked hard for nearly 3 years to get Dustopper right because I wanted a tool I could use and trust, and that helped me work better in my customers' homes. It was only by chance that I was blessed with an opportunity to make it a commercial success.
  • I have recently retired from woodworking, a hobby-turned-profession at the age of 59 when the company I worked for closed its doors, and I could not find a job. I have always considered Dustopper a gift of thought from God, and an opportunity to restore my life. We nearly lost everything. I thank Him daily for His love and grace.
  • You may have seen my earlier posts under the nickname "Salty Dog". I came out of the dog house to set the record straight.

Sincerely,
Tom Huntley
 
#22 · (Edited by Moderator)
Jbay,

LOL. You'll never be sold on the idea of a separator…until you use one. Your numbers are wrong. It's not every 3rd or 4th dump, as you say. It's more like every 30th, or 40th dump.

Your assumption fits with the description of older "chip collectors". Today's better separators mean that you can often work for months and never have to wheel your shop vacuum outside to service it.

I know of an exhibit manufacturer in Grand Rapids, MI, that used to have all of their cutting stations set up with a dedicated shop vacuum connected to each. When the vacuum got full (often withing a couple of hours) the operator stopped, rolled their full vacuum to the dock, and then poured the contents into a dumpster. After dumping the wet/dry vac they banged the filter on the inside of the dumpster, reassembled everything, and rolled their vacuum back to their cutting station where they returned to work.

TODAY, they have a stack of 5-gallon buckets at each cutting station. Every cutting stations has a separator (with a bucket) between the saw and the vacuum. When a bucket is filled, a clean bucket is substituted, and the craftsman goes right back to work. At night, a cleaning crew goes around the shop with a pallet and collects all of the day's buckets of dust. Those then go to the dumpster and eventually back to the cutting station. This company, Xibits, Inc., is getting higher productivity out of there craftsmen (faster turnaround on work = more cash flow), longer service from their filters, and is spending far less on replacement vacuums. Before using a fines-capable separator on each saw, they would discard 5-6 wet/dry vacuums per year and purchase hundreds of filters.

They also ave a larger central vacuum system, but their 10,000 square-foot wood shop is often reconfigured to meet the needs of a particular project. Also, with some tools they needed the faster linear velocity and better static suction of a dedicated vacuum. While central vacs can move a large volume of air, they generally lack the static lift needed to collect some of the products cut, or types of cutting operations done at this facility.

We know what we're talking about when we say pre-separation is a good thing. Hundred's of thousands of craftsmen that have separators like them.

All that said, it's OK with us if you like your way.

Enjoy your day!
 
#25 · (Edited by Moderator)
The ones I've made you couldn't see the dust swirling around and tell how they were working but got one of the cheap Chinese cyclones ones and really like that you can see the dust being moved around.
So being able to see through the top is a plus in my book.

I used to let the dust pile sky high before I'd do a quick clean up [hard work] but since these cyclone got my attention and started using them I really like stopping and hitting the shop with the tool and in minutes of [can you say fun] I've got it under control and back to work.
And I need to add, I've never been a cleaner upper type person. lol
 
#26 · (Edited by Moderator)
Scott:

Do you think you avoided cleaning the shop in your pre-separator days because you knew you would have to deal with a messy filter? Just sayin…....

Piece 'o cake on making a 4" version.! Problem is the cost of 3D; especially one that is shaped like a dome. When there is suspended structure on a part that has a large span, a secondary media is needed to fill the void. The secondary media is usually water soluble so it can be washed away once it has done its job at holding up the part being made. Another issue is the thickness of plastic required to produce a separator strong enough to handle the large square inches of vacuum load. Given the volume of media used on my first 3D print, a 4" version could take several days to print. I had to work with several 3D printing sources before I could get the top of my design printed, and the cost was breathtaking. (to me at least!)

Actually, I'm pretty good on my knowledge of fly dynamics so I think I can forego 3D printing. I'm making a plug now that will handle a 5" port. That way, two 4" ports could be attached via a wye connection. I have a Delta 1250 cfm bag vac I'll be using for testing. I'll let everyone know how it works. I'm building a plug for a mold as I type.
 
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