Ambient air cleaners - which one?

[kfitzsimons]

I'm going to purchase an ambient air cleaner (motorized box with filters). I work in a two car garage (not dedicated to woodworking, minimally heated) and I use a small Delta dust collector that does not collect all the dust from my planer and Unisaw.  Of course I don't have a problem with my TS55 and a Fein vac.  I'm looking at the Delta AP200 portable ambient air cleaner (About $250).  The drawback to this one is that their filters are 1/2" smaller on  the long edge than standard furnace filters.  Leave it to Delta to do something stupid like that.  Anyway, what brands have you folks used and do they work?  How about mounting methods?  What works best - table-top or ceiling mounted?
Thanks, Kevin

 

[johnsonri]

I have a Jet AFS 1000B in my 1 1/2 car garage. It works great. It has three settings. I usually run it on low or medium. It has a remote and a three timed settings that have proved to be very convenient.

I don't have it ceiling mounted at this point. It lives underneath one of my workstations in the area of the primary dust makers. I've noticed that when it runs it takes my shop down a few degrees. But I'm OK with that.

 

[mwhafner]

I am in the process of designing a new shop and am having the same dilemma.  I was looking at the Steel City 3-speed, but they have discontinued the product line.  I think that I have settled on the Powermatic, but haven't committed yet. I may actually build my own.  

There was an article in one of the woodworking magazines a couple years ago that compared most of the available models.  I think that the conclusion was that most did not move enough air to be effective.  Taping a household filter to a box fan worked almost as well.  I do this now when cutting MDF.

 

[bobbobbob]

I've got a Jet AFS1000B as well.  It works great.  To add to the above post, it has 3 timed settings of 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours as well as fully on (no timer).  It has a remote that works well.  If you want to cut down on vibrations when hanging, use flat chain.  This does wonders for eliminating vibrations to other areas of the house (my shop is in the basement).  A friend of mine mounted his directly to eye bolts and was not so lucky...

Not sure where you are but these are frequently found on CraigsList for $100 to $250 (high used price) in my area.  There's not much that can wrong with them, just make sure there's no excessive vibrations in the squirrel cage.  Sure the Powermatic has a digital readout, but how often will you really need to set the timer at a particular time frame?

 

[nickao]

I have the JDS and to say it does not work is ridiculous!  These things work and are worth every penny. I usually keep it on 24/7.

 

[cdub101]

I have the Powermatic. It is the quietest one I could find. It is only 52dB on low and 65dB on high. For my 1 car shop I can use it on low and it cleans the air in a couple of minutes for most situations. I used to use a box fan and furnace filter, but when I had dust in the air I could look up in see it against the light for a long time. When I turn on the PM it clears up in a couple of minutes. I wanted the quietest unit and the PM was on sale. It was probably overkill for my shop, but it is for my health.  It seems that all of usual brands are about the same a clearing the dust. Some are a little louder, the remotes have different ranges. If those features aren't relevant, look for the best deal or look on craigslist. 

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I have the JDS, too.  Many of the other brands are attempts at copying JDS.  It works well and is quiet on the lower speed settings, and comes with a remote control and a timer function.  The included first stage electrostatic filter can be washed and reused indefinitely.  It's also heavier than many other brands.  There is a reason it weighs more -- it is more substantial than many others.

Dave R.

 

[daves1996]

I bought a Ridgid one years ago and it works well. I just use a shop-vac with a bag to clean the filter.

Dave

 

[JayStPeter]

I have the Jet also.  Any brand that has the timers and speed controls should work just as well.  Definitely no rocket science in them.

I used to use mine all the time in my old shop with old DC.  Once I got my new shop up with a real good DC system along with Festool for handheld, I rarely use it.  A real DC, along with some thought and research in setting up each machine for maximum dust collection, makes a big difference compared to using a small "chip collector".  But, if you use machines there will just be some operations that generate dust.  Even with Festool, some routing operations are still huge dust generators.  That's about the only thing I've used mine for in years.  IMO, the biggest advantage of the ambient air cleaners is that they make the quality of life in the shop better since you don't have the uncollected dust settling over everything.  I'm not convinced they do much for your lungs/health, but I'm still happy to have mine. 

 

[butzla]

I used to have a Delta single speed when I had a basement shop.  It worked great.  I had it mounted on the ceiling near my table saw on the outfeed side and also adjacent to my downdraft table.  I ran a new outlet that was switched and the switch was conveniently located near my table saw.  I recommend using a switched outlet.  A timer would be nice too.  I agree with Rey,  it did bring the temp down more than a tad.  I wasn't big on replacing the primary filter.  I often used my shop vac to clean them up and believe me,  they get dirty frequently.  A testament to how much dust they pull out of the air.  My current shop is 24 ft. high so I sold it on Craigs list.

 

[nickao]

I have the Jet also.  Any brand that has the timers and speed controls should work just as well.  Definitely no rocket science in them.

