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Harbor Freight Dust Collector question

6K views 26 replies 16 participants last post by  CWWoodworking 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi all I have been searching to buy a DC but have seen that many people are modifying HF DC. I think it will work fine for me.

What's the power requirements? Can it be directly plugged into any 20amp outlet?
 
#7 ·
I have set up and run three of these (two in a shop where I worked and one in my shop).
The first one I set up was a replacement (upgrade) plugged into a 15 amp power strip, the HF would consistently trip the power strip (I was using the power strip as a remote switch). I replaced the power strip with 20 amp components wired onto a bench.
When connected to a 20 amp breaker I've never tripped the breaker on any of the three units.
Also consider that the HF DC has a high start load, once running it uses much less power.
 
#8 ·
Harbor Freight's web site specs the motor on their dust collector as being a 2HP motor. They also state an amperage requirement of 20 amps. So it makes sense that the machine would trip a 15 A powerstrip.

Theres a YouTube vid of before/after power draw and performance of the Rikon impeller upgrade on a HF DC unit. Fairly decent and the guy does a good job of measuring the before and after parameters for comparison. Link:

Overall, that guy's installation drew about 9% more power on average while increasing static pressure by 35-ish% and increasing flow by about 20%. Looked like a 20 A circuit was still good for that collection setup.

Can't help with the "out of stock" condition for Rikon parts.

I have considered the impeller upgrade, but not acted on it. Instead, I just finished up a reconfiguration of my system with an emphasis on shorter duct runs. I reduced individual run lengths by 20-90%. I don't have any objective measurements, but I know I've increased my system's efficiency by a great deal at very little cost as I reused as much as I could. I did spend about $50 on some new sheet metal duct fittings and a couple of metal blast gates as I added one more input point into the system. I removed about 20 feet of duct from the overall system.

If a new impeller isn't available, I think I'd concentrate on making your system as efficient as possible (duct-wise) and see if that meets your need.
 
#18 ·
The HFDC is fine for most, average hobbyist/weekend DIY needs. Yes, it is somewhat of a "dust distributor", but it does get dust and chips out of your planer/saw/jointer. It's better than a shop vac by far. No, it's not an Oneida, but it's not 1000$ either. It all depends on your goals: do you need to evacuate dust and chips from table saw from one saturday per month of making bird houses? At the price point, the HF meets your needs perfectly. Standing behind a drum sander for 8 hours per day in a production shop and need to pay for workers comp for employees? Get the Oneida.

I am perfectly happy with my HF, it has lasted 4 more years than the 1 year I expected it to last. No, it does not "collect" fines, and if you get a 150 DC thinking it will do so…..I just wheel it near a garage door, open it, and point a fan at it. That is, when I just don't disconnect the bag and vent it all outside.

As for the impellor "hack", I'm hearing bits and pieces of recent success on getting the Rikon Impeller, but "word on the street" is that Rikon does not want people doing this for "liability" reasons, and you have to prove Rikon ownership to get the impeller now (I'm hearing this 5th hand BTW). ALso hearing that WEN dust collector. P/N is 3403-022 Turbo Fan is same as Rikon, but 90$ cheaper. Not sure I'd put a 40$ impeller on something that spins that fast, but like I said, at the price point, worth a try. The Wen impeller is equally hard to find.

I believe the HF pulls 12.7 amps on startup. With the Rikon fan, it pulls 18-ish. Putting the Rikon on it will stress (and decrease life) of an already marginal motor. Again, at the price point, worth it IMHO.
 
#19 ·
I had a dust spreader. Never again. I upgraded it with a jet pleated filter and vortex cone. Neither was available when I bought the machine. Now, I would at least get a dc with a pleated filter. Forget the hacks, about the same money in the end. And when speaking of long life, I mean myself. I want functional lungs. Motors can be replaced. Lungs, not so much. Even weekend fine dust is a gazzard. And I can not open the garage and let it out during the winter. Actually, a good DC is cheaper than the health insurance deductible for damaged health due to dust.
 
#20 ·
I had a dust spreader. Never again. I upgraded it with a jet pleated filter and vortex cone. Neither was available when I bought the machine. Now, I would at least get a dc with a pleated filter. Forget the hacks, about the same money in the end. And when speaking of long life, I mean myself. I want functional lungs. Motors can be replaced. Lungs, not so much. Even weekend fine dust is a gazzard. And I can not open the garage and let it out during the winter. Actually, a good DC is cheaper than the health insurance deductible for damaged health due to dust.

- ibewjon
+1
 
#25 ·
I have had the 2 hp HF for several years in my shop and it works great. I live in a rural area so I did away with the bags and attached a trash can cyclone unit and mounted the blower so that it would vent out the side of my shop. The heavy stuff ends up in the trash can and the fine dust is blown outside. No bags to deal with.
 
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