Need opinions on air filtration units (Steel City, JDS, Jet) and "cleanable bags"

[John Sheets]

Hi, Folks
Sort of a multi-part question here. First, I see that Woodcraft has the Steel City air filtration unit on sale for $229. Anyone had experience with this and could comment on its performance?
Is the Jet AFS1000B pretty comparable to the JDS 750ER? I know that the JDS has been highly rated in tests.
One of the major issues on these units that I see is the inner bag cost. All three manufacturers state different scenarios for their inner bags:
Steel City- ""can't be cleaned"
JDS- "vac or shake it out"
Jet- "can be washed"
I see no point in saving $100-120 by going with the Steel City if it's necessary to buy a couple of $60 bags over the course of a few years. Or do these bags on the average (99% turning and bandsawing, rarely use the tablesaw) last for years if the pre-filter is kept clean?
Is the bag on the Jet truly washable for several cycles?

A couple of qualifiers: I don't want to make my own system, and two, I would be reluctant to go with a cheaper aftermarket bag from PSI, Grainger, etc.
Thanks in advance for your knowledgeable replies,
John

 

[Jim Stoppleworth]

Saw your qualifier but:
According to tests done by WOOD magazine a box fan with a decent furnace filter attached did as well as any of the filtration units they tested. So to save money I now have two ceiling mounted box fans with good pleated filters on them that filter the air in my shop. Total cost: 2 fans(one was on sale) $40, filters about $6 each = $52. They work great. I change the filters every 3 months as they are not running continously.

 

[john lucas]

Good idea Jim. I have to have air circulation in my shop in the summer months or it's simply uncomfortable to work. If I just put some filters on them I'll may save myself a lot of money and future grief.

 

[Griesbach]

John, I have the Jet filter and it works well. Some time ago Wood Magazine did a test of air filters and the Jet came in right behind the JDS which was the top product. In the test discussion it was brought up that the exit flow of air can be disruptive and stir up more dust so I run mine on low. I replace the outside filter with filters from the borg, blowing out both the inside bag and outside filter when needed. I hung a 12" piece of yarn about 8" ahead of the intake and when the yarn is no longer pulled to the filter it's time to clean them with compressed air and or change the outside filter.

I guess I didn't know the inner bag could be washed so I'll have to go back to the manual for that information.

 

[Richard Baker]

Hi John,
Can not help with filters (I use a box fan & filter like Jim), but WELCOME to the forum. Looking forward to seeing some of your work.

 

[Richard Jones]

John,

I've had my Jet for at least 3 years now and keep the outer filter clean via the shop vac. I went so far as to purchase some el cheapo filters from Lowe's that I managed to force into the opening, as all the vacuuming was working on the original Jet filter. I have shaken the inner bag a couple of times, but never washed it. I do run it constantly while I'm in the shop (17x26). Been very pleased so far...............Sorry I can't help you with the washing question....

Rich

 

[Steve Worcester]

I have the Jet AFS 1000 (pre "B" I suppose). What I do is have two outsides, one in the unit and one that gets swapped when I am hosing out the other. I bang out the inside bag about 1/year. Works well, fairly quiet.

 

[Dick Sowa]

I have the JDS unit, and run it pretty much whenever I am making dust in the shop (18x24 with 12' ceiling). With the high ceilings, the air flow helps keep the warm air circulating, rather than being trapped in the ceiling. I'm not sure about the other units, but the JDS also has a timer feature, that let's me run it for some time after I leave the shop. The idea is to capture all that microscopic dust that would take many hours to settle out of the air.

I have had my inner filter in place for about 2 years. I clean the pre-filter every month or two, and have only cleaned the internal bag filter once, by using my shop vac and compressor. Although it is pretty dirty now, and should be replacing it shortly. I have never tried washing it, but since I was going to buy a new one anyway, I think I will give it a try to see what happens. 🙂

 

[Jack Savona]

Degree of filtration

From everything I've read and heard, the two most important aspects of a filtration system are the draw of air (cfu) and the degree of filtration (microns). I bought a PSI unit with the one micron cannister on top. All I use it for is lathe and bandsaw. When it's not "quick and easy on the draw" (remember Lucky Strikes?) I need to get the shop vac out and vacuum the cannister interior or blow air into it from the outside to increase its air flow.
I also have a box fan on the other end of my small basement "studio" 😉 with a .3 micron washable/vacuumable filter on it. The fan is placed in an opening in the cellar that connects to an area under the concrete floor of my garage. After reading your comments, I'm seriously considering moving the box fan and filter next to the lathe on a low setting to see if it helps supplement or replace the DC.

The key to dust collection (read "lung protection") is to avoid the microscopic particles of dust from entering your lungs. That includes buffing-compound dust and dust from truing up your grinder wheels. That grinding wheel dust is probably the most dangerous dust in our shops!

Just decide how well you want to breathe in the future and then invest accordingly a in dust mask and/or a dust removal system. No need to get paranoid about it, just take reasonable preventive measures. What's it worth to you to breathe?

So, John, in answer to your original question, I would suggest getting the most cfm and the best micron filtration you can afford. You might consider the decibel level too.

 

[Ron Solfest]

A vote for the JDS. I vacuum/blow out the pre-filter every few months, washed it once or twice but find vacuuming/blowing it out is about as effective and much quicker. I've had this for a couple years and probably should look at cleaning/replacing the inside filter soon.

The best feature is the variable timer that I nearly always use to let it run when I leave the shop.

 

[KEW]

The JDS is preferred because has a more "open" exhaust port. That is to say that while the JET (and, I believe, every other air filter on the consumer market) forces the high volume air flow through a roughly 8" X 10" port, the JDS exhaust port is substantially larger.
The slower flow of air through the large port allows particles to fall to the floor while the high velocity air flow through the small port keeps the small (and dangerous) particles suspended in the air where it can be inhaled.
I think it was WOOD that did this review. It was unique because most of the others simply measured how much air was moved and how much dust was trapped, while this article also considered how much dust would be available for you to breath.

I distinctly remember this article because I had just installed 2 of the JET units in my shop about a week before this article came out!!!

 

[Jim Curlee]

I have the JDS, got it from amazon with a extra inner filter for 199 about a year ago (mini gloat). I don't have my DC hooked up at the lathe because of logistical problems. The JDS is the only thing I have for sanding at the lathe. I have yet to replace the inner filter. I'm very happy with the JDS