I used to use mine all the time in my old shop with old DC.  Once I got my new shop up with a real good DC system along with Festool for handheld, I rarely use it.  A real DC, along with some thought and research in setting up each machine for maximum dust collection, makes a big difference compared to using a small "chip collector".  But, if you use machines there will just be some operations that generate dust.  Even with Festool, some routing operations are still huge dust generators.  That's about the only thing I've used mine for in years.  IMO, the biggest advantage of the ambient air cleaners is that they make the quality of life in the shop better since you don't have the uncollected dust settling over everything.  I'm not convinced they do much for your lungs/health, but I'm still happy to have mine. 

Jay if the filters fill up with dust, which they do, that dust could and will get in your lungs, so how can you not  see it helping ones health?

I have a 3 HP grizzly central dust collect and I never see dust, but still the JDS gets clogged so the dust is coming from somewhere even though I can not see it in the air. I feel any dust in the JDS filter is in the air floating around and anything in the filter is now not in my lungs, so it has to help.

Heck, they have finally determined second hand smoke is far worse than anyone ever imagined. Being in a shop everyday has to be worse than getting second hand smoke once a week.

Just my opinion, bit it seems like common sense and it definitely can not hurt. I think my bill may be 10.00 or 15.00 more a month to run it 24/7, people that run it only a few hours a day it cost even less. To me it is worth it even if there is a small chance it is helping.

 

[SPARKY FROM WINNIPEG]

I originally had the delta which worked fine after using weatherstripping tape around the filter to seal it up, I the got a good deal on the JDS last year and believe for the money it is your best bet. It constanly rates the best in any test I have seen.

 

[kfitzsimons]

Thanks for all the input.  I purchased a Steel City yesterday.  It listed for $300+ but it is being discontinued according to the Steel City web site.  Woodwerks in Columbus was having a sale (extra 10% off almost everything) so with all discounts I paid $205.  The Delta, by the way, does use filters which are about 1/2 inch undersized (in each dimention) than standard filters.  What a stupid thing to do.  They're the only ones who do that. 
  Do most of you have their air cleaner mounted on the ceiling?  Some of you have said where it's mounted some haven't.  I'm looking for the most efficient location to mount it.
  Thanks again.
    Kevin

 

[nickao]

Ceiling with chains, not directly on the hooks. Someone said it already, but the chains reduce the vibration through the house, actually eliminated it in my case.

 

[wnagle]

I hung mine on heavy rubber bungie cords...the kind you use for tie downs.  Hooks screwed right into the ceiling joists.  With the rubber, I get no vibration at all...

 

[bobbobbob]

When you set up, the location will be very important for efficiency.  Here's a diagram from Sandor Nagyszalancy's book "Setting Up Shop".  Hope this helps!

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[bobbobbob]

I hung mine on heavy rubber bungie cords...the kind you use for tie downs.  Hooks screwed right into the ceiling joists.  With the rubber, I get no vibration at all...

I would be careful about those rubber bungees drying out over time.  That may not be a great thing to have the air cleaner on the ground or worse yet on a client piece!  Just my 2 centavos...

 

[GaryLaroff]

I too have the Jet AFS 1000B and echo all the advantages listed.  It is mounted in bay three of my 3-car garage/shop and does an excellent job in this space.  I didn't know how to mount it to the ceiling and over-designed the system.  From the ceiling down in each of corner is a large screw eye followed by a turnbuckle followed by heavy chain and a turnbuckle connected to the S-hooks on the air cleaner.  The air cleaner originally hung low and has now been raised to within 10 inches of the ceiling.  Masking tape wrapped around the spare chair keeps it from making noise.  The air cleaner is located almost over my workbench in direct line from the cabinet saw.

In addition to the other air cleaning and dust trapping comments already made, it circulates the air down from the ceiling.  I use a kerosene torpedo heater to heat the shop, locating it in bay 1 of the garage.  The air cleaner in bay three pulls the warm air off the ceiling and circulates the air around the shop.

Gary

 

[nickao]

That works better of you have two units on either wall. That edge location is for a perfect rectangular room, nothing else hanging from the ceiling at its level, etc. Walls, turns, drops, soffits, all will effect the placement.

The diagram is correct in theory, but everyone has to experiment with the location for their particular shop. I have a beam that cuts the center of the ceiling that hangs down 18 " so that is one reason the edge placement did not work that great for me.

I found  that I needed to move mine off the wall closer to the dust producing tools and it instantly worked better showing no dust on the cabinets the next morning.

 

[nickao]

I too have the Jet AFS 1000B and echo all the advantages listed.  It is mounted in bay three of my 3-car garage/shop and does an excellent job in this space.  I didn't know how to mount it to the ceiling and over-designed the system.  From the ceiling down in each of corner is a large screw eye followed by a turnbuckle followed by heavy chain and a turnbuckle connected to the S-hooks on the air cleaner.  The air cleaner originally hung low and has now been raised to within 10 inches of the ceiling.  Masking tape wrapped around the spare chair keeps it from making noise.  The air cleaner is located almost over my workbench in direct line from the cabinet saw.

In addition to the other air cleaning and dust trapping comments already made, it circulates the air down from the ceiling.  I use a kerosene torpedo heater to heat the shop, locating it in bay 1 of the garage.  The air cleaner in bay three pulls the warm air off the ceiling and circulates the air around the shop.

Gary

The Kerosene would scare the crap out of me, be careful