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re: Dust collection
It IS quite the subject Barb. Usually $$$$$$$ involved do impact the machine you get. For me my needs are likely different than many others, but your particular needs are really one of the most important things to keep in mind.
My circumstance is that I always wear a respirator, either half face, or sometimes a real deal full face respirator, which most would consider a huge PIA. I've worn one so much they don't impact me that way, but their beauty is I don't need a lot of eye protection wearing one, because they to are sealed in. But I also don't need to spend the $$$$ on a HEPA system just to clean up the mess. I'm already well protected, simply by using much cheaper HEPA filters on the mask.
I had been in the market for a secondary, possible primary system, but spending the $$$$$ Oneida wanted was a no fly zone. So like you I was looking real hard at bang versus buck. I recently took 2 days of classes at the local WoodCraft, well December anyhow. Their shop had a 2 HP JET, and it very well served the collection of all the dust from TS, Jointer, Planer, Wide Drum sander, drill press, 2 router tables, and often a lot of hand held tools. At times all are running, and they were stating no problem. I used it, and saw none as well, just very LOUD but in the shop I always wear hearing protection too, so not a huge issue.
At this same time all Rikon tools were 20% off, so based on an almost same as the JET, but more HP and bigger numbers I bought this Rikon. I now have quite a few Rikon tools, most are smaller tools, but I have had excellent customer service when needed, and seems they must believe theirs are solid tools, because they offer a 5 year warranty, which was 4 more than the average. Assembly is/was a huge deal, but it may be with a lot of the bigger systems, seems to be based on what I saw in "taking it out of the box videos" that I watched. I also have a smaller Rikon collector, and it was supposed to be a bigger brother of a shop vac, It's lower/slower like a dust collector, but sized more like a vac. What I have found with it, is it can easily run an entire wall full of smaller tools, like 6" belt sander, oscillating sander, Router X 2, chop saw, drill press, and a lot of hand tools, and not draw a deep breath. It's a monster, and was pretty cheap. Usually those tools are one at a time, but more frequently now my Wife is back there too, and often we are at 2 or more at a time, no worries.
I have replaced machine, with a mile of pretty expensive pipe, to more machines, with either hooked to the tool pipe, or a lot shorter run, and much lower priced pipe. I think it serves my needs better. I still have a 2 HP Grizz with a home made cyclone, that serves my TS, Jointer, and Planer, which are by far my largest mess producers. I have 4 sided tower, and each tool is on a side with the collector on the 4th, so it's compact, efficient, and works fine for my needs. It was my wide belt sander, BS's, big router table, and some XYZ sanders that needed more, and this new Rikon came to me at $1,685 tax included. It has enough power to actually replace the Griz if need be, but I'll keep it on the other side of the shop, and use it for the wide belt, and BS primarily, but it is mobile, so that could change. IOW it could do an entire shop, with several tools at once. I like the trash bin that just unhooks, and rolls away a lot. This is something that I think many overlook, is what, and mostly HOW do I get the crap out of it, and too trash, compost, whatever. With the Rikon I can use regular trash bags inside the hopper, so it saves a ton of cash down the line, where you don't need to buy some special bags $$$$$$$$.
Anyhow decide needs for you, and start a plan, but look at it from a to z on steps, and costs to them, is it fixed that is best, or mobile? Stuff like that.
My circumstance is that I always wear a respirator, either half face, or sometimes a real deal full face respirator, which most would consider a huge PIA. I've worn one so much they don't impact me that way, but their beauty is I don't need a lot of eye protection wearing one, because they to are sealed in. But I also don't need to spend the $$$$ on a HEPA system just to clean up the mess. I'm already well protected, simply by using much cheaper HEPA filters on the mask.
I had been in the market for a secondary, possible primary system, but spending the $$$$$ Oneida wanted was a no fly zone. So like you I was looking real hard at bang versus buck. I recently took 2 days of classes at the local WoodCraft, well December anyhow. Their shop had a 2 HP JET, and it very well served the collection of all the dust from TS, Jointer, Planer, Wide Drum sander, drill press, 2 router tables, and often a lot of hand held tools. At times all are running, and they were stating no problem. I used it, and saw none as well, just very LOUD but in the shop I always wear hearing protection too, so not a huge issue.
At this same time all Rikon tools were 20% off, so based on an almost same as the JET, but more HP and bigger numbers I bought this Rikon. I now have quite a few Rikon tools, most are smaller tools, but I have had excellent customer service when needed, and seems they must believe theirs are solid tools, because they offer a 5 year warranty, which was 4 more than the average. Assembly is/was a huge deal, but it may be with a lot of the bigger systems, seems to be based on what I saw in "taking it out of the box videos" that I watched. I also have a smaller Rikon collector, and it was supposed to be a bigger brother of a shop vac, It's lower/slower like a dust collector, but sized more like a vac. What I have found with it, is it can easily run an entire wall full of smaller tools, like 6" belt sander, oscillating sander, Router X 2, chop saw, drill press, and a lot of hand tools, and not draw a deep breath. It's a monster, and was pretty cheap. Usually those tools are one at a time, but more frequently now my Wife is back there too, and often we are at 2 or more at a time, no worries.
I have replaced machine, with a mile of pretty expensive pipe, to more machines, with either hooked to the tool pipe, or a lot shorter run, and much lower priced pipe. I think it serves my needs better. I still have a 2 HP Grizz with a home made cyclone, that serves my TS, Jointer, and Planer, which are by far my largest mess producers. I have 4 sided tower, and each tool is on a side with the collector on the 4th, so it's compact, efficient, and works fine for my needs. It was my wide belt sander, BS's, big router table, and some XYZ sanders that needed more, and this new Rikon came to me at $1,685 tax included. It has enough power to actually replace the Griz if need be, but I'll keep it on the other side of the shop, and use it for the wide belt, and BS primarily, but it is mobile, so that could change. IOW it could do an entire shop, with several tools at once. I like the trash bin that just unhooks, and rolls away a lot. This is something that I think many overlook, is what, and mostly HOW do I get the crap out of it, and too trash, compost, whatever. With the Rikon I can use regular trash bags inside the hopper, so it saves a ton of cash down the line, where you don't need to buy some special bags $$$$$$$$.
Anyhow decide needs for you, and start a plan, but look at it from a to z on steps, and costs to them, is it fixed that is best, or mobile? Stuff like that.
