Grizzly Dust Collector Reviews – Which One is Best For You?

Introduction

If you’ve been woodworking for long, you know what a big problem dust and wood chips can become. Cleaning this mess is a top priority for any woodworker, and that’s why a dust collector is such a popular tool in this field.

In this article, we’re going to talk all about dust collectors. We’ll briefly explain the basic types of dust collectors, and then examine a few dust collectors from one of the most popular brands on the market – Grizzly.

Why is a Dust Collector So Important?

A dust collector serves a simple purpose, but its engineering can be quite complex. A dust collector cleans up a large amount of dust and wood chips in a woodshop. These wood chips can build up fast and present a tripping and fire hazard if not cleaned properly. Therefore, dust collectors need to be able to clean a large amount of dust and chips quickly and efficiently.

Dust collectors need to be quite capable of working effectively. Dust in a woodshop can be anything from a large woodchip to a tiny particle (we’re talking microns in size!). Therefore, an effective collector needs to generate enough air velocity to suck up all of this debris and must have filters that are effective enough to capture even the smallest of dust particles.

Different woodshops have drastically different needs from the types of tools used to the amount of wood and dust created. The dust collector systems need to cover different areas of the shops. They need to have different degrees of power, storage, and suction. Let’s take a look at the main types of dust collectors.

Types of Dust Collector

Once you start to check out the market for dust collectors, you might notice there are a lot of options available. Before we show you our top picks from Grizzly, it’s important that you first understand the differences so you can make the best choice for your own shop. Although each machine tends to offer different capabilities, we can generally break it down into two main types of dust collector:

Single-Stage

The most common type of dust collector (and the most suitable for most home shops) is the single-stage dust collector. A single-stage dust collector is quite simple. It sucks the dust directly into collection bags. Basically, the impeller is used to create suction, which brings the debris into the dust collector, and stores it in various collection bags and/or filters.

Many dust collectors fall into this category. You’d be surprised at the options available. Below, we will look at some popular options from Grizzly.

Two-Stage Dust Collector (Cyclone Dust Collector)

The Two-Stage Dust collector (or cyclone dust collector) is named for its ability to operate in two stages. The wood chips and dust are sucked into the machine. In the first stage, the air swirls around the dust collector inside, allowing the larger chips to drop to the bottom, where they are stored in a container. The fine dust can pass on to the second “stage,” where it is stored in a bag or captured by a filter.

The debris is separated before it can pass through the impeller, which minimizes the chance of any damage to the impeller itself. Additionally, because less dust can pass on to the second stage, the filter or bag becomes clogged less quickly. This makes it much more suitable for a heavy-duty shop.

Grizzly Dust Collectors

Now that we’ve outlined the basic types of collectors available, you might have an idea of which type would be best for your individual needs. One of our favorite brands of dust collector is Grizzly. Grizzly is an American company with 37 years of experience in making fine machinery. They specialize in woodworking and offer a wide range of dust collectors.

We think Grizzly products are excellent. They come highly recommended and are strong, durable, and built to last. They aren’t exactly cheap, but no quality woodworking tools are cheap. After all, a cheap price tag often represents cheap quality.

When it comes to Grizzly Dust Collectors, you might not even know where to start. There are so many options available that you might get a bit overwhelmed. We’re going to run you through a few of our favorites:

Grizzly 1-Stage Dust Collectors

Grizzly 1-HP Wall-Hanging Dust Collector: Here’s a great mini-dust collector which is suitable for smaller woodshops and less extensive dust collection needs. The big appeal is that it hangs on the wall to save valuable floor space.

It’s actually quite capable even with its small size. It has a 1 HP motor and airflow capacity of 537 CFM (cubic feet per minute). This is a great tool for point-of-use dust collection and can handle most any machine’s dust.

Grizzly 2-HP Canister Dust Collector: If you’re looking for a more extensive 1-stage dust collector, this might be for you. With a 2 HP motor and 1700 CFM airflow, it’s one of the more capable 1-stage collectors. This one has a steel adapter that allows three lines to be connected simultaneously to set up ducts that run to your various machines. It has a filter rating of 1-micron for really fine dust and has six times the filtering area of regular bag filters! A great all-around dust collector for more extensive needs.

Grizzly 2-Stage Dust Collectors

Grizzly 3-HP Cyclone Dust Collector: Now, we’re getting into the 2-stage collectors for even more extensive woodshops. This one has a 3 HP motor and 1654 CFM. Of course, the main benefit is the two-stage design, which separates the debris and drops the heavy dust into the steel drum. The cartridge filter is pleated to give 113 square feet of surface area, and the clear plastic bag collects the fine dust which shakes off the filter.

Simply put, this is a very powerful machine that separates and stores dust efficiently. A great addition to an extensive woodshop.

Grizzly 1.5 HP Portable Cyclone Collector: If you want a more portable 2-stage dust collector, this one is for you. With a 1.5 HP motor and 868 CFM, this occupies a nice middle ground. This collector separates dust particles efficiently, so you don’t have to worry about damage to the impeller.

It’s also portable, so you can wheel it around your shop for your various collection tasks.