Mini-Gorilla Dust Collector

[danbell78]

Asked some questions on here and got some answers so I thought I should follow back with a bit of a review since I have been using the Mini-Gorilla Dust Collector for a while now.  

My previous dust collector was a 1 or 1.5 hp Delta single stage collector, which I ran with a oversized felt bag on top and plastic bag on bottom.  

In my shop the dust collector is stationary and I just move a expandable 4" hose from machine to machine, mostly within a few feet of the collector, pulling machines out and putting away again.  machines include the DeWalt 735 planer, 6" Jet joiner and Rigid table saw.  I am considering the modification to the 735 to remove the fan and pull chips out the top, seems this collector should have enough to do that.  

Overall I am pretty happy with it.  Was easy enough to assemble, all parts light enough to handle without assistance.  Has good airflow compared to my own one.  I do like emptying this much better then the old band clamp style bag on the Delta.  I have only been using with bags, when weather warms up and I can just dump in the back yard I will try it without a bag as well.   I like the port on the bottom of the filter for connecting a vacuum when cleaning the filter.  I do wish it had some kind of beaters in the filter though.  I tried to just use compressed air from the outside to clean, removed the filter to check it out and saw it was not very clean.  Having better results with a combination of air and tapping on it by hand.  It does do a pretty good job and not much gets to the filter but of course some does.  I feel like it does do a better job of collecting the fine stuff then the old one.  

My only complaint is the noise, which I probably should have expected.  With the old collector I could run without hearing protection, this one I don't like to run without protection on.  Doesn't help that I am normally standing within feet of it when running as well.  

 

[wtnhighlander]

Thanks for the update! Before you modify the 735,check to be sure the on-board chip ejector fan isn't required for motor cooling. Your mod would need to compensate, if it does.

[Ronn W]

I am curious as to why you need to rmove the fan from the planer.  Does it not play well with you DC?

[Coop]

Did you use the old dc system connected to the 735? I just can’t imagine that any dc system would keep up with the chip removal without the fan but I may be wrong. Due to the amount of chips that the planer removes, I chose not to connect mine to my dc but opted to make a “sock” from an old sheet and connected it to the 735 via a 4” flex hose. I can post a pic tomorrow if you like? 

[Chestnut]

I don't know about the mini gorilla filter bit the large oneida filters are spun fiberglass. From my reading they don't handle paddle agitation cleaning well which may lead to damage. I got that from a sales person from oneida.

My method for cleaning my oneida filter is to take it outside and blow a leaf blower through it. I usually do this yearly.

Keep in mind with filters clean means something different. Most filters rely on built up of dust for proper filtration. The main goal of cleaning is to remove loose excess. If its hard to remove it probably should stay.