Baileigh/Jet Air Cleaner

[jeffinsgf]

The thread about the new Festool air cleaner sent me down a rabbit hole (or rabbet hole since we're woodworkers??) thinking about the need for additional filtration in my shop. If I did any amount of job site work, I would probably take a closer look at the Festool, but since virtually all of my work is in my shop, I just don't need the portability. I Googled air cleaners in general and saw that Jet has a new one that's a little sleeker than the typical sheet metal box and has a remote with some nifty features, including the ability to keep the unit running for a given amount of time after you leave the shop.

In looking for one of those in stock, I discovered that Woodcraft has a unit that looks identical (except for the paint job) on sale for $200 less than the Jet. It's branded Baileigh, and in chasing that down, I discovered that Baileigh is now under the JPW umbrella, so I can't imagine it isn't exactly the same as the Jet.

Couldn't pass it up for $349, so, it will be here in a day or two.

 

[Cheese]

Ya, I ran across the new Jet a few weeks ago and as you've mentioned, the AFS-1000C is a nice upgrade from their previous AFS-1000B model. I've had the 1000B for over 20 years and I'm still happy with it.

The upgrades include 6 speeds vs 3 speeds, an auto mode that senses particles and continually adjusts the fan speed accordingly. The 1000B had a 1/5HP brushed motor while the new 1000C has a 1/3HP brushless motor. The new model also has filtration sensing and an indicator will illuminate when the filter needs to be changed. The new model is also 20# lighter than the old.

The $349 price tag on the Baileigh is very reasonable considering the Jet is $200 more. I paid $340 for my 1000B over 20 years ago.  [eek]

 

[jeffinsgf]

Well, I'll know more tonight. UPS is about 4 stops away from my house. Parkersburg is only a couple hours from Cleveland, but I didn't expect next day delivery from Woodcraft.

 

[semenza]

I have the newer JET AFS1000C.  I like it. I have not had any other one to compare though. 

The lighter weight is nice for install and how much support is needed.

I like the extra speeds, and the built in timer works as it should. I have no idea how well the sensor features work. It has never indicated anything other than good air. Probably due to all the other DC in the shop.

One thing to note, and I'd be curious to know if other units do the same, is that on start up it is sluggish coming up to speed and sounds like it is struggling to wind up. However it seems to work without any problems. When you get your's see if it does the same.

That Baleigh sure does look identical.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

I meant to post these comparison photos earlier but I forgot. [tongue] [tongue]  I became absorbed with how to cut mineral wool insulation.  [blink]

Jet AFS-1000B vs Jet AFS-1000C vs Baileigh ISF 1000.

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[jeffinsgf]

Well, the Baileigh arrived Friday afternoon and I bench tested it immediately. SRSemenza, yes, it does hesitate on start-up, but I believe it is the electronics of the brushless motor doing some sort of self-test, rather than struggling to start. It is impressively quiet compared to the old JDS Airtech that I left in my previous shop (final walk through after moving the shop and I looked up to realize I had no ladder, no tools and no time).

I located it centrally in my shop, between the bench where I sand and the two worst airborne dust producers...my band saw and table saw. Without any test equipment, my completely subjective assessment is that it moves more air than the JDS while making a lot less noise.

After playing with all the settings, I put it on auto and played around in the shop for a while. My project was not a heavy dust producer, but the air cleaner adjusted itself between low speed and speed #2 periodically.

My only disappointment is that a few hours after I ordered it from Woodcraft, it showed up on Amazon for the same price with free Prime shipping.

Some pics:

 

[semenza]

Good to know on the start up. I had been thinking it was fine and just the way the unit operates since I've had no problems.

Yes, I forgot to mention that it is fairly quiet and smooth sound wise. I mean it makes noise which is unavoidable, but mostly just the sound of rushing air. On setting one or two it is not bad at all.

I only wish I had come across the Baileigh before buying the JET and saved $200. I think at  $350 ish it is a pretty good value.

Seth

 

[Michael Kellough]

JDS Airtech is what I’m currently using.
Man is it primitive compared to the Jet/Baileigh.

Sorely tempted…

 

[jeffinsgf]

With the shop in my basement, I think my favorite feature is being able to set the timer to run for a few hours after I leave.

 

[ChuckM]

My opinion on dust collection in the shop is that if you don't have an air quality monitor to really tell you what's going on, you may or may not be doing enough or perhaps overdoing it.

I find that over 95% of time of woodworking, my primary dust collection at source is more than good enough to protect my lungs -- without the aid of my air filtration system(s) before, during or after each session. Even higher % in the summer time when I work with my garage door opened. Sanding on the stationary belt sander, in my case, is the only activity of greater concern.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Having started woodworking when dust collection at both machines and power tools simply wasn't considered, I agree with you that today's equipment...particularly Festool equipment...does an astounding job of collecting most of the chips and dust. I've just noticed a layer of fine dust coating the shop, particularly after long sanding sessions. I think most of the escaping dust could be traced to edge sanding where the pad has a small contact area. If this device can keep that fine airborne dust from getting into the home HVAC system and cut down on the coating in the shop, I'll consider it money well spent.

 

[ChuckM]

Yeah, edge sanding can be problematic. My fallback is the N95 mask (the air filtration system is of little use or too late when we see a dust cloud in front of our eyes).

About fine dust coating. I live in the city and no matter what I do, it's unavoidable and I see it on my furniture pieces overtime (even though I use Merv 11 furnace filters and Merv 8 register filters).

