Harbor Freight Dust Collection, 2 stage mods that make sense

I have a General International 97869, 61790, 45378, dust collector from Harbor Freight that I did some upgrades on to increase the performance on. I wanted to keep from cleaning the filter bag so much, improve the air quality, and supply the entire shop with dust collection without have to move the dust collector around the shop. I go through the upgrades and performance change from each product while changing it to a two stage dust collector. I start from stock and add the Oneida Super Dust Deputy, Wynn Environmental filter, and then upgrade the impeller. This is a great DIY shop project to improve your shop. Is a dust collector upgrade worth it, Check it out and I will show you.

Be sure to also check out Joey Gonzales from Steelblade Woodworks. He is doing an upgrade to the same machine but using Grizzly products. He has an amazing shop and doing some special things over there.

Also check out DIYTyler and Jake Thompson whos videos helped me create my dust collection in my shop.
DIYTyler
Jake Thompson

I have merchandise on the link below. If you want Shirts be sure and check it out.

8675309

#ModifyaHarborFreightDustcollector #turnaonestageintoatwostage #modifiedHarborfreightdustcollector #DIYDustcollector #harborfreightdustcollectormodifications #harborfreightdustcollector #diyshopproject #dustcollector #woodworking #superdustdeputy #2stage #twostageconversion #isadustcollectorupgradeworthit #mattwackerle #WackeyWorx #Wackey #rikonimpeller #cyclone #1stageto2stage #doityourself #wynnenvironmental #oneida #workshop #diy #Harborfreight

[madhattersc]

Three years on from the making of this video and it still is the most detailed on the effects of doing these mods and where the likely ceiling is on ROI.
Thank you!

[jeffwilder]

I made my own blast gates. 1/4” tempered Masonite as the slide, as well as the filler around the pipe opening. Used a 2 x 6 and cut an angled opening at pipe O. D. then glued the angled cut back together. The angled cut gives more glue surface. Then carefully glued the 2 x 6 to the filler, one on both sides. The filler is made with the 1/4” tempered Masonite of 3 layers. Top and bottom piece is 5” square with 4” opening cut in middle. Then for center, a 4 1/2” x 6”. This is the slide. It’s made, sized to cover the O. D. Of the pipe. The 6” dimension is so you can grab slide to open and close. I also drilled a finger hole for easier grabbing. Then just fill in around the slide to complete the blast gate and glue everything in place, except for the slide😂.

[DsHardWoodCreations]

Man this has been the most comprehensive vid ive seen on this. Great stuff brother

[velcroman]

I really appreciate the streamlining you have done to your system with removal of all detrimental angles.

The Wen 3403 Dust Collector is pretty close to the HF, but already has the larger impeller, and a little stronger motor that actually requires a NEMA 5-20R 20-amp outlet with a 25A circuit breaker. Prices are vastly different across buying opportunities today. But, people could save a few bucks versus buying a HFDC and the Rikon impeller.

I would like to have seen these measurements done independently of each other (I know a LOT more work for you) rather than additive/subtraction. No matter what, it is nice to see the multiple measurements as you go.

[mikeconroy]

I have those dust collector components. I eliminated the fan discharge port first! And that 5" flex, and that separator. If you look at it, the flange is offering a 25 to 35 % restriction, the flex is restrictive big time and the "separator" is designed for 5". Even sized right, putting a separator in line, after a primary filter, is wasted space....

[christopherpardell]

So my issue is that a Harbor Freight dust collector costs around $300. $400 with shipping. The canister filter runs another $300. The dust deputy cyclone runs around another $300, and the collection bin another $100. Add in the ducting, gaskets or silicone sealant, wood and sundry for assembly and you are already at $1100 to $1300 in cost. At that price I am just a hundred bucks away from the cost of a premade 2 stage dust collector. I mean, if you already HAVE a single stage dust collector to disassemble, then maybe you can bring in this modification for $800 or so. But I think I am stuck with having to buy a two stage outright.

[bkipad]

Very well done I may use the same techniques thanks for all the measurements

[Jay.perez]

Thanks for sharing all the numbers and the results of your hard work Matt. I suspect making the video was as much work or more than doing the actual upgrade !

Have you considered replacing the stock metal swirlyjigger thingy that the filters are attached to with a long sweeping 90 elbow attached directly to the top of the filter ? I can't find it again but recently watched a video where I believe it showed the stock device caused a noticeable drop in CFM.

[jameshuntley]

This video led me to be your newest subscriber. Awesome job. Thanks so much

[kris_kreations]

Very informative. Good stuff, Matt. Now I just need to understand all of that. 😉

[staceymiller]

Hey Matt, thank you for this video!!! Very informative...

[jwmfatboy]

This is a great video, I am converting my Harbor Freight to a two stage similar to yours. Only issue is I can not find a replacement fan anywhere.

[terencenewlin]

I would think the impeller blades cupped the other direction but still turning the same direction would kill air flow. It's allowing the air to wash off the OD edge of the blades.

[joedance]

Great video, really appreciate the stage by stage testing. Two questions:
1. What kind of “pulley puller” did you use to remove the stock impeller? Any issues, etc?
2. Did you ever increase the size of the connection between impeller housing and dust ring? How? What was used?
Thanks again for a great video and some great ideas!

[Woodworking]

Awesome video Matt and you have a new subscriber!! I just got a used HF dust collector with some blast gates, Ys and flex hosing. I was just starting to look at replacing with some solid PVC and thinking what else I can do to the dust collector to maximize it. Blast gates I think Jonathan Katz Moses has some home made one's that he is putting out templates on or is going to be soon maybe... he had something in his latest dust collection video on blast gates... if you haven't done something already as I just realized this was months ago. Going to check out your other content now .

[monteglover]

What is the amp draw on the motor? Is it above the listed on the motor?

[dougprentice]

Did you have to choke down line to connect to sander?

[jeffreymoskovic]

Did you factor in the loss due to lift? You’d probably do better if the motor was not higher than the piping…

[elkskiutah]

very good info... it seems like the 6" blower flange actually lowered it a bit to 1128 cfm or what ever. that actually makes sense because there is a diameter location on the impeller where it actually turns from a vacuum to a positive pressure and if that occurs at the 5.5" or something less than 6" diameter that means some of the pressure is blowing into the inlet air and mixing.. So I think you have shown that buying a 6" inlet flange is a waste.. you also showed that the filter area of 1 filter is adequate. I'm pretty sure the pleated filter has many more time than 4 times the surface area of the bag. if the bag is 18" dia and 36" long its about 16 sq ft and those filters are 250 sq ft ish. so maybe 15 times the area. I wonder what it would do to go back to your 5" inlet flange and then go with a larger area connection to the filter. you could make a square duct that goes into a plenum box and mount just 1 filter to the bottom of that box. It would also be helpful for links to your initial 5" metal pipe. and also some CFM measurements at your various machines further down the line. thanks for doing this you have given me some ideas. I'm doing a system HF 2 hp 1550 CFM system the 59726.
Any ideas on the suction number is inches of water?

[tae_tay]

Thanks Matt for the great video. I'm interested in the impeller upgrade. I did see the part description in your response to another viewer. My question is, what did you do about the impeller blades facing the opposite direction than the stock blades? Did you have to modify the Rykon impeller?