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Hi [member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member] ,

Thank you for posting up your initial impressions of the air filter, I'd appreciate it if you posted up something like a 3- or 6- month review.

My portable Dri-Eaz HEPA 500 air filtration machine takes close to 10 seconds to come up to speed on "Low", once it has come up to speed I'll then turn it up to serve my anticipated need. Interestingly, the manual for my machine insists to only start the unit on "low". Given the size of the motor necessary to pull that much air through two pre filters and then a HEPA filter, I imagine they're trying to avoid an amperage spike which may trip breakers...

 

[Cheese]

Well both the new Jet & Baileigh have integrated PM2.5 sensors but reading the Jet operators manual, nothing mentions at what particle concentration do they kick in. That'd be nice to know.  [smile]

The current EPA fine particle standard (PM2.5) is 12.0 μg/m3.

 

[smorgasbord]

JDS Airtech is what I’m currently using.
Man is it primitive compared to the Jet/Baileigh.

I'm in the same 3 decade old boat. But, at this point I've got plenty of other "wanna buy" tools higher up on the list.

For the remote turn off/on feature, it's pretty easy to buy a plug thingie for whatever home automation system you might be using. Mine's on an old X10, but everything from Belkin to YoLink to Insteon to Matter to ... could easily work, including the programming for run X minutes and then turn off.

Since I'm an ex-programmer, I would be tempted to get an air quality meter that reports back and then use my EISY to program a totally automated On/Off based on air quality thing.....

But yeah, like I said I've got other projects and wishes ahead of this, at least now.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Well both the new Jet & Baileigh have integrated PM2.5 sensors but reading the Jet operators manual, nothing mentions at what particle concentration do they kick in. That'd be nice to know.  [smile]

The current EPA fine particle standard (PM2.5) is 12.0 μg/m3.

Don't know about concentrations, but I changed the bag on my CT-22 today, and had the usual puff of dust out of the bag as I took it out of the tub and got the cap in place. Couldn't see anything, but in about a minute the air cleaner ramped up from 1 to 3 to 6, ran at 6 for about 15 minutes and then over another 15 minutes or so, it ramped back down to 1. I'm impressed.

 

[Cheese]

Ya that's pretty cool Jeff... [smile] ...that's exactly what you want to happen.

Hmm, maybe the old Jet gets moved to the garage and a new Jet/Baileigh gets mounted downstairs where air quality is more important.  [big grin]

 

[jeffinsgf]

Ya that's pretty cool Jeff... [smile] ...that's exactly what you want to happen.

Hmm, maybe the old Jet gets moved to the garage and a new Jet/Baileigh gets mounted downstairs where air quality is more important.  [big grin]

You're not moving the complete shop out to the new digs? Let me tell you a little story about having two shops. At my place in Missouri I had two separate outbuildings. The little one had most of my equipment, but I had more space in the other, so I tended to work in both places. No matter what I started to do...some tool or supply I needed was in the other place. You seem more organized than me, so it may not be a problem for you, but something to think about as you organize.

 

[Steve1]

I think we tend to overestimate the effectiveness of these air cleaners.

I have one.  Rather than hang it from the ceiling, I have it on casters so that I can move it close to the dust generating activity.
The filters get dirty, so clearly it is working.  But I can also find dust on the floor, in front of the air cleaner.  That tells me airflow is pulling dust towards the air cleaner, but gravity frequently wins before the particulate can reach the air cleaner.  If you hang the air cleaner from the ceiling, the particles have that much harder of a time reaching the air cleaner. 

If you are standing at your workbench with the air cleaner sucking in 1000 cfm, it is also blowing 1000cfm and will create a loop of airflow as shown below.  If you generate dust, a lot of it is just going to fall, get caught up in the airstream and get blown all over your shop.  Some of it (the very fine particles, which are the most unhealthy) will eventually make it to the air cleaner, but a lot of the particles will fall out of the airstream and settle on your shop.

Not saying these air cleaners are useless, but a dust extractor hosed to the tool, or a multi horsepower dust collector are far more effective.

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[tsmi243]

I think we tend to overestimate the effectiveness of these air cleaners.

I have one.  Rather than hang it from the ceiling, I have it on casters so that I can move it close to the dust generating activity.
The filters get dirty, so clearly it is working.  But I can also find dust on the floor, in front of the air cleaner.  That tells me airflow is pulling dust towards the air cleaner, but gravity frequently wins before the particulate can reach the air cleaner.  If you hang the air cleaner from the ceiling, the particles have that much harder of a time reaching the air cleaner. 

If you are standing at your workbench with the air cleaner sucking in 1000 cfm, it is also blowing 1000cfm and will create a loop of airflow as shown below.  If you generate dust, a lot of it is just going to fall, get caught up in the airstream and get blown all over your shop.  Some of it (the very fine particles, which are the most unhealthy) will eventually make it to the air cleaner, but a lot of the particles will fall out of the airstream and settle on your shop.

Not saying these air cleaners are useless, but a dust extractor hosed to the tool, or a multi horsepower dust collector are far more effective.

Devil's advocate here- the particles that fall to the floor are, by definition, NOT the ones the air cleaner is trying to capture anyway.

And, even if the draft from the fan WAS what's knocking them out of suspension, it's kind of a "task failed successfully" situation, at that point. 

I'm betting that people with shop windows love em, and people with only overhead lights can't really tell the difference.  Ever been in a shop with the sun coming in sideways after work?  Floaties, everywhere.